DAVENPORT, Fla. – The Washington & Jefferson College baseball team (4-1) rolled their way to a 8-1 victory over the Utica Pioneers (4-2) in their spring break opener in Florida.
Tommy Dietrich (Davidsonville, Md./DeMatha Catholic) and
Teddy Platt (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township) each led the team in hits with two each. Platt batted in two runs while Dietrich batted in one with a double on the night.
Keegan Carr (Irwin, Pa./Norwin / Indiana University of Pennsylvania),
Josh Dezenzo (Alliance, Ohio/Marlington),
Tyler Maddix (Pittsburgh, Pa./Bishop Canevin),
Zac Stern (Coraopolis, Pa./Montour),
Seth Rosenfeld (Ellicott City, Md./Long Reach) and
Tyson Leach (Hershey, Pa./Middletown) all registered hits on the night. The Presidents worked 12 walks on the day and two hit by pitches.
The Presidents got out to an early advantage in the second inning, tallying three runs in the frame.
Paddy Hernjak (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) walked in the first run of the game followed by a sacrifice flyout from Platt. A Carr single up the middle of the infield capped the scoring as Rosenfeld crossed the plate, 3-0.
W&J escaped early jams, pressured by the Pioneer offense which scored one run in the bottom of the second. Utica left five runners stranded in the opening innings.
Dietrich added a run in the fifth with a sac fly which scored Dezenzo with the bases loaded, 4-1.
The Presidents permanently put the game out of reach with a four-run seventh inning. Rosenfeld ripped a single to center field, scoring Stern. The freshman helped inflict a passed ball which scored Dietrich while Rosenfeld stole second. Platt singled to score Rosenfeld shortly after. Platt scored on a failed pickoff attempt to put W&J up, 8-1.
Anthony Pass (Clinton, Pa./West Allegheny) got his second win on the mound with five strikeouts in 5.0 innings of work.
Nate Nolan (McDonald, Pa./West Allegheny) and
Jake Stiehl (Reston, Va./South Lakes) pitched 2.0 innings of relief each. Nolan struck out three batters while Stiehl had four punchouts.
W&J Baseball returns to Northeast Regional Park for a doubleheader against the Calvin Knights. First game of the doubleheader is set for a 10:45 a.m. start.
