By Anthony Socrates, Sports Information InternÂ
WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson baseball team kicked off its 2016 season by splitting a doubleheader against conference foe Grove City at Ross Memorial Park, rebounding with a 4-0 win in game two after a 5-1 loss in the opener.
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W&J started the second game of the twinbill by silencing Grove City with efficient defense and suffocating pitching. The first three innings of the game featured no runs for either team.
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The fourth inning was highlighted by the Presidents scoring three runs. Dan Trettle advanced to first base after being hit by a pitch, followed by
Nick Vento getting on base after a walk.
Frank Fortunato lined out to third baseman Micah Burke who attempted to turn a double play at third, but sent his throw into right field allowing Trettle and Vento to move up 90 feet apiece.
Ryan Sciullo then tripled to right field plating both runners making the score 2-0.
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Presidents' pitcher
Bryce Schnatterly stymied the Wolverines' offense with 1-2-3 innings in the fifth and sixth. In the bottom of the sixth, Fortunato starting things off by raking a triple off the center-field fence. With two outs,
Nick Gatins recorded a triple of his own to drive in Fortunato, improving the score to 4-0.
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Schnatterly concluded his first career shutout by ending the game with a 1-2-3 seventh inning. The Presidents' pitcher finished the game allowing one hit with eight strikeouts.
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The two teams opened up the first game with formidable defense, completing the first three innings without any runs allowed. W&J's
Riley Groves got things going with a 1-2-3 inning while opposing pitcher John Bini forced the Presidents into a double play and fanned one.
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The fourth inning featured a lead-off triple by the Wolverines' Nolan Myers followed by a single by Matt Waugaman to bring Myers home. The Presidents answered by loading the bases, but were unable to advance anyone concluding the fourth inning 1-0.
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W&J responded in the bottom of the fifth with
Michael Ruffing singling up the middle. Ruffing successfully stole second base and advanced to third on a throwing error by Grove City's catcher. Ruffing scored later in the at bat, thanks to a sacrifice fly by
Derek Helbing.
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The score remained tied after six innings but would change in the seventh. The Wolverines went on to load the bases in the top of the frame. Pinch-hitter Derek Boyle roped a ball down the left-field line to empty the bases leaving himself with a double. The next two batters were hit by pitches, loading the bases again. The Wolverines tallied another run with a single by Meyers to make the score 5-1.
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W&J attempted to answer with a two-out double by Vento, but was unable to score any runs to erase the deficit.
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The Presidents concluded the game with eight hits, no errors and 11 players left on base. The Wolverines also recorded eight hits with one error and four players left on base. The winning pitcher, John Bini moved to 2-0 on the season and Groves, the reigning Presidents' Athletic Conference Co-Pitcher of the Year, goes to 0-1.
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W&J begins the season 1-1 while Grove City moves to 3-2, with both teams sporting a 1-1 PAC record. The Presidents match-up that was scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday against St. John Fischer at Ross Memorial Park has been postponed with no make-up date announced. W&J's next game will feature a nonconference doubleheader at home against La Roche on March 15 with the first game slated to begin at 2 p.m.
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Highlights:
Helbing throws out a runner trying to steal in game one:
Helbing picks off a runner at first base in the first game:
Sciullo's two-run triple opens the scoring in game two:
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