Washington & Jefferson College Athletics

WASHINGTON, Pa. – Luke Alvarez (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) homered twice to help power the Washington & Jefferson College baseball team (32-11) to an 11-2 victory over Grove City (22-18) in the 2026 Presidents' Athletic Conference Baseball Championship Round Saturday afternoon at Ross Memorial Park.

The conference title is the 17th in program history for the Presidents, who have now won six of the past seven PAC crowns. The decisive postseason run this spring helps the Presidents avenge a season-ending loss to Grove City in last year's tournament.

Alvarez finished with a pair of home runs and five RBIs to lead the offense. Alvarez's 15th and 16th home runs extended his single-season program record leader. His work offensively, behind the dish and on the mound helped Alvarez earn the honor as Most Outstanding Player of the Tournament. Jack Anderson (Pittsburgh, Pa./Plum) had a team-best three hits while Seth Rosenfeld (Ellicott City, Md./Long Reach) logged another multi-hit effort in the 12-hit attack for the Presidents.

Grove City struck first in the opening inning. The Wolverines used back-to-back hits with one out to put two runners in scoring position. The following batter produced the game's first run as a fielding error allowed Grove City to make it 1-0. The Wolverines put three runners on base during the top of the third inning. However, a double play coupled with an inning-ending strikeout allowed W&J pitcher Brady Dojonovic (Pittsburgh, Pa./Plum) to end the threat, keeping the deficit at 1-0.

Andrew Miko (Portage, Pa./Portage) and Anderson recorded back-to-back hits and advanced 90 feet apiece on a wild pitch in the fourth inning. The Wolverines were able to induce a groundout for the third out to maintain their one-run lead.
 
W&J broke through in the fifth inning in a big way in the fifth inning. Rosenfeld led off the frame with a double and advanced to third on a single by Teddy Platt (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township). After a walk loaded the bases, Josh Dezenzo (Alliance, Ohio/Marlington) tied the score with a sac fly to right to score Rosenfeld. Alvarez slugged an 0-2 pitch over the center field fence for a three-run blast to make it 4-1 Presidents.

The Presidents tacked on four more runs in the sixth to take full control. Anderson and Stern singled to start the frame. Rosenfeld tacked on an RBI single to plate Anderson. A successful bunt attempt by Paddy Hernjak (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) scored Zac Stern (Coraopolis, Pa./Montour) to extend the lead to 6-1. W&J added two more runs which included an RBI single by Dezenzo.  

A solo home run by Anderson in the seventh and a two-run home run by Alvarez in the eighth helped W&J pour it on en route to the victory.

Dojonovic got the ball to start the game and worked three strong innings. Dojonovic allowed one run on four hits while striking out four. Bobby Budacki (New Brighton, Pa./New Brighton Area) worked the final six innings to pick up the victory. Budacki allowed just one unearned run on three hits. He struck out three and issued no walks.

The Presidents pitching staff turned in a stellar run through the PAC Tournament. W&J pitchers compiled a 1.75 earned run average with just seven earned runs over the 36 innings. The Presidents walked just three batters during the tournament.

As the PAC Championship Tournament winner, W&J also claims the conference's automatic qualifying bid to the NCAA Division III Championship. Selections for the Division III Championship are scheduled to be announced Monday, May 11 with regional preliminary round play slated for Friday-Sunday, May 15-17. The NCAA selection show will be on NCAA.com at 12 pm.


2026 PAC All-Tournament Team
Most Outstanding Player - Senior catcher/pitcher Luke Alvarez (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward)
Junior pitcher Brendan Cruz (Carnegie, Pa./Chartiers Valley)
Freshman infielder Seth Rosenfeld (Ellicott City, Md./Long Reach)
Sophomore first baseman Jack Anderson (Pittsburgh, Pa./Plum)
Junior outfielder Paddy Hernjak (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley)