Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 WASHINGTON, Pa. -- Washington & Jefferson benefited from timely hitting and solid defense to defeat Westminster, 4-0 and 8-4, in Presidents' Athletic Conference softball action on Monday afternoon at Brooks Park.

In the first game, senior right-hander Madison Rotto limited Westminster to just three hits and two walks, while striking out a pair.  She pitched her second complete game of the season and earned her third win.

For a majority of the contest, Rotto dueled with Westminster's Ashley Smith.  The Presidents broke the scoreless deadlock in the sixth inning.  With one out, Kelsey Cunningham and Courtney Roperti each singled up the middle, igniting the rally.  Sadie Marak jumped on the first pitch she saw, shooting a line drive to the outfield to score Cunningham.  The next hitter, Emily Watson, also belted the first pitch for a two-run double, breaking the game open.   A two-out double to left center by Rotto scored Watson to cap the scoring. 

Westminster loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the seventh, but was unable to score.

Westminster jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in game two; however, W&J again used big innings to surge ahead.  In the top of the fourth, the Presidents sliced the lead in half as Abby Cunningham smashed a ball up the middle, where it was deflected towards first base by Westminster pitcher, Amber Forrest.  The ball was gathered by the first baseman, but Cunningham outraced her to the bag.  Marak showed some alert base running, scoring all the way from second on the play.  Two batters later, Jen Bahm ripped a RBI single to left, scoring Watson.

One inning later, Marak delivered a two-run double into the left field corner, tying the game at four.  After a pitching change, she scored on an RBI single by Watson, pushing W&J into the lead for good.  On the day, Marak, Watson and Rotto all led W&J with three runs batted in.

The victories boost W&J to an 8-4 record, with a 2-0 mark in PAC play.  Westminster drops to 10-8 overall and 0-2 in the conference.  The Presidents will be back in action tomorrow with a home doubleheader against Geneva.  First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 pm.