APPLETON, Wis. – The fifth-seeded Washington & Jefferson baseball team fell in game two of the National Championship series, 12-4, to third-seeded Cal Lutheran on Tuesday, May 30, in the Division III College World Series.
 
The No. 16 Presidents fall to 42-12 overall on the season while the No. 15 Kingsmen improve to 39-11 on the campaign.
 
Cal Lutheran scored twice in the top of the first inning to gain an early lead, but the Presidents were able to respond in the bottom of the inning when Derek Helbing (Pataskala, Ohio/Watkins Memorial) walked, stole second and scored on a single up the middle from Nick Gatins (North Royalton, Ohio/North Royalton).
 
The Kingsmen scored once in the third to take a 3-1 lead before putting up four runs in the top of the fifth inning to gain a 7-1 advantage.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, Kevin Begley (Allison Park, Pa./Deer Lakes) led off with a double down the left field line and advanced to third on a single by Adam LaRue (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny). Helbing quickly brought Begley in to score with a sac fly to right field to cut the deficit to 7-2.
 
Cal Lutheran kept the offense coming, however, with three runs in the sixth, one in the seventh and one in the ninth to take control of the game.
 
Dan Trettel (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) began the ninth inning with a pinch-hit triple to center and scored on a sac fly by Frank Fortunato (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan) after a Zak Keesee (Howard, Ohio/Ridgewood) walk. Mullen Socha (Independence, Ohio/St. Ignatius) then doubled to right, advancing Keesee to third, before a Kingsmen balk brought Keesee home to cap the scoring in the game.
 
Six Presidents recorded one hit apiece in the game to go along with three walks.
 
Bryce Schnatterly (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley) suffered his first loss of the season (9-1) as he started and pitched three innings, allowing three runs on six hits with a walk and a strikeout. Ben Marsico (Bradfordwoods, Pa./North Allegheny), Tim Mulvey (Glenshaw, Pa./OLSH) and Joe Vita (Gibsonia, Pa./Hampton) were the first three pitchers out of the W&J bullpen and combined to allow seven runs in four innings of work.
 
Tanner Gaerke (Plain City, Ohio/Jonathan Alder) pitched a scoreless eighth inning and Mitchell Taufer (Washington, Pa./Bishop Canevin) allowed just one run in the ninth and struck out a batter.
 
The Presidents and Kingsmen will play again at 3:30 p.m. EDT (2:30 p.m. CDT) this afternoon with the winner hoisting the National Championship trophy.