WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College baseball team picked up a close victory over the visiting Pitt-Greensburg Bobcats in their season and home opener, 5-4.
Brendan Cruz (Carnegie, Pa./Chartiers Valley) led the Presidents offensively with two hits and one run batted in.
Drew Garth (Glenshaw, Pa./North Hills),
Brian Feldman (Gibsonia, Pa./Eden Christian Academy),
Zac Stern (Coraopolis, Pa./Montour),
Andrew Miko (Portage, Pa./Portage),
Brody Bartenstein (Corning, N.Y./Corning-Painted Post) and
Eli Owens (Alexandria, Va./West Potomac) all mustered a hit each in the win. Feldman, Miko and Owens also additionally drive in a run each.
Dante DiMatteo (Pittsburgh, Pa./Fox Chapel) started and pitched four scoreless frames with four strikeouts. Freshman
Erik Streussnig (Pittsburgh, Pa./Plum) pitched three innings in relief, fanning five batters.
Thomas McLaren (Mars, Pa./Mars Area) pitched the final two innings to close out the season opening victory with four strikeouts and his first collegiate save.
Offense started sluggish for both sides in the opening three innings, seeing minimal production from each unit. The Bobcats ripped two hits and left one stranded in the top of the third, but to no avail.
W&J's offense couldn't wait much longer before breaking out as the Presidents ripped off five hits and tallied three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. After picking up two quick outs, Stern started a rally which quickly sparked the Presidents' offense. Miko smacked a liner down left center which turned into an energizing triple, scoring Stern from first. Owens capped the scoring barrage with a single to right field which scored Cruz.
The Presidents offense continued to churn in the bottom of the fifth inning as Feldman scored Garth on a single to left field.
The Bobcats dialed up their first response in the top of the sixth with two runs scored of their own to reduce the W&J lead to 5-2. The Presidents responded again with another run scored in the bottom of the inning off a balk by the Bobcat pitcher, scoring Bartenstein, 5-2.
The Presidents gave up two unearned runs in the top of the seventh, allowed by way of a fielding error, bringing the lead to 5-4.
McLaren entered the game for W&J in the eighth inning, fanning two batters to escape the eighth. With minimal offensive production in the bottom of the inning, McLaren trotted back to the mound for the final frame to close out the victory. Despite hitting his first batter in the ninth, the sophomore reliever retired three straight batters at the top of the order for the Bobcats, fanning the final two to secure to the 5-4 win.
The Presidents manage a quick turnaround in a packed week, taking on the Mount Union Purple Raiders at Ross Memorial Park, Wednesday (Feb. 26). First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.
