LATROBE, Pa. -- The Washington & Jefferson College baseball team saw its 17-game winning streak come to an end Friday, in a 2-1 road loss to Saint Vincent in a Presidents' Athletic Conference game.
The Presidents are now 16-1 in conference play and 23-7 overall. The Bearcats, who are currently in second play in the conference, have won 14 straight and are 14-2 in league play and 18-8 overall. W&J still takes the season series as the Red and Black swept the Bearcats in a conference home doubleheader back on March 30 by scores of 2-1 and 10-6.
Saint Vincent opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning. The Bearcats leadoff man Julian Santana doubled and scored on an RBI single by John Evans.
W&J quickly answered in the top of the second with a run of its own.
Roman Samson (Tampa, Fla./Berkeley Prep) drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by
Jacob LaDuca (Clarence, N.Y./Canisus).
Joe Lehner (Painesville, Ohio/Lake Catholic) followed with a one-out RBI single to plate Samson and even the score at 1-1.
Strong pitching and missed opportunities offensively by both teams was the story from there. W&J left 11 runners on base in the contest, hit into a pair of double plays and couldn't take advantage of two bases loaded opportunities.
The Presidents loaded the bases with one out in both the third and fourth innings. However, a pivotal strikeout looking ended the threat in the third and a double play thwarted their chances at scoring in the fourth. The Bearcats put runners into scoring position in the third and fourth as well but W&J starter
Henry Litman (Marietta, Ga./Walton) escaped both jams unscathed.
W&J put runners onto the corners in the top of the eighth but the Bearcats escaped as a line drive by
Dan Beistel (Canfield, Ohio/Canfield) was hit right at the right fielder.
Saint Vincent tallied the game's winning run in the bottom of the 11th. Jordan Sabol produced a one-out double then TJ Dailey was walked intentionally to set up a double play chance. W&J pitcher
Kamden Kautz (Oro Valley, Ariz./Ironwood Ridge) induced a ground ball to
Jason Gregovits (Avon Lake, Ohio/Avon Lake) who retired the Saint Vincent runner at second for the second out. However, LaDuca briefly lost control of the ball on the exchange at second base. That allowed Sabol to advance home for the winning run.
Lehner led W&J offensively with two hits and reached base three times in the game. Litman was saddled with a no-decision despite tossing 8.0 strong innings. The senior allowed one run on six hits. Litman struck out seven and walked just one.
Saint Vincent pitcher Aaron Stephan picked up the win after tossing 7.2 scoreless innings in relief.
W&J opens a three-game series with Franciscan tomorrow with a doubleheader in Steubenville, Ohio. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. The Presidents host the Barons for a single nine-inning game on Sunday at Ross Memorial Park.
