WASHINGTON, Pa. – The 22nd ranked Washington & Jefferson College baseball team (22-6, 12-2) battled through a pair of lengthy weather delays to secure a doubleheader sweep over visiting Saint Vincent College (9-19, 5-9) in Presidents' Athletic Conference play Tuesday at Ross Memorial Park.

W&J used a four-run sixth inning to secure a 6-2 victory in game one. The Presidents rolled from the outset in game two, as the hosts won by a 25-6 margin in a seven-inning mercy-rule win. The pair of victories helped the Presidents maintain their lead atop the conference standings. The two teams dealt with weather delays in each contest, which amounted to nearly three hours worth of delays total. 

W&J 6, Saint Vincent 2 (Game One)

Junior outfielder Zac Stern (Coraopolis, Pa./Montour) and junior catcher Carl Wagner (Honey Brook, Pa./Westtown School) finished with two hits apiece to lead the offensive efforts. A four-run sixth inning was the difference as the Presidents secured the game one win by a 6-2 score.

Each team scored a single run in the third and fourth innings to even the score. After SVC opened the scoring with a run in the top of the third, W&J manufactured a run in the bottom of the frame. Senior infielder Ben Schuler (McDonald, Pa./South Fayette) singled on a bunt to start the inning. Schuler moved to second on an error and sophomore Keegan Carr (Irwin, Pa./Norwin / Indiana University of Pennsylvania) eventually drew a walk to load the bases. Senior designated hitter Josh Dezenzo (Alliance, Ohio/Marlington) scored Schuler with a sac fly to center.

The Bearcats produced a run-scoring single to regain the advantage at 2-1 in the top of the fourth. The Presidents again used a sac fly, this time from freshman outfielder Jackson Stocker (Canonsburg, Pa./Peters Township), to even the score at 2-2 after four complete innings.

Following a one-hour weather delay, W&J took control of the game with four runs in the bottom of the sixth. The Red and Black produced just one hit during the frame but took advantage of four walks and a hit batter to break things open. Three of the runs scored on bases loaded walks. Dezenzo tacked on another sac fly to stretch the advantage to 6-2.

Senior pitcher Chase Perry (Ponte Vedra, Fla./Nease) turned in a solid outing on the mound. Perry worked an efficient five innings with just 60 pitches. He scattered six hits and allowed two runs. Perry struck out a pair and issued no walks. Senior pitcher Jake Stiehl (Reston, Va./South Lakes) picked up the win with three scoreless innings of relief. Stiehl allowed just one hit and struck out two during his stint. Senior righty Luke Alvarez (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) tossed a scoreless ninth inning to secure the victory.
 
W&J 25, Saint Vincent 6 (Game Two – 7 Innings)

Another rain delay couldn't slow the Presidents during a game two rout of the Bearcats. Five Presidents recorded multi-hit efforts in the game two victory. W&J rolled up 25 runs on 22 hits in the conference win. Dezenzo finished with three hits including a home run, triple and double. Junior catcher Tommy Dietrich (Davidsonville, Md./DeMatha Catholic) added three hits while Jack Anderson (Pittsburgh, Pa./Plum), Ethan Septak (Harrison City, Pa./Penn Trafford), Ben Wells (Clifton, Va./Centreville) and Tyson Leach (Hershey, Pa./Middletown) finished with two hits apiece.  

The Presidents jumped in front early in game two with a five-spot in the opening frame. A one-out triple by Dezenzo ignited the quick start. Anderson followed with an RBI single. Dietrich added an RBI infield hit and a two-run single by Teddy Platt (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township) made it 5-0 by the end of the inning.

W&J tallied eight more runs in the second inning. Dezenzo slugged his PAC-leading eighth home run of the year and 24th of his career. RBI doubles by Alvarez, Dietrich and Dezenzo further extended the lead to 13-0 by the end of the inning.

Following a weather delay of nearly two hours, the Presidents tacked on a nine-spot in the bottom of the fifth inning to highlight the remainder of the game. Two run doubles by Alex Shank (McDonald, Pa./Canon-McMillan), Anthony Smith (Allison Park, Pa./Deer Lakes) and Leach helped aid the W&J efforts during the frame.

Senior pitcher Nate Nolan (McDonald, Pa./West Allegheny) grabbed the win. He worked two shutout innings before the weather delay cut his outing short. A pair of sophomores, CJ Leuch (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) and Grant Wilharm (Weirton, W. Va./Madonna), registered scoreless frames out of the bullpen.

W&J continues its five-game homestand when nationally ranked Baldwin Wallace comes to town for a single nine-inning game on Thursday (April 16). First pitch at Ross Memorial Park is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.