WASHINGTON, Pa. – Behind a complete game pitching effort from
Brendan Cruz (Carnegie, Pa./Chartiers Valley), the Washington & Jefferson College baseball team (29-11) bested the Grove City Wolverines (19-17) by a 5-1 score in Wednesday action at the 2026 Presidents' Athletic Conference Tournament.
Luke Alvarez (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward),
Paddy Hernjak (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) and
Teddy Platt (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township) all registered two hits in the conference tournament opener for the Presidents.
Andrew Miko (Portage, Pa./Portage) also bashed a solo home run, leading the team with two RBIs.
The Presidents struck first in the bottom of the second inning, 1-0. Hernjak singled up the middle of the infield with runners on first and second. Hernjak's hit scored Stern from second. Grove City responded with a solo home run in the first at-bat of the top of the third inning.
W&J managed a rebuttal in the bottom of the third frame, scoring two runs to regain the lead. Alvarez lined a single through the left side to score Platt from third. Miko hit a one-out sacrifice flyout a batter later to advance the Red & Black lead to 3-1 heading into the fourth inning.
Keegan Carr (Irwin, Pa./Norwin / Indiana University of Pennsylvania) added to the W&J lead in the bottom of the fourth inning through an RBI fielder's choice. Carr's fielder's choice scored
Seth Rosenfeld (Ellicott City, Md./Long Reach) from third while the bases were loaded, 4-1.
Miko cemented the 5-1 victory with a solo homer in the bottom of the seventh inning. The junior bashed his sixth home run of the season and first of the tournament for the Presidents over the left field fence.
Cruz pitched a complete game, allowing just one run on three hits. Cruz struck out eight Wolverines and issued no walks in the stellar outing. Cruz, who entered the day as the NCAA Division III leader in earned run average, has compiled a 0.92 ERA in 68 innings. This is the second straight season that a President has tossed a complete game victory in a PAC Tournament game. Cruz also becomes the first W&J pitcher to reach 10 wins in a season since Tyler Horvat did so in 2023.
The Presidents advance to play third-seeded Bethany College in Game F of the PAC Tournament on Thursday. The Bison downed Allegheny by an 11-5 final score in the final game of the day Wednesday. First pitch for Thursday's clash between the Presidents and Bison is set for a 6 p.m. start at Ross Memorial Park.
