WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College baseball team (23-7, 13-3) split a Presidents' Athletic Conference doubleheader against the Grove City Wolverines (15-14, 10-6). Grove City took a close game one 7-6, before W&J claimed a senior day 13-1 win in game two.
 
W&J 6, Grove City 7 (Game 1)
 
Junior Jack Anderson (Pittsburgh, Pa./Plum) led the Presidents offensively in game one. Anderson batted 2-for-3 at the plate, scoring three runs and drawing two walks. Classmate Zac Stern (Coraopolis, Pa./Montour) finished the game 1-for-3 at the plate, scoring two runs and driving in two. Senior Eli Kite (McKeesport, Pa./Serra Catholic) recorded his first collegiate start as well.
 
Both teams got off to a slower start offensively in the twinbill opener, but the Wolverines opened the scoring in the third. W&J responded with two runs in the bottom of the fourth to get on the board and continue the deadlock. Stern sent a ball over the fence to score Anderson after the junior forced a walk.
 
The Wolverines broke the game open by scoring four runs in the fifth, but W&J tried to keep clawing back. The President batters forced three walks and two hit by pitches to help contribute to a late rally. Junior Teddy Platt (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township) also recorded a single to bring a run home. The eighth inning rally scrapped home three runs to cut the Wolverine lead down to two. Anderson singled and scored on a balk to make the score 7-6 in the ninth, but the comeback fell just short as Grove City took game one.
 
Senior Anthony Pass (Clinton, Pa./West Allegheny) recorded three strikeouts in a five-inning start for the Red & Black. Classmates Nate Nolan (McDonald, Pa./West Allegheny) and Max Stanger (Buffalo, N.Y./St. Joseph Collegiate) made appearances in relief.  
 
W&J 13, Grove City 1 (Game 2)
 
Senior Luke Alvarez (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) led the Presidents offensively in game two. Alvarez recorded two home runs and hit 3-for-4 at the dish. Junior Andrew Miko (Portage, Pa./Portage) batted 2-for-4 at the plate and also recorded two hits out of the ballpark.
 
The W&J offense found its spark early in game two as the squad took an early 4-1 lead after one inning of play. Sophomore Keegan Carr (Irwin, Pa./Norwin / Indiana University of Pennsylvania) singled as the first home batter of the contest, and smart baserunning got him around the bases. Stern also singled to set up Alvarez to clear the bases with a long ball.
 
The W&J defense held the Wolverines scoreless for the rest of game two. Offensively, the Red & Black brought nine unanswered runs across the plate. Miko sent a ball over the fence in the second inning to help extend the W&J lead to 8-1. W&J hitters also controlled the batter's box during the second game, drawing five walks and three hit by pitches. Miko and Alvarez both hit their second home runs of the game to help close out the 13-1 game two win and split the series with the Wolverines.
 
Junior Brendan Cruz (Carnegie, Pa./Chartiers Valley) picked up his seventh win of the season. In six innings of work, Cruz forced five flyouts and 12 groundouts. Senior Jake Stiehl (Reston, Va./South Lakes) pitched one inning in relief, recording one strikeout.  
 
W&J returns to the diamond on Monday (April 20) when they travel to take on the Pitt-Greensburg Bobcats. First pitch from Greensburg is slated for 4:00 p.m.