JEFF MOUNTAIN NAMED ECAC BASEBALL COACH OF YEAR (5/27)

WASHINGTON, Pa. -- Washington & Jefferson College Head Baseball Coach Jeff Mountain was named the ECAC Division III South Coach of the Year on Wednesday morning.

Mountain guided the Presidents to a record-breaking year in 2009 as W&J posted a 35-14 record and won its sixth Presidents’ Athletic Conference Baseball Championship, including its fourth under Mountain (2004, 2006, 2007, 2009).  The 35 victories were a school record.

Washington & Jefferson also made its first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division III Tournament where it won two games and placed fourth at the eight-team regional hosted by Salisbury University (Md.) at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.

Mountain finished his seventh year at W&J in 2009 and currently holds a 183-113-1 overall record (.618).  He became the school’s all-time baseball coaching wins leader in just five seasons and has helped the Presidents notch a winning record every year except his first in 2003.  In the four seasons prior to his arrival on campus, Washington & Jefferson had won only a combined 21 games.

Since 2005, the Presidents have won nearly 69 percent (156-71-1) of their contests and have compiled four 30-victory seasons.  W&J has also set single-season school records for win totals three times during his seven years.

Following the conference tournament, Mountain was selected as the PAC Coach of the Year for the fourth time (2004, 2006, 2007, 2009).  He has helped W&J win a pair of ECAC Division III South Tournament Championships (2006, 2007) and has coached 40 All-PAC performers, nine All-Region selections and two All-Americans.

Washington & Jefferson returns all nine starters and six of its top eight pitchers to the diamond in 2010, including PAC Player of the Year and All-Region rising senior outfielder/pitcher Jim Pasquine (Poland, Ohio/Poland Seminary).

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TWO PRESIDENTS HONORED ON ALL-REGION BASEBALL TEAM (5/20)

WASHINGTON, Pa. -- Washington & Jefferson College juniors outfielder/right-handed pitcher Jim Pasquine (Poland, Ohio/Poland Seminary) and junior Mark Thomchick (Indiana, Pa./Indiana) were both recognized by the American Baseball Coaches Association on Tuesday.

Pasquine {left}, the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Player of the Year, was a First Team 2009 Division III Rawlings/ABCA All-Mideast Region selection, while Thomchick garnered Gold Glove recognition at catcher. 

Pasquine, who was also a First Team All-PAC honoree, led the conference and ranked sixth in the nation with his .481 batting average.  Pasquine, who started in all 49 games for the Red & Black, also led the league in hits (91), runs (66), RBI (58), total bases (138) and at-bats (189).  The junior also led the Presidents in slugging (730) and on-base (.517) percentages, while also topping the squad in doubles (15), stolen bases (21) and triples (4).

Thomchick {left}, who was also garnered First Team All-PAC recognition, finished the season with 138 putouts and 22 assists in 160 total chances, compiling a 1.000 fielding percentage in 47 total games for W&J.  The junior gunned down six out of 19 stolen base attempts on the season for a .760 stolen base against percentage.  He also finished the season with only two passed balls.

Washington & Jefferson (35-14) set the school record for victories in a season in 2009.  The Presidents, who claimed both the regular-season and postseason tournament PAC titles, received the program’s first-ever bid to the NCAA Division III Baseball Tournament.  W&J went 2-2 at the South Regional Tournament hosted by Salisbury University, finishing fourth out of eight teams.  The Presidents defeated Washington & Lee University and York College, while dropping contests against Christopher Newport and Johns Hopkins at the regional event.

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W&J’S TRUSHEL NAMED TO SOUTH REGION ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM (5/18)

WASHINGTON, Pa. -- Washington & Jefferson College freshman right-handed pitcher Dave Trushel (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) was named to the NCAA Division III South Region All-Tournament team last Saturday in Salisbury, Maryland.

The 2009 Presidents, who made thier first NCAA Tournament appearance in the program’s 119-year history, finished with a 2-2 record at the regional tournament after defeating Washington & Lee and York College.

Trushel styimed the bats of Washington & Lee University in W&J’s first ever NCAA tournament victory last Thursday at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium, an 8-3 triumph over the Generals.  Trushel picked up his team-leading eighth victory of the season after throwing eight innings.  He allowed just three hits and one earned run and set down a season-high six batters on strikes.

On the season, Trushel finished with a team-best record of 8-0 in a team-high 66 1/3 innings of work.  He closed out the campaign with a 3.53 ERA after allowing 26 earned runs on 44 hits in 13 appearnaces on the mound for the Red & Black.  He also struck out a team-high 46 batters, while allowing opposing hitters to hold just a .183 batting average against him.

He was also named to the All-PAC first-team after finishing the regular-season with a perfect 4-0 record in conference play.  He also collected one win and one save during the PAC tournament.

The Presidents (35-14), who finished the season with the most victories in school history, also claimed the 2009 Presidents’ Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament championships. 

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W&J'S HISTORIC SEASON COMES TO A CLOSE AGAINST JOHNS HOPKINS (5/15)

SALISBURY, Md. - The fifth-seeded Washington & Jefferson College baseball season saw its record-setting season come to a close on Friday evening after losing to defending NCAA Division III runner-up and seventh-seeded Johns Hopkins University by a 10-2 margin on Friday evening in an elimination game at the 2009 NCAA Division III South Region Tournament at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.

The Presidents (35-14) finished the year with the most victories in school history, while the senior class of Sean Boone (Pickerington, Ohio/North), Ian Poole (Fairview Park, Ohio/Fairview), Robert Timo (Irwin, Pa./Greensburg C.C.) and Dan Vietmeier (McKees Rocks, Pa./Montour) ended their career as the most successful class in school history with 124 wins.

The 2009 squad, who was the first in the program's 119-year history to make the NCAA Tournament, finished with a 2-2 record at the regional tournament after defeating Washington & Lee and York College.

The Blue Jays will now advance to tomorrow's 1:00 pm elimination game where they will battle fourth-seeded Christopher Newport to decide who faces second-seeded Shenandoah in tomorrow evening's championship round contest at 5:00 pm.

JHU (27-15) opened the contest with two runs in the top of the first inning.  The Blue Jays tacked on another run in the top of the fourth on junior catcher John Swarr's (Radnor, Pa./Conestoga) RBI single through the middle of the infield. 

W&J (35-14) cut into the Blue Jay lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, plating two runs on three hits.  Junior designated hitter Tyler Kaido (Zanesville, Ohio/Zanesville) {above} drove in the first run of the inning on a RBI single to left field, while junior third baseman Mike Kennedy (Hilliard, Ohio/Darby) brought home the second run of the frame on a run-scoring groundout to the shortstop.

Johns Hopkins stormed right back in the top of the fifth inning, scoring two runs with two outs to regain a three-run advantage. 

Sophomore right-hander Jordan Zivoder (Lyndhurst, Ohio/Brush) pitched the first five innings for the Red & Black.  He allowed four earned runs on 10 hits and struck out three Blue Jay hitters.

The Blue Jays added three more insurance runs in the top of the sixth inning off junior right-hander Tommy Brown (Wintersville, Ohio/Steubenville) to extend their lead to 8-2 after five and a half innings of play.

Vietmeier pitched the final two innings for the Presidents, allowing two runs on four hits in his final outing in a Presidents' uniform.

The Presidents were limited to just six hits on the evening, while the Blue Jays finished the game with 16 hits, including six doubles.

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W&J SETS SCHOOL RECORD FOR SINGLE-SEASON WINS; ADVANCES AGAIN AT NCAA SOUTH REGIONAL (5/15)

SALISBURY, Md. - The 2009 Washington & Jefferson College baseball team set the school record with its 35th victory of the season after defeating York College (Pa.) 4-1 on Friday afternoon in an elimination game at the NCAA Division III South Regional at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.

No. 5 W&J will now play its third-straight elimination game tonight at 7:45 pm against the defending NCAA Division III runner-up and No. 7 seed Johns Hopkins.  JHU eliminated top-seeded Salisbury by an 11-6 margin Friday morning.  The winner of the contest will move on to play the loser of the No. 4 Christopher Newport/No. 2 Shenandoah game on Saturday afternoon at 1:00 pm. 

The sixth-seeded Spartans (28-16) jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first after senior outfielder Ryan Poff (York, Pa./Spring Grove) doubled home a run. 

W&J (35-13) got the score back to even in the bottom of the fourth inning on a two-out, opposite-field home run by junior outfielder Neil Pascarella (Monongahela, Pa./Ringgold). 

The Presidents took their first lead of the contest in the bottom of the sixth inning after junior catcher Mark Thomchick (Indiana, Pa./Indiana) drove home junior outfielder Jim Pasquine (Poland, Ohio/Poland Seminary) on a sacrifice fly to center field.

Pasquine halted a possible Spartan rally in the top of the seventh inning after he cut off a sharply-hit ball and fired to second base to cut down first baseman C.T. Stanley (Timonium, Md./Calvert Hall College), who attempted to stretch the base hit into a double. 

Junior third baseman Mike Kennedy (Hilliard, Ohio/Darby) {above}  added an insurance run for the Presidents in the bottom of the seventh inning after blasting his third home run of the season over the left field wall.

W&J tacked on the final run of the game in the bottom of the eighth inning.  Pasquine led off with a double to left center field and came around to score on an error by Spartan third baseman Matt Monti (Easton, Pa./Easton). 

Sophomore pitcher Pat Kennedy (Westerville, Ohio/South), who picked up his seventh win, tossed his best performance of the year for the Presidents.  The right hander allowed just one earned run on seven hits in eight innings of work.  He also recorded five strikeouts.

Junior right-hander Mitch McClay (Washington, Pa./Trinity) threw the final inning and retired the side in order to pick up his team-leading third save.

Pasquine led W&J at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored. 

Only four teams remain at the tournament.  Johns Hopkins and Shenandoah meet at 4:30 pm with the winner advancing to the regional final. 

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PRESIDENTS EARN FIRST EVER NCAA VICTORY (5/14)

SALISBURY, Md. - Freshman right-hander Dave Trushel (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) {left}  stayed undefeated on the mound for the Washington & Jefferson College baseball team after allowing only three hits during an 8-3 victory over Washington and Lee University on Thursday morning in an elimination game of the NCAA Division III South Regional Tournament at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium in Maryland.

The win is W&J's first-ever victory in the NCAA Division III Baseball Tournament.  It also marks just the third Presidents' men's team to record a team victory in NCAA postseason play as the football and basketball teams have also notched NCAA triumphs throughout their histories. 

With the victory, the fifth-seeded Presidents (34-13) matched 2006 squad for the most single-season wins in the program's 119-year history.  The 2006 Presidents finished the season with an overall record of 34-13.

W&J wasted little time getting on the scoreboard as it plated five runs in the top of the first inning to jump on top of eighth-seeded W&L (22-15) by a 5-0 margin.

After loading the bases with two outs, junior Tyler Kaido (Zanesville, Ohio/Zanesville) drew a walk to bring home the first run, while the Presidents recorded their next three runs after Generals starting pitcher Brendan Clark (Rockville, Md./Richard Montgomery) committed an error on slow roller off the bat of junior outfielder Neil Pascarella (Monongahela, Pa./Ringgold).  Junior third baseman Mike Kennedy (Hilliard, Ohio/Darby) knocked in the final run of the inning on a single to left field.

The Presidents added two more runs in the top of the fourth inning to extend the lead to 7-0 after three and a half innings of play.  Junior outfielder Jim Pasquine (Poland, Ohio/Poland Seminary) singled in the first run of the inning, while junior catcher Mark Thomchick (Indiana, Pa./Indiana) recorded a sacrifice fly to center field to score sophomore centerfielder Andy Trettel (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny), who reached base on a bunt single.

Trushel continued his recent dominance on the hill for W&J, allowing just one hit in the first six innings of work.  The freshman set down four General hitters on strikes through six innings, while surrendering only one walk.

Pascarella added an insurance run for the Presidents in the top of the ninth inning on a two-out double to left field, while junior right-hander Mitch McClay (Washington, Pa./Trinity) closed the door on the Generals after recording the final three outs of the contest. 

Trushel (8-0) picked up his team-leading eighth victory of the season after throwing eight innings.  He allowed just three hits and one earned run and set down a season-high six batters on strikes.

Six different Presidents had at least one hit, while sophomore junior first baseman Frank Quirin (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic), Pascarella, Pasquine and sophomore shortstop Joe Bogdewiecz (Medina, Ohio/Akron Hoban) all finished the game with two hits a piece. 

Clark surrendered seven runs (three earned) on seven hits in five innings of work.  He struck out two Presidents and issued four walks. 

The Presidents will return to action tomorrow afternoon at 1:15 pm against the loser of the York (Pa.)-Shenandoah contest which is scheduled to be played tonight at 7:45 pm.  

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PRESIDENTS FALL IN NCAA OPENER, 5-3 (5/13)

SALISBURY, Md. - The Washington & Jefferson College baseball team suffered a 5-3 setback against Christopher Newport University (Va.) in the opening round of the NCAA Division III South Regional Tournament on Wednesday morning at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium in Maryland.

The Presidents (33-13), who are making their first-ever appearance in the national tournament, held a two-run lead after four and half innings of play, but a four-run, fifth-inning rally by CNU (25-11-2) proved to be too much for the Presidents to overcome.

The Presidents were retired in order in the first inning, but the Captains were able to get a run on the board after senior shortstop Trae Bailey (Chesapeake, Va./Great Bridge) belted a solo home run. 

Following two scoreless innings, sophomore center fielder Andy Trettel (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) drew a leadoff walk and junior pitcher Jim Pasquine (Poland, Ohio/Poland Seminary) followed with a single.  Junior rightfielder Neil Pascarella (Monongahela, Pa./Ringgold) then stepped up to the plate with two outs and roped a single to left field to tie the game.

The Presidents added another run in the top of the fifth inning on a two-out single to right center field off the bat of Pasquine to give W&J the first lead of the game, while sophomore shortstop Joe Bogdewiecz (Medina, Ohio/Akron Hoban) then tacked on another run for W&J after CNU pitcher Josh Brinkman (Newport News, Va./Hampton Christian) committed an error to give the Red & Black a 3-1 advantage.

CNU answered the Presidents' runs with a four spot in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring all four runs with two outs to reclaim a 5-3 lead after five innings.

Neither team was able to push any more runs across over the final four innings of play as the Captains claimed the 5-3 victory over W&J.

Pasquine suffered his third loss of the season in the two-run defeat, allowing five runs on six hits, while striking out eight Captains.  Brinkman picked up the win for Christopher Newport, while senior right-hander Kevin Moreland (Springfield, Va./Robert E. Lee) earned his fifth save of the season.  Brinkman limited the Presidents to three runs (two earned) in seven innings.  He struck out five. 

Pasquine and Pascarella both recorded two hits and one RBI to lead W&J.  Junior first baseman Chris Despins (Oak Hill, Va./Oak Hill) had two hits and knocked in a pair for the Captains from his cleanup spot in the order. 

The Presidents will now play the loser of the Salisbury/Washington & Lee contest on Thursday morning at 10:00 am at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.  CNU will play the winner of that game tomorrow at 4:30 pm. 

-- PRESIDENTS --

SEVEN PRESIDENTS EARN ALL-PAC BASEBALL HONORS;
JIM PASQUINE NAMED PLAYER OF THE YEAR (5/12)

WASHINGTON, Pa. -- Washington & Jefferson College placed seven players, including four first-teamers, on the 2009 All-Presidents’ Athletic Conference Baseball Teams released on Tuesday afternoon by the conference office.  Junior outfielder/right-handed pitcher Jim Pasquine (Poland, Ohio/Poland Seminary) {left} was also chosen as the PAC Player of the Year.

The squad currently holds an overall record of 33-12, which marks the second most victories in school history, and W&J finished as the regular-season champions in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference after posting a record of 13-5.  The Presidents then clawed their way back from the loser’s bracket to win the 2009 PAC Tournament last weekend, receiving the school’s first ever berth in the NCAA Division III Baseball Tournament.  

In addition, Presidents’ Head Coach Jeff Mountain was named the PAC Coach of the Year for the fourth time in his seven seasons at W&J.   

Pasquine earned his second consecutive First Team All-PAC honor, while sophomore shortstop Joe Bogdewiecz (Medina, Ohio/Akron Hoban), who also received first team laurels, notched his second-consecutive All-PAC honor after landing on the second team in 2008. 

Junior catcher Mark Thomchick (Indiana, Pa./Indiana) and freshman right-handed pitcher Dave Trushel (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) rounded out the list of Presidents on the first team, while juniors outfielder Neil Pascarella (Monongahela, Pa./Ringgold) and first baseman Frank Quirin (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) along with sophomore right-handed pitcher Pat Kennedy (Westerville, Ohio/South) were second-team honorees.

Pasquine has put together arguably the top all-around seasons in Washington & Jefferson baseball history, rewriting the Presidents’ record along the way.  After posting a single-season record .491 batting average through 45 games, Pasquine is now the school-record holder in single-season at-bats (173), single-season hits (85), single-season doubles (14), single-season runs scored (63), single-season stolen bases (20), single-season total bases (131) and single-season RBI (56).

Pasquine proved to be versatile as well throughout the season as he also holds a 3.21 ERA on the hill with an overall record of 5-2 and two saves.  In 52 innings, he allowed 22 earned runs on 40 hits and has struck out 35 batters.  Opposing hitters are batting just .206 against Pasquine in 194 total at-bats.
Thomchick earned first team honors after batting .336 at the plate with 43 hits, 39 RBI, 32 runs scored and a school record 11 home runs.  The junior is also a rock behind the plate for W&J as he hasn’t committed an error and has allowed only two passed balls in 43 total games. 

Bogdewiecz has been just as impressive thus far in the 2009 season.  The second-year shortstop is currently hitting .347 with 61 runs scored, 32 RBI and 19 extra base hits.  The 61 runs scored is the second-highest output by a W&J player in a single season, trailing only Pasquine in that category.
Trushel bolstered the Presidents pitching staff in 2009, compiling an ERA of 3.85 in 58 1/3 innings on the mound for the Red & Black.  He has accumulated a team-best record of 7-0 with one save in just 12 appearances this season. 

The freshman leads the team in innings pitched (58.1), wins (7), strikeouts (40) and opposing team batting average (.191).  After winning the first game of the 2009 PAC Tournament for W&J, Trushel took the ball two days later and closed out the first game against Thiel, throwing the final three innings of the contest.  He allowed just one earned run on one hit, while striking out three batters to earn the save.

Pascarella landed on the second team after finishing the season with .333 batting average in 41 total games.  He collected 45 hits, including 18 extra base hits (12-2B, 3-3B, 3-HR) to rack up a .533 slugging percentage.  The left-hander totaled 35 RBI and 22 runs scored in 135 at-bats for the Red & Black in 2009.

Quirin proved to be a solid bat in the Presidents’ lineup the entire season as the power hitting righty finished the season hitting .339 after starting in all but one game for W&J.  He collected 56 total hits and drove in 45 runs in 165 plate appearances throughout the campaign.

Kennedy provided yet another power arm in the Presidents’.  The sophomore finished the season with an ERA of 3.78 and currently holds an overall record of 6-2.  In 47 2/3 innings of work, he has allowed 20 earned runs on 39 hits, while setting down 28 batters down on strikes.  Opposing batters are hitting just .222 against Kennedy in 176 total plate appearances.

The PAC Tournament Championship was the sixth in the program’s history, including the fourth under Mountain’s direction (2004, 2006, 2007, 2009).  The seventh-year head coach now holds a career record of 181-112-1 at W&J and has helped the program gain national recognition.  With Mountain at the helm, W&J has had eight All-Region selections and the school’s first two All-Americans (2007 graduates Sam Mann and Shaun Pfeil).

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W&J WINS SIXTH PAC BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP (5/9)

WASHINGTON, Pa. -- Washington & Jefferson College capped a wild day with two victories over Thiel College to capture the 2009 Presidents' Athletic Conference Baseball Championship Tournament on Saturday at Ross Memorial Park.  The Presidents defeated Thiel, 18-17, in the first game behind a 16-run second inning and then earned the title with a 7-4 victory in the second championship game. 

W&J (33-12) won its sixth PAC baseball title in history, including its fourth under Head Coach Jeff Mountain (2004, 2006, 2007, 2009).  The Presidents' 33 victories are the second-most in school history and W&J looks to add to that total next week as it makes its first appearance in the NCAA Division III Tournament (May 13-17).  The regional pairings are expected to be announced Monday morning. 

The Tomcats (29-15) entered the day needing only one victory to win its first PAC crown since 2003.  Thiel seemed destined for that title after 1 ½ innings of game one after scoring eight times; however, the Presidents answered with a school-record 16 runs in the bottom of the second inning.  W&J had 11 hits during the inning and took advantage of one Thiel error.  Junior rightfielder Neil Pascarella (Monongahela, Pa./Ringgold) and sophomore centefielder Andy Trettel (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) both clubbed two-run homers during the rally.  Trettel also had a two-run double, while junior leftfielder Jim Pasquine (Poland, Ohio/Poland Seminary) notched a two-run triple. 

The Tomcat bats answered right back with six runs in the top of the third.  W&J added to its lead with single runs in the fourth and sixth innings and freshman pitcher David Trushel (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) allowed one run on one hit in the final three innings to collect the save. 

Senior pitcher Dan Vietmeier (McKees Rocks, Pa./Montour) earned the win for W&J after tossing 3 1/3 innings.  Cory Borland suffered the loss.  All nine starters for both teams recorded at least one hit. 

Junior third baseman Mike Kennedy (Hilliard, Ohio/Darby) led W&J with three hits and two runs scored, while freshman second baseman Aaron Klinec (Cleveland, Ohio/St. Ignatius) racked up three runs batted in. 

Sophomore Jordan Zivoder (Lyndhurst, Ohio/Brush) held Thiel in check in the second contest.  He allowed four runs on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings.  Senior Robert Timo (Irwin, Pa./Greensburg C.C.) came on to work the final 2 2/3 innings and only allowed two Tomcats to reach base. 

Pasquine drilled a two-run homer in the top of the first inning and senior catcher Mark Thomchick (Indiana, Pa./Indiana) added a solo shot in the fourth for a 3-0 lead.  Sophomore shortstop Joe Bogdewiecz (Medina, Ohio/Hoban) clubbed a two-run homer in the fifth for a 5-1 lead and Thomchick added a two-run blast in the eighth for insurance runs. 

Pasquine had three hits in game two and currently holds a .491 batting average with eight homers and 56 runs batted in. 

Josh Tedesco suffered the loss for the Tomcats after allowing seven runs on nine hits in 7 1/3 innings.  Matt Stumpf went 4-for-5 at the plate to lead the Tomcats.   

-- PRESIDENTS --

W&J EARNS SPOT IN 2009 PAC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME (5/9)

WASHINGTON, Pa. - The top-seeded Washington & Jefferson College baseball team earned a spot in the 2009 Presidents' Athletic Conference Tournament Championship game after defeating Grove City College 18-7 on Friday night at Ross Memorial Park.  The first pitch of the championship round has been changed to 1:00 pm from the originally scheduled noon start time.

W&J (31-12) got on the scoreboard first in the second inning, scoring six runs to jump on top of GCC (18-19) early in the contest.  Junior designated hitter Tyler Kaido (Zanesville, Ohio/Zanesville) drove in the first run of the game on a single to center field, while junior outfielder Neil Pascarella (Monongahela, Pa./Ringgold) {top right}  drove in two more runs on a single to center field.  Sophomores Joe Bogdewiecz (Medina, Ohio/Akron Hoban) and Andy Trettel (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) also added RBI for the Red & Black in the second frame.

The Wolverines cut into the Presidents lead in the bottom of the third as catcher Marcus Magister cracked a two run double to left center to narrow the lead to 6-2 after three innings of play.

The middle innings proved to be the deciding factor in the game as the Presidents outscored the Wolverines 7-3 and led 13-5 heading into the seventh inning.

The Red & Black added insurance runs in the seventh and eighth innings, plating five more runs, while GCC was only able to push two more runs across to help secure the Presidents' 11-run triumph.

Sophomore pitcher Pat Kennedy (Westerville, Ohio/South) picked up his sixth win of the season after hurling 5 2/3 innings on the hill.  He allowed just three earned runs on six hits and set down five GCC hitters on strikes.

Pascarella led all W&J hitters at the plate, going 3-for-4 with five RBI and three runs scored.  Kaido along with juniors Jim Pasquine (Poland, Ohio/Poland Seminary) and Frank Quirin (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) all added two hit performances for the Red & Black, while Trettel finished the day with one hit, one run and three RBI.

W&J will be looking to capture its first PAC Tournament title since the 2007 season when the Presidents defeated Thiel 6-0 in the championship game at Ross Memorial Park. W&J has claimed three conference titles this decade (2004, 2006, 2007).

The 2009 PAC Baseball Tournament champion will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III National Tournament, scheduled for the weekend of May 13-17, 2009.

-- PRESIDENTS --

LATE INNING RALLY LEADS THIEL OVER W&J, 8-6 (5/8)

WASHINGTON, Pa. - The top-seeded Washington & Jefferson College baseball team couldn't overcome a late-inning rally by the third-seeded Thiel College and the Tomcats recorded an 8-6 victory in the winner's bracket game of the 2009 Presidents' Athletic Conference Tournament on Friday afternoon at Ross Memorial Park.

With the victory, Thiel (29-13) advances to the championship round of the tournament, while W&J (30-12) will try to earn a spot in the championship round at 6:00 pm tonight in an elimination game against either the fourth-seeded Grove City or the second-seeded Thomas More.

Thiel (29-13), who was the home team in the contest, got on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the first inning on a two-run home run to right field off the bat of first baseman junior Justin Scarpitti (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep).

W&J (30-12) answered back in the top of the second inning with a RBI single from freshman leftfielder Brian Szabo (Hermitage, Pa./Hickory) and a run-scoring groundout off the bat of freshman second baseman Aaron Klinec (Cleveland, Ohio/St. Ignatius) that knotted the score up at 2-2 after one and a half innings of play.

Thiel tacked on another run in the bottom of the fourth frame on a home run down the left field line from senior left fielder Eric Boylan (McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto Rox) to go up 3-2.

The Presidents then rattled off the next three runs to take a 5-3 advantage into the bottom of the seventh inning.  Sophomore center fielder Andy Trettel (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) scored an unearned run in the fifth inning, while Klinec cracked a RBI single to center field in the sixth inning.  Junior left fielder Frank Quirin (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) added the fifth run in the seventh inning with a home run to left field.

The Tomcats took the lead back in the bottom of the seventh inning, 6-5, after plating three runs.  Senior shortstop Chad Ulogar (Willoughby, Ohio/South) knocked in a run on a single to center field, while Scarpitti brought home the final two runs on a RBI double to right center.

The Presidents tied the contest once again in the eighth inning on a RBI single up the middle by sophomore shortstop Joe Bogdewiecz (Medina, Ohio/Akron Hoban), but Thiel responded with two runs in the eighth inning off junior right-hander Mitch McClay (Washington, Pa./Trinity)  Left fielder Dave Nypaver (Williamsfield, Ohio/Howland) drilled a solo homer and and Ulogar added a RBI single.

W&J went scoreless in the top of the ninth enabling Thiel to advance to the championship round of the tournament, which will be held tomorrow afternoon at noon at Ross Memorial Park.

McClay picked up the loss for the Presidents, while senior right-hander Mark Brewer (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk) earned the win for the Tomcats after working the final 1 2/3 innings.  Brewer did not allow a hit. 

-- PRESIDENTS --

W&J ADVANCES TO FACE THIEL IN PAC BASEBALL TOURNAMENT (5/7)

WASHINGTON, Pa. - Washington & Jefferson freshman pitcher David Trushel (Bethel Park, Pa/Bethel Park) fired a complete game three-hitter to help lead the top-seeded Presidents to a 2-1 victory over No. 4 Grove City on Thursday in the opening round of the 2009 PAC Baseball Championship Tournament. 

The Presidents upped their season record to 30-11, while the Wolverines fell to 17-18.  W&J reached 30 victories for the fourth time in its history, all of which have come this decade under Head Coach Jeff Mountain. 

Washington & Jefferson battles Thiel in Friday's first game at noon.  The third-seeded Tomcats defeated No. 2 Thomas More 11-5 in the first game of the tournament. 

Junior leftfielder Jim Pasquine (Poland, Ohio/Poland Seminary) went 4-for-4 for the Presidents and scored both W&J runs. 

Washington & Jefferson scored first in the bottom of the first inning as Pasquine singled and scored on a wild pitch. 

Sophomore catcher Marcus Magister (Allison Park, Pa./Hampton), who had two of GCC's three hits, homered in the fourth inning to tie the contest. 

Pasquine doubled in the sixth and junior catcher Mark Thomchick (Indiana, Pa./Indiana) brought him home with a single to center field. 

Trushel struck out four Wolverines and walked four.  Juniors designated hitter Tyler Kaido (Zanesville, Ohio/Zanesville) and first baseman Frank Quirin (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) both added two hits. 

Junior hurler Mike Herringshaw (Chardon, Ohio/NDCL) suffered the loss for the Wolverines despite tossing a complete game.  He allowed 10 hits and fanned five. 

W&J took 2-of-3 games from Thiel during the regular season.  Tomorrow's game one winner will advance to the PAC Championship Game. 

-- PRESIDENTS --

PRESIDENTS EARN 5-3 VICTORY AGAINST FROSTBURG STATE IN FINAL GAME OF REGULAR SEASON (5/5)

WASHINGTON, Pa. -- The Washington & Jefferson College baseball team concluded its regular season with a 5-3 victory against Frostburg State on Tuesday evening at Ross Memorial Park.  The victory elevated the Presidents' record to 29-11 on the season, while also finishing in first place in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference with a record of 13-5.

FSU (24-13) got on the board first in the top of the second inning, but W&J answered in the bottom of the third frame as junior outfielder Jim Pasquine (Poland, Ohio/Poland Seminary) blasted his seventh home run of the season, a two-run shot over the center field wall to put the Presidents up 2-1.

W&J added insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to extend the lead to 5-1 heading into the ninth inning.  Junior Frank Quirin (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) drove in the fifth-inning run on a single to center field, while junior Tyler Kaido (Zanesville, Ohio/Zanesville) {top right} homered to right field in the sixth inning and then closed out the Presidents' scoring with a RBI double to left center in the seventh inning.

The Bobcats were able to work two more runs across in the top of the ninth, but it wasn’t enough as junior Mitch McClay (Washington, Pa./Trinity) retired the final batter of the game to secure the two-run victory.

The Presidents' pitching staff, comprised of seniors Robert Timo (Irwin, Pa./Greensburg C.C.) and Dan Vietmeier (McKees Rocks, Pa./Montour), juniors Tommy Brown (Wintersville, Ohio/Steubenville), Tom Dodd (Union City, Pa./Union City), Erik Fargo (Washington, Pa./Trinity) and McClay along with sophomore Jordan Zivoder (Lyndhurst, Ohio/Brush) combined to allow only one earned run on eight hits over the nine-inning contest.

Timo picked up the win for the Red & Black and improved to 2-0 on the season.  He pitched two innings on the hill for W&J and allowed one earned run on three hits, while setting one Bobcat hitter down on strikes.

Kaido led W&J at the plate with two hits, two RBI and one run scored, while Quirin added two hits, one RBI and one run scored.  Sophomore Andy Trettel (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) closed out the afternoon going 2-for-3 at the plate with a run scored.

The Presidents will be back in action on Thursday afternoon for the first round of the PAC Tournament which is being hosted at Ross Memorial Park.  The Red & Black will square off with fourth-seeded Grove City at 3:00 pm in the opening round, while second-seeded Thomas More and third-seeded Thiel meet at 12:00 pm in the other first round contest.

-- PRESIDENTS --

W&J DROPS FINAL PAC GAME AGAINST WAYNESBURG (5/3)

WASHINGTON, Pa. -- Juniors outfielder Jim Pasquine (Poland, Ohio/Poland Seminary) {left} and catcher Mark Thomchick (Indiana, Pa./Indiana) {bottom right} both had record-setting days at the plate for the Washington & Jefferson College baseball team, but their efforts weren’t enough as Waynesburg pulled out a 5-2 victory on Sunday afternoon at Ross Memorial Park.

The game was originally scheduled to be played at Waynesburg, but was moved to Washington due to poor field conditions.

Pasquine and Thomchick both broke single-season school records during the three-run loss.  Pasquine collected two hits on the afternoon, which catapulted him into the top spot on the single-season hits list with 72.  He passed current W&J assistant coach Shaun Pfeil (‘07) who previously held the record with 71 hits.  Thomchick broke the school record for home runs in a season as he smacked his ninth round tripper in the loss.  He passed Tim Boal '78 who was the previous record holder with eight homers.

Pasquine now holds three W&J single-season records as he also sits at the top of the RBI list with 49 and the runs scored category.  Pasquine and sophomore shortstop Joe Bogdewiecz (Medina, Ohio/Akron Hoban) have scored 55 times.

W&J (28-11, 13-5 PAC) jumped out to an early lead as it manufactured a run in the first inning on a Pasquine's RBI single which scored sophomore center fielder Andy Trettel (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny), who reached base on a single to left center.

The score remained the same heading into the bottom of the third inning when Waynesburg (18-21, 9-9 PAC) got on the scoreboard on a RBI single to right field from Rob Cool.

The Presidents got the run back in the top of the fourth on Thomchick’s home run, but the Yellow Jackets fought right back and added two runs of their own in the bottom of the fourth to take their first lead of the contest, 3-2.

The Yellow Jackets added insurance runs in the sixth and seventh innings, while keeping the Presidents offense in check to secure the three-run victory.

Sophomore right-hander Pat Kennedy (Westerville, Ohio/South) started the game on the mound for the Presidents and threw 5 1/3 innings and allowed four hits.  He gave up only one earned run and struck out four batters.

Pasquine paced the W&J offense, going 2-for-4 at the plate with one RBI, while Thomchick added the Red & Black’s other RBI.  Trettel finished the day with one hit and one run scored.

The W&J-Frostburg State game has been tentatively moved to Tuesday in Washington, Pa., at 5:00 pm.

-- PRESIDENTS --

W&J CLINCHES 2009 PAC REGULAR-SEASON TITLE (5/2)

WASHINGTON, Pa. -- The Washington & Jefferson College baseball team clinched the 2009 Presidents’ Athletic Conference regular-season championship and hosting rights for the 2009 PAC Tournament after a doubleheader sweep of Interstate 79 rival Waynesburg University on Senior Day at Ross Memorial Park.  The Presidents took game one from the Yellow Jackets 11-3 and earned a 5-2 victory in game two on Saturday afternoon.

Senior left-hander Ian Poole (Fairview Park, Ohio/Fairview), who has missed his senior season due to a shoulder injury, took the mound for the Presidents in game one and recorded the first out of the game.  The senior was then replaced by freshman right-hander Dave Trushel (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park), but not before a much-deserved standing ovation from his teammates and the crowd.

Senior catcher Sean Boone (Pickerington, Ohio/North) started game one for the Presidents and went one-for-one at the plate with a sacrifice bunt and one run scored. 

W&J (28-10, 13-4 PAC) wasted no time getting on the board in game one as it plated two runs in the bottom of the first frame.  Junior outfielder Jim Pasquine (Poland, Ohio/Poland Seminary) knocked in the first run on a RBI double, while junior Frank Quirin (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) drove home the second run of the inning on a run-scoring groundout to the shortstop.

Waynesburg (17-21, 8-9 PAC) finally got on the board in the top of the third inning, scoring two runs off Trushel.  The Yellow Jackets received RBI hits from Rob Cool Jr. and Anthony Defilippo to even the score up at 2-2. 

The Presidents answered with a run in the bottom half of the third on Pasquine’s sixth home run of the season, a shot over the right field wall.  W&J then tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to go ahead 6-2.

Sophomore shortstop Joe Bogdewiecz (Medina, Ohio/Akron Hoban) brought home the first run of the inning on a single to right field, while sophomore Andy Trettel (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) capped it with a two-run homerun to right field. 

The Red & Black then busted the game wide open in the bottom of the sixth inning as they scored five runs to extend their lead to 11-3.  Trettel plated the first two runs of the inning on a single to right field, while junior catcher Mark Thomchick (Indiana, Pa./Indiana) followed suit with a two-run RBI double.  Junior outfielder Neil Pascarella (Monongahela, Pa./Ringgold) closed out the inning with a RBI single to center field.

Trushel earned his team-leading sixth win of the season after throwing 5 1/3 innings.  He allowed eight hits and two earned runs, while junior right-hander Mitch McClay (Washington, Pa./Trinity) came in to close the game out for the Presidents.  He threw the final 1 1/3 innings and picked up his second save of the season. 

The Yellow Jackets struck first in game two, scoring a run off Pasquine, who started game two on the mound for W&J.  The Presidents answered back in the bottom of the first on Trettel’s second two-run homer of the afternoon.

After holding Waynesburg scoreless in the second inning, the Red & Black crossed the plate two more times in the second inning to grab the early 4-1 advantage.  Bogdewiecz drove home both runs in the second inning on his fifth home run of the season, a two-run shot over the center field wall.

The Presidents added an insurance run in the bottom of the third inning on Thomchick's RBI single.

The Yellow Jackets manufactured a run in the fifth inning, but it wasn’t enough as Pasquine picked up his fifth win of the season.  He finished the game throwing all seven innings and gave up two earned runs on just three hits. 

Trettel led all W&J hitters, going 4-for-6 with six RBI and four runs scored.  Bogdewiecz and Pasquine combined for nine hits, eight runs scored and five RBI, while Pascarella ended the day with two hits and one RBI.

The Presidents will be back in action tomorrow afternoon for a noon contest at Waynesburg.  The W&J-Frostburg State game has been tentatively moved to Tuesday in Washington, Pa., at 5:00 pm. 

-- PRESIDENTS --

W&J KNOCKS OFF NO. 23 PENN STATE-BEHREND (4/28)

WASHINGTON, Pa. -- The Washington & Jefferson College baseball team collected its 25th and 26th wins of the season on Tuesday afternoon after defeating the 23rd-ranked Penn State-Behrend College Lions in a doubleheader action at Ross Memorial Park.  The Presidents grabbed game one by a 9-4 margin and then earned a 6-1 triumph in the nightcap.

After sophomore shortstop Joe Bogdewiecz (Medina, Ohio/Akron Hoban) led off the game with a flyout to right field, the next nine batters reached base on way to a six-run first inning for W&J (24-10, 11-4 PAC).  Junior outfielder Jim Pasquine (Poland, Ohio/Poland Seminary) got the scoring started with a RBI triple to right field, while junior Frank Quirin (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) followed up with a RBI single to right field.  Junior outfielder Neil Pascarella (Monongahela, Pa./Ringgold), senior catcher Sean Boone (Pickerington, Ohio/North), freshman second baseman Aaron Klinec (Cleveland, Ohio/St. Ignatius) and Bogdewiecz all followed suit with run-scoring singles.

PSU-Behrend (27-9) was able to work single runs across the plate in the second and third innings off junior right-hander Tommy Brown (Wintersville, Ohio/Steubenville) to narrow the Presidents lead to 6-2.

W&J got one run back in the fourth on a RBI groundout by Pasquine and extended the lead to 8-3 in the fifth inning after Boone smacked the second home run of his career.  The Lions added another run in the top of the sixth to bring the score to 8-4, but W&J answered with another run in the bottom of the sixth on a sacrifice fly from Quirin to make the score 9-4.

Junior right-hander Mitch McClay (Washington, Pa./Trinity) worked the final 2 1/3 innings of the contest to finish off the game for the Red & Black.  Brown earned his fifth win of the season after hurling 4 2/3 innings and allowing three earned runs on eight hits.

The two squads played one and a half innings of scoreless ball to open game two, but W&J got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second inning on a sacrifice fly to right field off the bat of freshman second baseman Jared Patton (Sandusky, Ohio/Perkins). 

The Presidents then broke the game wide open in the bottom of the third inning as they plated five runs on five hits to grab a 6-0 advantage after three innings of play.  Sophomore centerfielder Andy Trettel (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny), who reached base on a single to right field, scored the first run of the inning after a wild pitch.  Quirin drove home his third RBI of the day on a single to center field, while Pascarella and Patton closed out the inning with back-to-back RBI hits.

PSU-Behrend scored one run in the top of the fourth inning, but were not able to get to senior right-hander Dan Vietmeier (McKees Rocks, Pa./Montour) {top right} in any other innings.  Vietmeier posted his first complete game of the season and his second victory.  He allowed just four hits and stuck out three batters. 

The Presidents were the first team of the 2009 campaign to defeat PSU-Behrend starting pitcher David Koerbel.  Koerbel, who leads the Lions in strikeouts with 61, came into the game with a perfect 8-0 record and an ERA of 3.21.

Quirin led all W&J hitters on the afternoon with four hits, three RBI and two runs scored.  Boone finished the day 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBI and two runs scored, while Patton racked up three RBI.  Pasquine also added three hits, three runs scored and two RBI to close out the Presidents' offensive attack.

W&J returns to action on Thursday afternoon when traveling to Frostburg State for a 4:00 pm contest with the Bobcats in Maryland.

-- PRESIDENTS --

W&J EARNS DOUBLEHEADER SWEEP OVER LAROCHE (4/26)

WASHINGTON, Pa. -- Junior catcher Mark Thomchick (Indiana, Pa./Indiana) connected on his team-leading seventh and eighth homeruns on Sunday afternoon at Ross Memorial Park as the Washington & Jefferson College baseball team swept La Roche in a non-conference doubleheader.  W&J (24-10, 11-4 PAC) came from behind to claim an 8-7 advantage in the first game and cruised by the Redhawks by a 14-1 margin in the nightcap.

La Roche (12-20) jumped on top early in game one, scoring four runs in the first inning off senior right-hander Robert Timo (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg C.C.) on four hits and one Presidents’ error.  LC added another run in the top of the second to secure an early 5-0 advantage.

W&J narrowed the Redhawk lead to 5-2 in the bottom of the second inning as sophomore catcher Marc Lubline (South Euclid, Ohio/Brush) and freshman outfielder Brian Szabo (Hermitage, Pa./Hickory) both drove in runs for the Presidents.

After LaRoche scored another run in the top of the fourth, W&J loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth and sent pinch hitter junior outfielder Neil Pascarella (Monongahela, Pa./Ringgold) to the plate.  Pascarella took the first good pitch he saw and drove it over the right field wall for a game-tying grand slam.  It was Pascarella’s second round tripper of the 2009 campaign.

The score remained the same over the next two frames, sending the game into extra innings.  The Redhawks got on the board first after junior third baseman Mike Kennedy (Hilliard, Ohio/Darby) sailed a throw past the first baseman, allowing the Redhawk baserunner who was on first to come around and put LC up 7-6.

The Presidents fought right back in the bottom of the eighth as junior outfielder Dave Dimperio (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) {top right} opened up the inning with a double to the right center gap.  Kennedy than stepped up to the plate and ripped a double into the left center gap to score Dimperio and tie the game up at 7-7.

After issuing two intentional walks to sophomores Andy Trettel (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) and Joe Bogdewiecz (Medina, Ohio/Akron Hoban), freshman pinch hitter Jared Patton (Sandusky, Ohio/Perkins) sent a deep fly ball to center field, scoring Kennedy from third base for the game winner.

Junior right-hander Tommy Brown (Wintersville, Ohio/Steubenville) picked up the win for W&J after coming into the game in the sixth inning.  Brown finished the game surrendering one unearned run without allowing a hit in 1 2/3 innings of work.

W&J wasted little time grabbing the early lead in game two as it received the first of Thomchick’s two home runs in the first inning for a 3-0 advantage.  Bodgewiecz and junior outfielder Jim Pasquine (Poland, Ohio/Poland Seminary) came around to score on the homer. 

Sophomore starting pitcher Jordan Zivoder (Lyndhurst, Ohio/Brush) held the Redhawks scoreless over the first three frames and the Presidents' bats exploded for 11 runs in the bottom of the third inning to put the game out of reach.

Patton hit his first career grand slam, while Thomchick blasted his second home run of the game in the 11-run outburst.  Pascarella also knocked in a run for W&J during the frame.  In all, W&J scored 11 runs on seven hits and one Redhawk error to post a 14-0 lead.

LaRoche manufactured one run in the top of the fourth inning, but could not recover from the early hole. 

Zivoder picked up the game two victory on the hill after working five innings and allowing one earned run on four LC hits.  He also set three batters down on strikes on way to earning his first victory. 

Thomchick led all W&J hitters, going 2-for-4 at the plate with six RBI and two runs scored.  Pascarella and Patton combined for nine RBI and three runs scored.  Pasquine finished the day with a team-high four hits and added three runs scored and one RBI. 

The Presidents will be back in action on Tuesday afternoon when hosting Penn State-Behrend at Ross Memorial Park.  First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 4:00 pm.

-- PRESIDENTS --

PRESIDENTS AND WOLVERINES SPLIT PAC DOUBLEHEADER (4/25)

GROVE CITY, Pa. -  The Washington & Jefferson College baseball squad split a PAC doubleheader with Grove City College on Saturday afternoon at College Field in Grove City, Pa., winning game one 9-4, before falling 10-6 in the nightcap. 

The Presidents did; however, win the season series after defeating GCC 24-10 on Friday night at Ross Memorial Park.  W&J (22-10, 11-4 PAC) has now won five straight Presidents' Athletic Conference series and sits in first place in the PAC baseball standings.  The Presidents can clinch the regular-season championship and hosting rights of the 2009 PAC Tournament by winning one of their final three games against cross-town rival Waynesburg next weekend.

W&J and GCC (12-17, 5-9 PAC) played two scoreless innings to start game one, before W&J finally struck for two runs in the top of the third inning.  Junior outfielder Frank Quirin (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) drove in a run for W&J in the third on a RBI single, while freshman shortstop Aaron Klinec (Cleveland, Ohio/St. Ignatius) also crossed the plate for the Red & Black in the frame.

The Presidents then exploded for seven runs in the top of the fourth inning to put the game out of reach.  Junior third baseman Mike Kennedy (Hilliard, Ohio/Darby) opened the inning with a RBI single, while Klinec plated the second run of the frame.  Quirin and Sophomore centerfielder Andy Trettel (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) also knocked in runs for the Presidents during the seven-run inning, while junior catcher Mark Thomchick (Indiana, Pa./Indiana) {right}  finished it off with a two-run home run.

The Wolverines attempted to climb back into the contest, scoring one run in the fifth and three more in the sixth, but freshman starting pitcher Dave Trushel (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) kept GCC scoreless in the seventh inning to grab his fifth victory of the season.

Trushel, who holds a perfect record of 5-0 in 2009, allowed four runs on five hits, while setting down five GCC hitters on strikes in.

After W&J opened game two with a run in the top of the first on a RBI ground out from junior outfielder Jim Pasquine (Poland, Ohio/Poland Seminary), the Wolverines answered with a five-run outburst in the bottom of the frame to take a 5-1 advantage.  Shortstop Ben Wilson capped off the Wolverine first inning with a two-run triple.

The Presidents fought right back and put up a four spot in the second inning to even the score up at 5-5 after one and a half innings of play.  Sophomore catcher Marc Lubline (South Euclid, Ohio/Brush) brought home the first run of the inning on a RBI double.  Sophomores Joe Bogdewiecz (Medina, Ohio/Akron Hoban) and Cory Swope (Zanesville, Ohio/Zanesville) both added RBIs for the Presidents and Quirin finished off the inning after being hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. 

GCC came right back and answered the Presidents four-run outburst with a three-run inning of its own to reclaim the lead, 8-5, after two innings of play.  The Wolverines tacked another run on in the bottom of the third to lead 9-5 after three innings.

The Presidents struck for another run in the top of the fourth on Pasquine's RBI single, but were not able to manufacture any more runs the rest of the way.

Junior right-hander Mitch McClay (Washington, Pa./Trinity) picked up the loss for the Presidents on the mound in game two after allowing six runs on eight hits in just two innings of work.

Pasquine, who leads W&J in hitting with a .472 batting average, led the W&J lineup on the afternoon with four hits, three RBI and one run scored.  Quirin finished the afternoon with three hits, four RBI and one run scored, while Thomchick added two hits, two RBI and one run scored to close out the W&J offensive attack.

W&J will return to Ross Memorial Park tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 pm when hosting La Roche College for a doubleheader.

-- PRESIDENTS --

W&J CRUISES PAST GROVE CITY, 24-10 (4/24)

WASHINGTON, Pa. -- For just the third time in 11 years, the Washington & Jefferson College baseball team recorded a 20-plus scoring effort on Friday evening at Ross Memorial Park, defeating Grove City College 24-10.  It was the second time this season the Presidents posted 20 or more runs in a game as they defeated Bethany 27-2 back on March 30th.

Grove City led briefly in the contest after one inning of play, 2-1, on a two-run homerun off the bat of Marcus Magister.

After GCC (11-16, 4-8 PAC) went scoreless in the top of the second, the W&J (21-9, 10-3 PAC) bats erupted for nine runs in the bottom of the second frame to take a 10-2 advantage.  Junior outfielder Neil Pascarella (Mongahela, Pa./Ringgold) got the inning started with a two-run home run over the center field wall, while sophomore center fielder Andy Trettel (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) and junior left fielder Jim Pasquine (Poland, Ohio/Poland Seminary) also went deep in the frame.  Trettel’s was a three-run shot over the right centerfield wall, while Pasquine sent his out down the right field line.  Sophomore shortstop Joe Bogdewiecz (Medina, Ohio/Akron Hoban) {above}  and junior designated hitter Tyler Kaido (Zanesville, Ohio/Zanesville) also added RBI hits in the inning.

The Presidents than tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the third to stretch the lead out to 12-2.  Pasquine and junior Frank Quirin (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) drove in the runs for the Red & Black in the third.

Grove City was able to work across two runs in the top of the fifth inning on a two-run double by Scott Moran, but W&J would put the game out of reach in its next two times at bat, scoring four runs in the fifth and five more in the sixth.  The Presidents led by a 21-4 margin after six innings of play.

GCC didn’t go down quietly with runs in each of the last three innings, including a four-run outburst in the seventh.  The Presidents also added three more runs in the bottom of the eighth, including a RBI single from senior left handed pitcher Ian Poole (Fairview Park, Ohio/Fairview), who appeared in his first game of the 2009 campaign after suffering an offseason injury to his throwing shoulder.

Sophomore right-hander Pat Kennedy (Westerville, Ohio/South) picked up his team-leading fifth victory after throwing five innings, allowing three hits and four earned runs. 

In all, 28 W&J players saw action in the contest and 15 different players recorded base hits.  Bogdewiecz led all hitters, going 4-for-5 at the plate with four runs scored and three RBI.  Quirin and Trettel both finished the contest with three hits and combined for five RBI and four runs scored. 

The Presidents and Wolverines will conclude their three-game set tomorrow afternoon at College Field in Grove City, Pa.  The first pitch is scheduled for 1:00 pm.

-- PRESIDENTS --

PRESIDENTS REMAIN AT THE TOP OF THE PAC STANDINGS (4/23)

WASHINGTON, Pa. -- The Washington & Jefferson College baseball team earned an 11-10 triumph over Thomas More after falling 6-5 in a suspended game from April 15th on Thursday afternoon at Ross Memorial Park.

Following this afternoon’s results, W&J (20-9, 9-3 PAC) remains in first place in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference baseball standings, while TMC (23-8-1, 8-4 PAC) sits in second place.  The Presidents can clinch the regular-season championship and hosting rights for the conference tournament by winning five of their last six remaining PAC contests.

The Presidents and Saints picked up the suspended game in the top of 12th inning with the score tied up at 3-3.  After playing a scoreless 12th, W&J struck for two runs in the top of the 13th on a RBI hits from junior first baseman Tyler Kaido (Zanesvile, Ohio/Zanesville) and sophomore centerfielder Andy Trettel (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny).

The Saints came fighting right back and scored two runs of their own in the bottom half of the 13th on a two-run triple down the right field line off the bat of Sam Schmeltzer.

After holding the Presidents scoreless in the top of the 14th, TMC manufactured a run in the bottom half of the frame to record the one-run victory.  Nick Calhoun drove in the game winning run for the Saints with a single to right field.

The Saints jumped on top early in the nine-inning contest, scoring two runs in the opening frame on a two-out two-run single up the middle off the bat of Marty Kersting, but W&J fought right back and put up a four-spot in the bottom half of the frame to earn the early 4-2 advantage.  Junior first baseman Frank Quirin (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) drove in the first two runs on a RBI double, while junior catcher Mark Thomchick (Indiana, Pa./Indiana) also added a run-scoring single.

The Saints' bats remained hot in the top of the second as they were able to push three more runs across the board off freshman starter Dave Trushel (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) to reclaim the lead 5-4 after just one and a half innings of play.  Schmeltzer was responsible for all three runs as he blasted a two-out homerun over the right field wall, scoring Chris Fishburn and Nick Zeiser.

W&J again came storming right back and posted a two-run second inning.  Sophomore shortstop Joe Bogdewiecz (Medina, Ohio/Akron Hoban) and junior left fielder Jim Pasquine (Poland, Ohio/Poland Seminary) both drove home runs for the Presidents .

Senior right-hander Robert Timo (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg C.C.) replaced Trushel in the top of the third, but only lasted 2/3 of an inning after surrendering four runs on four hits.  Three of the four runs were unearned after the Presidents made two costly errors in the inning.

Washington & Jefferson got one of the runs back in the bottom of the third on a RBI single up the middle from Kaido, making the score 9-7 in favor of TMC after three innings of play.

Junior right-hander Tommy Brown (Wintersville, Ohio/Steubenville) {top right} came into the game for the Presidents and worked four-straight innings of shutout ball, allowing the Presidents’ offense to work their way back into the ballgame.

W&J narrowed its deficit in the bottom of the fourth after Pasquine reached on a fielder's choice and eventually came around to score on a wild pitch.  W&J then grabbed two more runs in the bottom of the seventh to gain their first lead since the second inning, 10-9.  Junior third baseman Mike Kennedy (Hilliard, Ohio/Darby) knocked in the game-tying run with a single to left field, while freshman second baseman Aaron Klinec (Cleveland, Ohio/St. Ignatius) put the Presidents ahead on a safety squeeze.

The Saints wouldn’t go away though as they tied the game in the top of the eighth as Spencer Franzreb sent a Brown pitch over the left field wall to bring the score back to even.

W&J closed out the contest in the bottom of the eighth as Quirin came all the way around from first base to score the game winning run after the TMC left fielder misplayed a flyball.

Junior right-hander Mitch McClay (Washington, Pa./Trinity) entered the game for W&J in the top of the ninth and shut the door on the Saints offense, retiring the side in order to earn his first save of the 2009 campaign.

Brown, who worked 5 1/3 innings, allowed three hits and one run on way to earning his third victory of the season. 

W&J was led by Kaido and Pasquine  as the duo combined for six hits, three runs scored and two RBI.  Bodgewiecz and Kennedy both added two hits, one run and one RBI, while Quirin closed out the contest with two RBI and two runs scored.

The Presidents return to Ross Memorial Park tomorrow afternoon when hosting Grove City at 4:00 pm.

-- PRESIDENTS --

W&J COMPLETES SEASON SWEEP OF SAINT VINCENT (4/18)

LATROBE, Pa. -- The Washington & Jefferson College baseball team completed its season sweep of Presidents’ Athletic Conference provisional member Saint Vincent College on Saturday afternoon, sweeping the Bearcats in a doubleheader in Latrobe.  The Presidents won game one 4-2 and used a late inning charge to defeat SVC, 11-1, in the nightcap.

The victories will not count towards W&J’s PAC record due to SVC’s provisional status in both the PAC and NCAA Division III.

W&J jumped on top of SVC early in game one, scoring runs in both the first and second innings for a 2-0 advantage.  Junior outfielder Frank Quirin (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) drove home the Presidents’ first run on a RBI single to left field and junior Mike Kennedy (Hilliard, Ohio/Darby) {right} crossed the plate for W&J in the second inning after a RBI groundout by sophomore shortstop Joe Bogdewiecz (Medina, Ohio/Akron Hoban).

The Red & Black struck again in the fourth and fifth innings to extend the lead.  Senior catcher Sean Boone's (Pickerington, Ohio/North) sacrifice fly scored the first run, while junior outfielder Jim Pasquine (Poland, Ohio/Poland Seminary) scored the final run. 

Saint Vincent attempted to claw its way back into the contest, scoring two runs off starting pitcher junior Tommy Brown (Wintersville, Ohio/Steubenville) in the bottom of the sixth on a two-run double to center field off the bat of Kenny Primeaux.

Senior relief pitcher Robert Timo (Irwin, Pa./Greensburg C.C.) replaced Brown in the seventh inning for W&J and retired the side in order to pick up his first save.  Brown notched his second win of the season after allowing two earned runs on seven hits in six innings of work.  He also finished the day with three punchouts.

Saint Vincent struck first in game two, scoring a run in the bottom of the second inning on a RBI single off the bat of Mike Hustava.

W&J answered with a run of its own in the top of the third as Bogdewiecz crossed the plate after SVC starting pitcher Jeremy Mains was called for a balk.

The Presidents were held scoreless over the next two frames, but then broke out for seven runs in the top of the sixth inning.  Quirin capped off the seven-run outburst with a two-run homerun, his team-best fifth of the season, while Bogdewiecz and Pasquine also added RBI base hits for the Presidents.

W&J closed out the scoring in game two with three more runs.  Freshman infielder Aaron Klinec (Cleveland, Ohio/St. Ignatius) and Bogdeweicz both drove in runs for the Presidents in the seventh inning.

Senior right-hander Dan Vietmeier (McKees Rocks, Pa./Montour) picked up the win for W&J in game two, throwing six innings and allowing eight hits and one earned run, while setting five SVC batters down on strikes. 

Bogdewiecz finished the afternoon with three hits, three runs scored and three RBI, while Quirin added three RBI’s on two hits. 

The Presidents return to Ross Memorial Park on Wednesday afternoon when hosting Thomas More.  The two squads will resume their suspended game from April 15th prior to the start of the originally scheduled 3:00 pm nine-inning contest.  The Presidents and Saints will pick up the suspended in the top of the 11th inning with the score knotted up at 3-3.

-- PRESIDENTS --

BIG FIRST INNING LIFTS PRESIDENTS OVER BEARCATS (4/17)

WASHINGTON, Pa. -  Washington & Jefferson College scored seven runs in the first inning and rolled to a 13-3 victory over Saint Vincent on Friday afternoon in PAC baseball action at Ross Memorial Park. 

The game will not count towards league standings due to SVC's NCAA Division III provisional status. 

The Presidents (17-8) received six shutout innings from sophomore right-handed starter Pat Kennedy (Westerville, Ohio/South) {left}, who upped his record to 4-1.  He allowed four hits and struck out four Bearcats. 

Freshman designated hitter Ryan Verlihay (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk) led the lineup with a 3-for-3 day at the plate.  He scored two runs and drove in two others. 

Verlihay singled home a run in the first inning, while junior third baseman Mike Kennedy (Hilliard, Ohio/Darby) added a two-run single.  Verlihay highlighted a three-run second inning with a RBI double.  He also scored on a balk as W&J built a 10-0 lead after two innings. 

Nine different Presidents recorded a hit in the victory, including two by Mike Kennedy.  Junior leftfielder Jim Pasquine (Poland, Ohio/Poland Seminary) also extended his hit streak to nine games. 

Saint Vincent starting pitcher Jeremy Mains suffered the loss after only recording two outs.  He gave up seven runs (four earned) and walked three Presidents. 

W&J and SVC (5-24) will play the final two games of the three-game set tomorrow at Bearcat Park in Latrobe, Pa., at 1:00 pm. 

-- PRESIDENTS --

W&J TAKES GAME ONE FROM TMC, GAME TWO SUSPENDED DUE TO DARKNESS IN 11TH INNING (4/15)

CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky. -- The Washington & Jefferson College baseball picked up a key Presidents' Athletic Conference win against Thomas More College on Wednesday afternoon by a margin of 6-1, but were unable to complete the conference sweep after game two was suspended following 10 innings due to darkness with the score tied 3-3.

The two squads will resume play in the top of the 11th inning next Wednesday at 3:00 pm when TMC travels to Ross Memorial Park.  The originally scheduled nine-inning game will begin immediately following the conclusion of the suspended game.

With the game one victory, W&J (16-8, 8-2 PAC) now stands alone in first place in the PAC baseball standings.

Thomas More (20-5-1, 5-2 PAC) got on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the first frame on a two-out solo home run by reigning PAC Player of the Week Andrew Thole.

After playing two innings of scoreless ball, W&J responded and pushed two runs across in the top of the fourth inning to take a 2-1 advantage.  Junior outfielder Frank Quirin (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) drove in the first run on a RBI double to left field, while junior third baseman Mike Kennedy (Hilliard, Ohio/Darby) brought home the second run of the inning on a suicide-squeeze bunt that scored Quirin from third base.

Junior outfielder Jim Pasquine (Poland, Ohio/Poland Seminary) increased the Presidents' lead to 3-1 in the top of the fifth on a RBI double to right centerfield.

Freshman right-hander Dave Trushel (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) continued his recent dominance on the hill for W&J, allowing only one hit (Thole's home run) in his first five innings of work.  He also set down four Saints hitters on strikes through the first five frames.

After Trushel again held the Saints scoreless in the sixth inning, the Presidents added three more insurance runs on junior catcher Mark Thomchick's (Indiana, Pa./Indiana) {top right} three-run homer.

Trushel, who improved his 2009 record to 4-0 with the victory, completed his one-hit masterpiece by getting TMC centerfielder Max Robbins to ground into a double play to end the contest.  The freshman right-hander picked up his first complete game in a W&J uniform, struck out five Saints.

Quirin and Pasquine both went 2-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored and one RBI.

The Presidents opened game two picking right up were they left off in game one, scoring a run in the top of the first.  Sophomore shortstop Joe Bogdewiecz (Medina, Ohio/Akron Hoban) led off the inning with a single to right center, then stole second base and advanced to third on a throwing error by the catcher.  Pasquine sent a fly ball into center field that was deep enough to score Bogdewiecz for the first run of the contest.

W&J tacked on another run in the top of the third inning on Quirin's RBI single that plated sophomore second baseman Cory Swope (Zanesville, Ohio/Zanesville). 

The Presidents extended their lead to 3-0 in the fifth inning when Bogdewiecz crossed the plate for the Presidents.  The Saints responded and scored two runs in the bottom half of the fifth inning and one more in the bottom of the sixth to knot the score up at three a piece.

W&J and TMC then played five-straight innings of scoreless ball before the game was halted after the bottom of the tenth frame due to darkness.

The Presidents return to action on Friday afternoon when hosting Saint Vincent at 4:00 pm at Ross Memorial Park.  The result of the contest will not affect W&J's PAC record due to SVC's provisional status in both the PAC and NCAA Division III.

-- PRESIDENTS --

W&J AND THIEL SPLIT KEY PAC DOUBLEHEADER (4/11)

WASHINGTON, Pa. - The Washington & Jefferson College baseball team used a six-run, sixth inning rally to earn a 7-2 victory against Thiel College in the second game of a Presidents' Athletic Conference doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Ross Memorial Park.  W&J (15-8, 7-2 PAC) fell in game one by a margin of 6-4.

Thiel (18-9, 10-5 PAC) struck first in game one, scoring an unearned run in the top of the first inning, but W&J answered with runs in the bottom of the second and third innings to take a 2-1 lead after three innings of action.  Junior third baseman Mike Kennedy (Hilliard, Ohio/Darby) drove in the second-inning run with a RBI double to left field, while junior Jim Pasquine (Poland, Ohio/Poland Seminary) added a run-scoring ground out in the third.

The Tomcats fought right back and tied the contest up at 2-2 with a run in the top of the fourth and notched a 5-2 lead after plating three runs in the top of the sixth inning.  W&J got two of the runs back in the bottom half of the sixth to narrow the Thiel lead to 5-4, but TC received an insurance run in the top of the seventh to secure the 6-4 road PAC victory.

Pasquine, who started the game on the mound for W&J, earned his first loss of the season after giving up five runs (three earned) on four hits, while walking three and striking out two.

The Presidents jumped on top early in game two, scoring a run in the bottom half of the first inning on Pasquine's RBI single.

Sophomore right-hander Pat Kennedy (Westerville, Ohio/South) held the Thiel offense down over the first four frames, before the Tomcats finally got to him for a run in the top of the fifth on a RBI single from Matt Stumpf (McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto Rox).

With the score tied at one, Thiel was able to push another run across in the top of the sixth to take a 2-1 into the bottom half of the sixth inning.

The Presidents' bats then exploded for six runs on five hits to retake the lead, 7-2.  Sophomore shortstop Joe Bogdewiecz (Medina, Ohio/Akron Hoban) drove in the game-tying run on a single down the left field line that brought around pinch runner Brian DeFranco (Steubenville, Ohio/Steubenville C.C.) from second base.

With the bases loaded and nobody out, Pasquine than stepped up to the plate and ripped a single to the gap that drove in two Presidents.  Juniors Frank Quirin (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) {above}, Tyler Kaido (Zanesville, Ohio/Zanesville) and Mike Kennedy added RBIs to close out the six-run inning.

Pat Kennedy picked up his second win of the 2009 campaign after allowing just one earned run on five hits in six innings of work.  He also set down three Tomcats batters on strikes on the afternoon.

Pasquine paced the W&J offensive unit, going 3-for-7 at the plate with four RBI and two runs scored, while Bogdewiecz finished the doubleheader with two hits and three runs scored.

The Presidents travel to Thomas More on Tuesday afternoon for a battle for first place in the PAC.  First pitch from Crestview Hills, Ky., is scheduled for 1:00 pm.

-- PRESIDENTS --

KENNEDY’S HOME RUN LIFTS W&J OVER THIEL (4/9)

GREENVILLE, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College baseball remains in first place in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference standings after defeating Thiel College, 4-3, on Thursday afternoon. 

With the scored tied 2-2 heading into the top of the ninth, junior third baseman Mike Kennedy (Hilliard, Ohio/Darby) {right} stepped up to the plate with a runner on second base and smacked his second home run of the season to lead W&J to the 4-3 road PAC victory.

With the victory, W&J (14-7, 6-1 PAC) remains at the top of the PAC standings, while Thomas More (16-4-1, 2-1 PAC) and Thiel (17-8, 9-4 PAC) round out the top three in the league.

After three scoreless innings, W&J finally got on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth inning.  Junior outfielder/reliever Jim Pasquine (Poland, Ohio/Poland Seminary) singled up the middle and moved to third on an errant pick-off attempt by Thiel starting pitcher Josh Tedesco (Campbell, Ohio/Ursuline).  Junior outfielder Neil Pascarella (Monongahela, Pa./Ringgold) brought Pasquine home on a two-out triple to right center field.

Freshman right-handed pitcher Dave Trushel (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) stymied the Tomcat bats through the first four innings, scattering just two hits and setting two batters down on strikes without surrendering a walk.

The Tomcats answered the Presidents' fourth inning score with two runs in the bottom of the fifth on a two-out RBI double to right center by Andrew Howard (Olney, Md./Sherwood). 

The Presidents tacked on another run in the top of the eighth on a RBI single from junior outfielder Frank Quirin (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) that scored Pasquine from second base.

After surrendering a leadoff hit in the bottom of the eighth, Trushel settled in and got Justin Scarpitti (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep.) to ground into an inning-ending double play. 

Pasquine took the hill in the bottom of the ninth and picked up his team-leading second save of the season.  After allowing a two-out RBI single to left field by pinch hitter Chris Dunham (Conneaut Lake, Pa./Linesville), Pasquine retired the final batter of the game on a groundout to second base. 

Trushel moved his 2009 record to a perfect 3-0 after allowing just two runs on three hits in eight innings of work, while striking out five Tomcats.

Pasquine led the W&J offensive attack with three hits and one run scored, while Kennedy drove in two runs on the ninth-inning home run.  Pascarella and Quirin both finished the game with one hit and one RBI to round out the W&J scoring.

The Presidents and Tomcats will conclude their three-game set on Saturday afternoon at Ross Memorial Park.  The first pitch is scheduled for 1:00 pm.

-- PRESIDENTS --

EARLY DEFICIT TOO MUCH TO OVERCOME FOR W&J AGAINST DENISON (4/8)

WASHINGTON, Pa. -- Junior outfielder Jim Pasquine (Poland, Ohio/Poland Seminary) {right} smacked two home runs, including his second grand slam in less than a week, but it wasn’t enough as the Washington & Jefferson College baseball team fell just short, 10-9, against Denison University on Wednesday evening at Ross Memorial Park.

After trailing 10-6 heading into the bottom of the ninth inning, W&J (13-7) rallied to score three runs on RBI hits off the bats of sophomore shortstop Joe Bogdewiecz (Medina, Ohio/Akron Hoban) and Pasquine to narrow the Big Red lead to 10-9.  The Presidents were not able to get the tying run across after stranding runners on first base and third base to end the game.

Denison opened up the scoring in the top of the second inning, plating three runs on three hits and two Presidents’ errors.  Junior Aidan Lucas led off the inning with a home run over the center field wall.

W&J put a run on the board in the bottom of the fourth on single by junior designated hitter Mark Thomchick (Indiana, Pa./Indiana), but the Big Red followed with one run in the fifth and three more in the sixth inning to take a 7-1 lead into the bottom of the sixth inning.

Pasquine cracked the first of his two home runs, a solo shot to lead off the sixth inning, to cut the Denison lead to five (7-2).

Denison lit up the scoreboard once again in the seventh inning, but W&J crawled back into the contest after Pasquine hit a grand slam, his second homer in as many innings, to make the score 8-6. 

Denison grabbed two key insurance runs in the top of the ninth to help secure the 10-9 road victory.

Pasquine led all W&J hitters at the plate, collecting four hits, a career-high seven RBIs and three runs scored.  Bogdewiecz added three hits, two runs scored and one RBI, while the rest of the team combined for just four hits.

Junior right-handed pitcher Tommy Brown (Wintersville, Ohio/Steubenville) received the loss on the mound for the Presidents after throwing 5 1/3 innings and allowing four earned runs on seven hits, while striking out two Big Red hitters.

The Presidents will be back in action tomorrow afternoon for a key Presidents’ Athletic Conference game with Thiel College.  The first pitch from Greenville, Pa., is scheduled for 3:30 pm.

-- PRESIDENTS --

W&J SPLITS SUNDAY DOUBLEHEADER AT WESTMINSTER (4/5)

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. -- The Washington & Jefferson College baseball team split a Presidents’ Athletic Conference doubleheader with Westminster on Sunday afternoon in New Wilmington, Pa.  The Presidents won game one, 3-0, before falling 9-6 in the nightcap.

W&J (13-6, 5-1) opened game one by scoring one run in the top of the first inning as junior right-hander Jim Pasquine (Poland, Ohio/Poland Seminary) {right} drove in sophomore Joe Bogdewiecz (Medina, Ohio/Akron Hoban), who led off the game with his fifth double of the season.

The score remained the same heading into the seventh inning as Pasquine, who started the game on the mound for W&J, overwhelmed the Westminster (8-16, 5-7 PAC) hitters, throwing all seven innings and allowing just six hits, while striking out five.

W&J was able to manufacture two more runs in the top half of the seventh inning on a two-run double off the bat of sophomore center fielder Andy Trettel (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny).  Pasquine struck out the final two WC hitters in the bottom of the seventh inning to improve his 2009 record to 4-0 on the hill.

After the two squads played two and half scoreless innings to open game two, Westminster broke out for four runs in the bottom of the third inning as sophomore right-hander Pat Kennedy (Westerville, Ohio/South) gave up back-to-back, two-RBI hits from John Izzo and Dave Evans.

The Presidents answered with a three-run outburst of their own in the top half of the fourth inning.  Junior third baseman Mike Kennedy (Hilliard, Ohio/Darby) drove in two of the W&J runs on a double, while freshman first baseman Jared Patton (Sandusky, Ohio/Perkins) scored an unearned run to close out the Presidents’ half of the fourth inning. 

The Titans responded and scored one run in the bottom of the fifth inning and than added four more in the bottom of the sixth inning, taking a 9-3 advantage into the top of the seventh.

Pasquine added his second home run in as many days against the Titans, a three-run homer in the top of the seventh, but it wasn’t enough as the Titans got the final outs of the game to secure the three-run PAC victory.

Kennedy picked up the game two loss on the hill for W&J after throwing 2 1/3 innings, allowing four earned runs on four hits.

Pasquine finished the day with two hits, three RBI and two runs scored, while Trettel also recorded two hits and added another two RBI for the Red & Black.  Kennedy also added one hit and two RBI on the afternoon to close out the W&J offensive attack.

The Presidents will be back in action on Tuesday when hosting North Coast Athletic Conference member Denison.  The first game of the doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 5:00 pm at Ross Memorial Park.

-- PRESIDENTS --

PASQUINE’S GRAND SLAM LIFTS W&J OVER WESTMINSTER (4/4)

WASHINGTON, Pa. -- Junior right fielder Jim Pasquine (Poland, Ohio/Poland Seminary) {left} belted his first home run of the season, a grand slam, in the bottom of the eighth inning to help lead the Washington & Jefferson College baseball team to a 9-5 victory against Presidents’ Athletic Conference member Westminster on Saturday afternoon at Ross Memorial Park. 

The game was originally scheduled for tomorrow afternoon in Washington, but was pushed to today due to poor field conditions at Westminster.  The doubleheader at Westminster will now be played tomorrow afternoon in New Wilmington, starting at 1:00 pm.

With the victory, the Presidents remain at the top of the PAC baseball standings at 4-0 falls to the fourth place position at 4-6.

After a scoreless first inning, Westminster (7-15, 4-6 PAC) was able to cross the plate three times in the top of the third inning to take the early 3-0 lead.  W&J (12-5, 4-0 PAC) answered the Titans’ runs by plating two runs of its own in the bottom half of the frame.  Junior first baseman Tyler Kaido (Zanesville, Ohio/Zanesville) led off the inning with his first homerun of the season, while sophomore shortstop Joe Bogdewiecz (Medina, Ohio/Akron Hoban) drove in the Presidents’ other run on a single.

The Presidents got the score back to even at three a piece in the bottom of the third inning as junior first baseman Frank Quirin (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) belted his team-leading fourth home run of the season. 

The two squads played two innings of scoreless ball, before WC struck for two more runs in the top of the sixth inning to take a 5-3 advantage.

The score remained the same heading into the bottom of the eighth inning as W&J came to the plate looking to get back into the game.  Junior catcher Mark Thomchick (Indiana, Pa./Indiana) led off the inning with his third round-tripper of the season, while pinch hitter Dave Dimperio (Pittsburgh, Pa./Bethel Park) evened the score up at 5-5 on a RBI single that plated junior third baseman Mike Kennedy (Hilliard, Ohio/Darby).

With Kennedy on second and Dimperio on first and one out, freshman pinch hitter Ryan Verlihay (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk) was hit by a pitch to load the bases up and set the stage for Pasquine’s late inning heroics.

With the count knotted up at one ball and one strike, Pasquine took the next pitch he saw and drove it over the fence to put W&J up 9-5.  Freshman right-hander Dave Trushel (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) retired the Titans in order in the top of the ninth to secure the four-run victory for the Presidents.
Trushel picked up his second win of the season on the hill after throwing the final 3 1/3 innings after allowing no hits and no runs, while striking out three Titans.  Junior right-hander Mitch McClay (Washington, Pa./Trinity) started the game on the mound for W&J and went 5 2/3 innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits.

Pasquine, who is W&J’s leading hitter at .492, led the Presidents with four hits and four RBI on the afternoon.  Kennedy added three hits and two runs scored , while Kaido and Quirin both finished the contest with two hits and one run scored.

-- PRESIDENTS

MOUNT UNION CLAIMS SECOND GAME OF DOUBLEHEADER (4/2)

ALLIANCE, Ohio -- Mount Union took advantage of three Washington & Jefferson errors in the first inning to score six runs and the Purple Raiders cruised to a 9-1 victory over the Presidents in the second game of a Thursday baseball doubleheader at 23rd Street Field. 

The Purple Raiders (13-4) tacked on three runs in the second inning.  W&J scored its only run seventh inning on a sacrifice fly by junior Eric Chimenti (Moon Twp, Pa./OLSH). 

Junior Erik Fargo (Washington, Pa./Trinity) was the losing pitcher for W&J after recording just two outs in the first inning.  He allowed six runs (two earned) on four hits, while facing only nine batters. 

Mark Sabatino was the winning pitcher after limiting the Presidents (11-5) to one run on four hits in the complete game. 

W&J returns to PAC play on Saturday when it travels to New Wilmington, Pa., for a 1:00 pm doubleheader with Westminster. 

-- PRESIDENTS --

W&J INCREASES WIN STREAK TO FIVE WITH GAME ONE VICTORY (4/2)

ALLIANCE, Ohio -- Sophomore centerfielder Andy Trettel’s (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) RBI single in the top of the seventh inning lifted Washington & Jefferson to a 4-3 victory over Mount Union in game one of a baseball doubleheader on Thursday afternoon at 23rd Street Field.

The Presidents (11-4) increased their win streak to five games and posted their third-straight win over the Purple Raiders (12-4). 

Cory Slabaugh’s two-run double in the bottom of the first inning put Mount Union in front by a 2-0 margin, but W&J responded with three runs in the fourth on sophomore catcher Marc Lubline’s (South Euclid, Ohio/Brush) bases-clearing double.

Mount Union tied the game in the bottom of the fourth; however, freshman second baseman Aaron Klinec (Cleveland, Ohio/St. Ignatius) {above} singled to lead off the seventh inning and came around to score on Trettel’s base hit.

Trettel and Klinec both had a pair of hits, while Klinec scored twice.  Senior reliever Robert Timo (Irwin, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) earned the victory after allowing only one hit in 1 2/3 innings.  Junior Jim Pasquine (Poland, Ohio/Poland Seminary) allowed a leadoff single in the bottom of the seventh, but retired the final three batters to earn his first save of the season. 

Erik Miller allowed all four runs on nine hits in 6 1/3 innings for Mount Union.  Greg Ferrell led all hitters with a 3-for-4 day at the plate.  He scored one run and knocked in another. 

-- PRESIDENTS --

W&J TAKES RUBBER MATCH FROM GENEVA, 12-3 (4/1)

BEAVER FALLS, Pa. -- For the second time in his last four games, sophomore shortstop Joe Bogdewiecz (Medina, Ohio/Akron Hoban) led off the contest with a home run as Washington & Jefferson defeated Geneva 12-3 in the rubber match of its three-game series with GC on Wednesday afternoon in Beaver Falls.

The victory will not count towards W&J’s Presidents’ Athletic Conference overall record due to Geneva’s provisional status in both the PAC and NCAA Division III.

The Presidents (10-4) and Golden Tornadoes (13-7) split a doubleheader on March 24th as W&J grabbed the first game 12-6, before falling to GC 4-3 in the nightcap.

W&J opened with back-to-back, three-run innings.  Bogdewiecz led off the game with his third home run of the season, while junior rightfielder Neil Pascarella (Monongahela, Pa./Ringgold) also drove in a run in the first on a RBI single.

The Presidents plated three more in the top half of the second on back-to-back two-out RBI singles off the bats of sophomore centerfielder Andy Trettel (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) and junior first baseman Frank Quirin (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic).

After W&J scored another run in the top of the fourth on junior leftfielder Jim Pasquine's (Poland, Ohio/Poland Seminary) RBI single, Geneva finally got on the board, scoring two runs on one hit and one W&J error.  Senior Derek Sumner knocked in the Golden Tornadoes' second run on a double to left field.

The Presidents busted the game wide open in the top half of the sixth inning as Quirin hit his third round tripper of the 2009 season to put W&J up 9-2.

W&J added one run in the eighth and two more in the ninth inning, while Geneva was only able to cross the plate one more time in the bottom half of the eighth inning. 

Junior right-hander Tommy Brown (Wintersville, Ohio/Steubenville) {top right} started the game for W&J and picked up his first win of the season after throwing five innings.  He allowed just three hits and one earned run.  Brown also set down three GC hitters on strikes.

Pasquine led all W&J hitters at the plate, going 4-for-5 on the afternoon with four runs scored and one RBI.  Quirin finished the day with two hits and four RBI, while Bogdewiecz rounded out the W&J offensive attack with three runs, two hits and one RBI.

W&J will be back in action tomorrow afternoon when traveling to Ohio Athletic Conference member Mount Union College.  The doubleheader is slated to begin at 2:00 pm in Alliance, Ohio.

-- PRESIDENTS --

W&J RECORDS HISTORIC VICTORY AGAINST BETHANY (3/30)

BETHANY, W. Va. – The Washington & Jefferson College baseball squad picked up its first three-game Presidents’ Athletic Conference sweep of the 2009 season on Monday afternoon after defeating Bethany, 27-2, in West Virginia.

The 27 runs are the second-highest total recorded by a W&J squad in 111 years.  The most runs ever scored came during a 29-13 victory against Denison University on May 12, 1898.  The most recent 20-run output by a Presidents' squad came on March 28, 1998 when the Red & Black recorded a 25-10 victory against Thiel College in Washington, Pa.

W&J (9-4, 3-0) now sits in sole possession of first place in the PAC baseball standings, while Bethany (1-10, 0-5) is in last place.

The Presidents opened up the contest by scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning.  Junior leftfielder Jim Pasquine (Poland, Ohio/Poland Seminary) drove in the first run on a sacrifice fly to right field, while freshman designated hitter Ryan Verlihay (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk) dropped in a two-out single in short center field to bring in the final two runs. 

The Bison answered back with a run of their own in the bottom of the first inning as second baseman Eric Fudala blasted his first homerun of the season.

Pasquine drove in two more President runs in the second inning on a single to left field.  The Bison got one back in the bottom of the second inning, but W&J extended its lead to seven runs (9-2) in the third when junior third baseman Mike Kennedy (Hilliard, Ohio/Darby) smacked a three-run homer over the left-field wall.  The round tripper was the first of Kennedy’s career.

After holding BC scoreless in the bottom of the third and fourth innings, the Presidents busted the game wide open in the fourth and fifth innings, scoring 13 runs to push the W&J lead to 22-2.  Sophomore centerfielder Andy Trettel (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) {above}  highlighted the 13-run outburst with a grand slam in the top half of the fifth inning.

The Presidents, who connected on a season-high 21 hits, added another five runs in the top of the sixth inning to close out the scoring on the afternoon.

Sophomore right-hander Pat Kennedy (Westerville, Ohio/South) picked up the win after throwing five innings of three-hit ball.  He allowed just two earned runs and strucl out two Bison hitters.

Junior right fielder Neil Pascarella (Monongahela, Pa./Ringgold) led all W&J hitters at the plate with four hits, going 4-for-7 with one RBI.  Trettel and Pasquine both connected on three hits, while Trettel also amassed a career-high six RBI.  Kennedy and Verlihay closed out the W&J attack by each notching two hits and combining for seven RBI.

Washington & Jefferson returns to action on Wednesday afternoon when traveling to Geneva for a 3:00 pm contest with the Golden Tornadoes.    

-- PRESIDENTS --

W&J TAKES TWO FROM BETHANY (3/28)

WASHINGTON, Pa. -- Sophomore shortstop Joe Bodgewiecz (Medina, Ohio/Hoban) {right} went 5-for-6 at the plate on the day, including his first two homeruns of the season to help the Washington & Jefferson College baseball team sweep Bethany College in a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Ross Memorial Park.

W&J (8-4, 2-0) defeated Bethany (1-9, 0-4) 8-7 in game one and earned an 11-5 victory in game two.

After holding the Bison scoreless in the first inning, the Presidents wasted no time lighting up the scoreboard as they plated three runs in the bottom half of the first frame.  Bogdewiecz led the game off by taking the first pitch out of the park to put W&J up 1-0.  Junior first baseman/leftfielder Frank Quirin (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) also drove in a run for the Presidents in the first inning, helping the W&J grab a 3-0 advantage.

W&J exploded for four more runs in the bottom of the third inning as Bogdewiecz again led off the inning with a long ball.  Junior catcher Mark Thomchick (Indiana, Pa./Indiana) and junior rightfielder Neil Pascarella (Monongahela, Pa./Ringgold) also added RBI basehits for the Presidents.

Junior pitcher Mitch McClay (Washington, Pa./Trinity) was dialed in for the first three innings as he took a no-hitter into the top of the fourth inning.  The Bison broke up the no-hitter in the top of the fourth on a double off the bat of Chad Stephen and proceeded to score one to make the score 7-1 after three and a half innings of play.

After back-to-back singles to start the Bethany half of the fifth inning, freshman catcher T.J. Zarewicz sent a shot over the right field wall to narrow the gap to 7-4.  The Presidents responded with another run in the bottom of the fifth inning and took a 8-4 advantage into the seventh inning.

The Bison fought back in the seventh inning as they scored three runs and got the tying run to the plate, but senior right-hander Robert Timo (Irwin, Pa./Greensburg C.C.) was able to get the last batter of the game to fly out to center fielder to cap off the 8-7 victory.  McClay picked up the game one win after allowing four runs and four hits and 4 1/3 innings of work.

Bethany took the early lead in game one, scoring and unearned run in the top of the first inning off junior right-hander Jim Pasquine (Poland, Ohio/Seminary).  W&J answered right back with a run of its own after Bogdewiecz, who doubled to lead off the game, scored off a fielders choice from Pasquine.

BC again went ahead in the top of the third inning of game two on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Chris Leasure to take a 2-1 lead.

The Red & Black took the lead right back in their half of the third inning as Pasquine doubled to right center to drive in the tying run and than scored the go-ahead run after Quirin reached on an error.

The Presidents broke the game wide open in the bottom of the fourth as they were able to cross the plate six times and take a 9-2 advantage.  Pascarella, junior third baseman Mike Kennedy (Hilliard, Ohio/Darby), Pasquine and junior Tyler Kaido (Zanesville, Ohio/Zanesville) all drove in runs for W&J in the fourth.

W&J added insurance runs in the fifth and six innings, while BC was only able to score three more times in its final three at-bats, helping W&J secure the 11-5 game two victory.

Pasquine, who picked up the win for the Presidents in game two, went 5-for-7 on the day at the plate, scoring five runs and driving in four.  Quirin finished the afternoon with three runs scored and two hits, while Pascarella recorded two hits, two RBI and one run scored.

The Presidents and Bison will wrap up their three game set tomorrow afternoon in West Virginia.  The first pitch from Bethany Park is scheduled for 1:00 pm.

-- PRESIDENTS --

W&J UPENDED BY NO. 14 MARIETTA (3/27)

WASHINGTON, Pa. -- Junior second baseman Tyler Penwell belted a grand slam in the top of the eighth inning to help Marietta defeat Washington & Jefferson, 10-7, on Friday evening at Ross Memorial Park.

After winning five of seven games in Florida, the Presidents (6-4) have dropped two of their last three home games.

Marietta got the scoring started in the top of the first inning as it plated two runs, but the Presidents quickly responded with two runs of their own.  Junior catcher Mark Thomchick (Indiana, Pa./Indiana) {right}  drove in the W&J’s first run on a single and junior designated hitter Tyler Kaido (Zanesville, Ohio/Zanesville) followed with a RBI double to right field. 

The score remained tied after three innings of play, but Marietta scored twice in the top half of the fourth inning to grab the 4-2 advantage.  W&J again answered with two runs in the bottom half of the frame after a throwing error by MC senior third baseman Cameron Cimino.

Marietta took a 5-4 lead in the top of the seventh inning, but W&J fought back and earned its first lead of the contest, 6-5, after Thomchick sent a two-run homer over the leftfield wall. 

In the eighth inning with the bases loaded, Penwell sent a fastball from junior pitcher Andrew Bales (Chardon, Ohio/NDCL) over the centerfield fence to put Marietta up 9-6.  MC added an insurance run to hold a four-run lead heading into the bottom of the eighth. 

Thomchick's RBI single in the eighth narrowed the gap, but W&J went scoreless in the ninth. 

Freshman pitcher Dave Trushel (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) started for W&J and went 6 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on six hits and setting down four Pioneers on strikes.  Bales received the loss for W&J after allowing four runs in just 2/3 of an inning.

Thomchick led all W&J hitters at the plate, going a perfect 4-for-4 with four RBI and one run scored.  Junior right fielder Neil Pascarella (Monongahela, Pa./Ringgold) also smacked three hits in the contest, while sophomore shortstop Joe Bogdewiecz (Medina, Ohio/Hoban) collected two hits and scored two runs.

The Presidents return to action tomorrow afternoon when hosting Bethany in its first Presidents’ Athletic Conference doubleheader of the 2009 campaign.  The first pitch from Ross Memorial Park has been moved up from 1:00 pm to noon due to the threat of rain.

-- PRESIDENTS --

W&J AND GENEVA SPLIT IN PAC ACTION (3/24)

WASHINGTON, Pa. -- For the third time this season, the Washington & Jefferson College baseball team split a doubleheader as the Presidents and Geneva both earned victories on Tuesday afternoon at Ross Memorial Park.

The Presidents earned a 12-6 triumph in game one, before falling to the Golden Tornadoes 4-3 in the nightcap.

The results of both contests will not affect W&J’s Presidents’ Athletic Conference record due to Geneva’s provisional status in both the conference and the NCAA Division III.

W&J (6-3) wasted no time applying the pressure in game one as the Presidents plated four runs in both the first and second innings.  Junior first baseman/leftfielder Frank Quirin (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) {top right}  drove in the Presidents first run on a single through the right side and junior right fielder Neil Pascarella (Monongahela, Pa./Ringgold) knocked home the final two runs on double down the left field line.  Junior first baseman Tyler Kaido (Zanesville, Ohio/Zanesville) also recorded a RBI in the inning after drawing a bases-loaded walk.

Geneva (12-4) answered the Presidents' first inning surge by scoring two runs in the top of the second inning to draw within one, 4-3, heading into the bottom half of the frame.

The Presidents then busted the game open as sophomore center fielder Andy Trettel (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny), junior left fielder/pitcher Jim Pasquine (Poland, Ohio/Poland Seminary) and Kaido all drove in runs for the Presidents.

The Golden Tornadoes used one last push to try and get within striking distance by scoring three runs in the top of the sixth inning; however, the Presidents answered with three more insurance runs to secure the six-run victory.

Pasquine started the game on the mound for W&J and received the victory, while sophomore Matt Baer (Gibbsboro, N.J.) suffered the loss for GC after allowing six hits and seven earned runs in just one inning of work.

W&J once again jumped on top early in game two as Quirin blasted his second home run of the season over the left field fence for an early 2-0 advantage. 

The Golden Tornadoes clawed back into the contest by scoring runs in back-to-back frames to make the score 3-2 after three and a half innings of play.  W&J plated its third and final run of the contest in the bottom of the third inning on Pasquine's RBI single.

The score remained the same heading into the seventh inning with W&J senior right-hander Dan Vietmeier (McKees Rocks, Pa./Montour) taking the ball in search of his first save in 2009.

After the first two GC batters reached base and a passed ball put runners on second and third, sophomore third baseman Jon Jurniko (Beaver Falls, Pa.) dropped a base hit over the second baseman’s head and scored both runs for a 4-3 lead.

The Presidents had no answer in the bottom half of the inning as senior right hander Derek Sumner (New Castle, Pa.) retired W&J in order to secure his fourth complete game of the year.  Sumner went all seven innings in the contest, surrendering just three runs on four hits.  He struck out nine Presidents.   

Sophomore right hander Pat Kennedy (Westerville, Ohio/South) started the game on the hill for W&J and threw 5 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on five hits, while setting down five GC hitters on strikes.  Vietmeier took the loss for the Presidents and is now 1-1 on the year.

Pasquine led the Presidents with four hits and three RBI on the afternoon.  Pascarella also drove in three runs, while Quirin led W&J with four runs scored in the doubleheader.

The Presidents return to action on Thursday evening when hosting the 14th-ranked Marietta College Pioneers at 7:00 pm at Ross Memorial Park.

-- PRESIDENTS --

KENNEDY DRIVES HOME GAME-WINNER AGAINST FRANKLIN & MARSHALL (3/20)

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – Junior third baseman Mike Kennedy (Hilliard, Ohio /Darby) {right} singled in the game-winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning against Franklin & Marshall to give the Presidents a 6-5 victory on Friday afternoon at the Chain O’ Lakes Complex.  The Presidents conclude their spring trip with a record of 5-2.

The Diplomats (7-6) got on the board in the top of the first inning, but W&J responded with three runs in the bottom half of the frame.  Junior first baseman Frank Quirin (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Central Catholic) drove in W&J’s first run on a single to left field, while junior catcher Mark Thomchick (Indiana, Pa./Indiana) added a two-run double.

F&M narrowed the Presidents lead to 4-2 in the top of the fifth inning; however, W&J quickly responded by adding a run of its own in the bottom of the fifth on junior right fielder Neil Pascarella's(Monongahela, Pa./Ringgold) RBI double.

The Diplomats tied the game in the top of the seventh inning, but Thomchick responded in the bottom half of the frame by belting his first home run of the season to put the Presidents up 5-4 after seven innings.

The two squads played a scoreless eighth inning, but F&M was able to plate a run in the top of the ninth to send the game into extra innings.

Freshman right hander David Trushel ( Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park), who received the win after throwing 3 1/3 innings, shut the Diplomats down in the top of the 10th inning to set up Kennedy’s late-inning heroics.

After back-to-back singles off the bats of Pascarella and freshman designated hitter Jared Patton (Sandusky, Ohio/Perkins), Kennedy stepped up to the plate and slapped a two-out single down the right field line that allowed Pascarella to score the game-winning run from second base.

Thomchick led all W&J hitters, going 3-for-4 at the plate with three runs batted in, while sophomore center fielder Andy Trettel (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) also recorded three hits.  Junior pitcher Mitch McClay (Washington, Pa. /Trinity) started the game on the mound for the Red & Black and worked 6 2/3 innings, allowing 10 hits and three earned runs, while striking out nine.

The Presidents return to action next Tuesday when hosting Geneva for their first Presidents’ Athletic Conference games of the season.  The first pitch of the double header is slated for 2:00 pm at Ross Memorial Park.

-- PRESIDENTS --

PRESIDENTS SPLIT DOUBLEHEADER WITH STEVENS POINT (3/19)

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - Sophomore shortstop Joe Bogdewiecz (Medina, Ohio/Hoban) {right} drove in five runs and recorded five hits for the Washington & Jefferson baseball team in a doubleheader split with Wisconsin-Stevens Point on Thursday afternoon at the Chain O' Lakes Stadium in Winter Haven, Fla.  UW-Stevens Point grabbed the first game 10-9 in 10 innings, while the Presidents earned the 8-2 victory in the nightcap.

W&J's record moved to 4-2 overall, while the Pointers are now 7-2 overall.  UWSP had won seven consecutive games before the game two setback. 

W&J scored early and often in the first game after posting eight runs in the first two innings.  Junior outfielder Frank Quirin (Pittsburg, Pa./Central Catholic) drove in the first run of the game on a double, while junior outfielder Neil Pascarella (Monongahela, Pa./Ringgold) brought in two more runs with a single to right field.

UW-Stevens Point answered the Presidents with four runs of its own in the opening frame, but W&J added five more runs in the top half of the second inning to take an 8-4 advantage.  Bogdewiecz cleared the bases with a triple to left-center field to help W&J build the four-run lead.

UWSP added runs in the bottom half of the third and fourth innings, while the Presidents plated another run in the top of the sixth for a 9-6 lead.

The Pointers evened the score up in their half of the seventh.  Ryan Iverson tied the game with a single through the right side. 

W&J put pressure on the Pointers in the top half of the 10th inning when Quirin hit an apparent double to left field.  UWSP appealed that Quirin missed first base and the call was overturned to give the Presidents one out and zero baserunners instead of Quirin on second base with no outs.  Junior catcher Mark Thomchick's (Indiana, Pa./Indiana) ensuing double would have put the Presidents in front. 

The Poiners rallied to score the winning run in the bottom half of the 10th inning.  Junior right hander Andrew Bales (Chardon, Ohio/NDCL) picked up the loss for the Presidents after pitching 2 1/3 innings of relief.  He gave up one run on four hits and fanned one Pointer.

The Presidents jumped on the Pointers right away in game two, plating six runs in the bottom half of the second inning.  Sophomore catcher Marc Lubline (South Euclid, Ohio/Brush) knocked in the first run on a single through the right side, while junior outfielder Jim Pasquine (Poland, Ohio/Poland Seminary) plated the final two runs with a base hit to right field.

The Pointers scored runs in the third and fifth innings, but W&J added two insurance runs in the fourth to seal the game for the Red & Black.

Sophomore right hander Pat Kennedy (Westerville, Ohio/South) tossed six innings to notch the win on the mound.  He allowed four hits and one earned run, while striking out two.

Pasquine finished the day with three hits and two RBI, while Thomchick also added three hits.  Senior pitcher Dan Vietmeier (McKees Rocks, Pa./Montour) started the first game for the Presidents and surrendered six runs on nine hits in 4 2/3 innings of work.

Washington & Jefferson concludes its Florida trip tomorrow afternoon when battling Franklin & Marshall at 12:30 pm at the Chain O' Lakes Complex.

-- PRESIDENTS --

 PASQUINE LEADS W&J TO THIRD VICTORY OF 2009 (3/17)

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - Junior right-handed pitcher  Jim Pasquine (Poland, Ohio/Poland Seminary) {right}  and the Washington & Jefferson College baseball team defeated Messiah College, 11-1, on Tuesday morning at the Chain O' Lakes Complex in Winter Haven, Fla. 

Pasquine started the game on the mound for the Presidents and went seven innings, allowing two hits and one run, while striking out eight batters.

Play was halted after the eighth inning due to the 10-run mercy rule designated by the Russmatt Central Florida Invitational.

W&J (3-1) jumped on top early by scoring two runs in the top half of the first inning on a pair of back-to-back triples off the bats of Pasquine and junior infielder/outfielder Frank Quirin (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic).

The Presidents plated four more runs in the third inning to take a commanding 6-0 lead after three and a half innings of play.  Sophomore center fielder Andy Trettel (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) drove in two runs on a double, while Quirin added a run-scoring single through the middle.

Pasquine continued to dominate over the first five frames as he took a perfect game into the bottom of the fifth inning.  Jordan Zimmerman finally notched the first Falcon base hit with a double to right field and came across to score Messiah's only run on a single from Wes Hollenbach.

W&J added insurance runs in the fourth, sixth and eighth innings to secure the 11-1 advantage. 

Quirin led the Presidents with four hits, two RBI and two runs scored, while junior catcher Mark Thomchick (Indiana, Pa./Indiana) also drove in two runs on two hits.  Junior Eric Fargo (Washington, Pa./Trinity) pitched the final inning for the Red & Black and retired the side in order.

The Presidents are idle tomorrow, but will return to action on Thursday afternoon when the play a doubleheader versus Wisconsin-Stevens Point at the Chain O' Lakes Complex in Winter Haven, Fla.

-- PRESIDENTS --

W&J WINS 16-11 SLUGFEST AGAINST FDU-FLORHAM (3/16)

AUBURNDALE, Fla. - The Washington & Jefferson College baseball team led by junior first baseman Frank Quirin (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) {right}, who drove in five runs and belted his first home run of the season, banged out 19 hits and scored 16 runs during a 16-11 victory against FDU-Florham on Monday afternoon at Lake Myrtle Park.

FDU (2-3-1) got on the board in the bottom of the first inning, scoring two runs on two hits.  W&J went scoreless over the first two frames, but broke out in the top half of the third inning with three runs on four hits.  Junior leftfielder Jim Pasquine (Poland, Ohio/Poland Seminary) knocked in two of the runs with a double to left-center field.

The Devils responded by scoring two runs in the bottom of the third and one more in the top of the fourth inning to grab a 5-3 advantage.

The Presidents' bats came alive in the fifth inning as they began their stretch of consecutive multi-run innings.  W&J tied the contest, 5-5, in the fifth inning on a pair of RBI doubles by Pasquine and junior outfielder Neil Pascarella (Monongahela, Pa./Ringgold). 

The Presidents (2-1) added two more runs in both the sixth and seventh innings to claim a 9-6 advantage, but the Devils fought right back with three runs in the seventh to tie the game.  Freshman infielder Jared Patton (Sandusky, Ohio/Perkins) led off the sixth inning with his first collegiate home run.

W&J plated two more runs in the top of the eighth and then exploded for five runs in the ninth, which was capped off by Quirin's three-run homer to left field. 

FDU was able to manage two more runs in the bottom of the ninth, but it wasn't enough as W&J was able to secure its second win of the season.

Senior right hander Robert Timo (Irwin, Pa./Greensburg C.C.) started the game for the Presidents and worked four innings, allowing three earned runs and six hits.  Junior right hander Andrew Bales (Chardon, Ohio/NDCL) threw two-thirds of an inning and picked up the win for the Presidents in relief. 

Pascarella and sophomore shortstop Joe Bogdewiecz (Medina, Ohio/Hoban) led W&J with four hits each.   Bogdewiecz also scored three times and knocked in two runs.  Senior catcher Sean Boone (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington North) and sophomore centerfielder Andy Trettel (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) both added three hits. 

Washington & Jefferson returns to action tomorrow morning when traveling to Winter Haven, Fla., for a game against Messiah at 11:00 am.

-- PRESIDENTS --

W&J SPLITS DOUBLEHEADER WITH RIPON TO OPEN 2009 SEASON (3/15)

AUBURNDALE, Fla. – Junior outfielder Neil Pascarella (Monongahela, Pa./Ringgold) drove in four runs and senior right-hander Dan Vietmeier (McKees Rocks, Pa./Montour) {right} picked up his first win of the season during Washington & Jefferson College's doubleheader split with Ripon College (Wisc.) on Sunday at Lake Myrtle Park.  W&J picked up a 7-3 victory in game one and fell 8-5 in the nightcap.

W&J came out of the gates strong in the first game after junior outfielder Jim Pasquine (Poland, Ohio/Poland Seminary) doubled to left field and was driven in by junior Frank Quirin (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) to give the Presidents the early 1-0 advantage.

The Presidents tacked on two more in the top of the third, which included an RBI double off the bat of freshman infielder Jared Patton (Sandusky, Ohio/Perkins) that plated Pascarella.

Ripon scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth to tie the score up at three a piece, but the Red & Black responded in the top half of the seventh inning by scoring four runs on five hits, including a two-run triple by Pascarella.

Vietmeier got the last six outs of the game for the Presidents, allowing no runs on two hits and one strike out to record his first victory of the 2009 campaign.  Junior right-hander Mitch McClay (Washington, Pa. /Trinity) started game one and allowed five hits and three runs in five innings of work.

Ripon went up early in game two, scoring a run in the first three innings, including a five-run outburst in the top of the fifth inning that put the Big Red up 7-1 after three innings.

The Presidents rallied in the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring three runs on two hits.  Junior catcher Mark Thomchick (Indiana , Pa./Indiana) and Pascarella each drove in runs for W&J in the fourth.

RC added an insurance run in the top of the sixth and allowed the Presidents to score just one more run to claim the 8-5 victory.  Jason Wierschke picked up the win for the Big Red in the second game after allowing six hits and five earned runs in six and a third innings of work.

Washington & Jefferson returns to action on Monday morning when it takes on FDU-Florham at 11:00 am at Lake Myrtle Stadium in Auburndale, Fla.

-- PRESIDENTS --

2009 WASHINGTON & JEFFERSON COLLEGE SEASON PREVIEW

The Washington & Jefferson College baseball team and seventh-year head coach Jeff Mountain will open the 2009 season when traveling to central Florida in mid-March, for the annual Russ Matt Invitational.  W&J will take on opponents from Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and New Jersey during the opening week of the season. 

The Presidents are expected to be led by a veteran pitching staff in 2009 which includes a trio of three-year letterwinners: left-hander Ian Poole (Fairview Park, Ohio/Fairview) and right-handers Robert Timo (Irwin, Pa./Greensburg C.C.) and Dan Vietmeier (Mckees Rocks, Pa./Montour) {left}. 

W&J closed out the 2008 season with a 23-17-1 overall record, including a mark of 5-7 in Presidents’ Athletic Conference play.  After falling just short of the Presidents’ Athletic Conference tournament, Washington & Jefferson received its fourth-straight invitation to the ECAC Division III postseason tournament, where the Presidents advanced to the semifinals.  W&J had claimed the previous two ECAC Tournament titles.

“It is amazing to see how far this league (PAC) has come in my six years at W&J,” said Head Coach Jeff Mountain.  “For the first time since I have been here, we have a team receiving preseason national recognition (Thiel ranked No. 21 by D3baseball.com), which is great for the conference as a whole.”

The Presidents batted .310 as a team last season, but the pitching staff saw an increase of over three runs per game from 2007 (6.14, 2008; 3.04, 2007).  The offense will be bolstered by a host of juniors who put together solid sophomore campaigns.

“We played inconsistent at times last year, but a lot of that can be attributed to having first-year starters at nearly every position on the field,” added Mountain.  “I think that year of experience will lead to more consistent play on a day-to-day basis this season.”

First baseman Frank Quirin (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) returns as the Presidents’ leading statistical hitter after posting a .358 batting average with eight doubles, six home runs and 37 runs batted in during his sophomore season.  Junior Tyler Kaido (Zanesville, Ohio/Zanesville) will also look to factor into the 2009 lineup at both designated hitter and first base.  Kaido had one homer and six RBI last season. 

The middle infield will be anchored down by sophomore shortstop Joe Bogdewiecz (Medina, Ohio/Hoban), who hit .340 last season and scored 34 runs, while only making nine errors in 130 attempts.  Junior Mike Kennedy (Hilliard, Ohio/Darby) and freshmen Aaron Klinec (Cleveland, Ohio/St. Ignatius) and Jared Patton (Sandusky, Ohio/Perkins) are vying for the second base position. 

Kennedy hit .292 last season in 48 at-bats.  Patton provides versatility for the Presidents as he is also is a candidate at first base, third base and the designated hitter slot.  Sophomore Cory Swope (Zanesville, Ohio/Zanesville) could also factor in at one of the middle infield slots throughout the season, while junior Dave Dimperio (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) attempts to battle back from a season-ending injury. 

Kennedy could also see time at third base in addition to junior Eric Chimenti (Moon Twp., Pa./OLSH).  Chimenti batted .353 a year ago with six doubles, one home run and 14 RBI.  Chimenti can also expect to see time in the outfield and DH positions throughout the campaign. 

Senior Sean Boone (Pickerington, Ohio/North) {right}, junior Mark Thomchick (Indiana, Pa./Indiana) and sophomore Marc Lubline (South Euclid, Ohio/Brush) are all once again expected to receive time behind the plate for the Red & Black.  Thomchick (.349, 11 extra-base hits) received the bulk of the time behind the dish last season, making 26 starts, while Boone (1 HR, 5 RBI) and Lubline (1 HR, 3 RBI) stepped in to fill the remaining innings.

In the outfield, the coaching staff expects juniors Neil Pascarella (Monongahela, Pa./Ringgold) and Jim Pasquine (Poland, Ohio/Poland Seminary) to anchor the corner positions, while sophomore Andy Trettel (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) looks to be the leading candidate in center field.  Pascarella and Pasquine finished 2008 with the top two averages on the team at .363 and .361, respectively, while Trettel attempts to fill in for the loss of four-year starter Justin Benson (.346, 4 HR, 33 RBI).  Sophomore Zach McMonagle (Pittsburgh, Pa./Bethel Park) is also in the mix to compete for an outfield spot.

The pitching staff appears to be the focal point for a successful 2009 season.  Poole and Vietmeier return as three-year starters, posting a combined record of 32-9 during that time.  Poole earned First Team All-PAC honors last season, finishing the year with an 8-2 record, including a team-high 51 strikeouts, while Vietmeier notched a 4-3 mark in 13 appearances.

“Pitching is going to be key for us this season,” noted Mountain. “Good teams rally around solid pitching and senior leadership, which is what I expect out of Poole, Timo and Vietmeier.”

Poole suffered an offseason shoulder injury and underwent surgery in October, but the coaching staff remains optimistic that he will return to the rotation before the end of the season.

“We are hopeful that we can get Ian back by the end of the season, but if not, we are confident that we have the proper personnel on our roster with enough experience to step up and fill the void,” commented Mountain, who owns a 148-100-1 career record.

Timo, who appeared in a school-record 23 games last season, will be competing for a starting role this season, but will also be counted on out of the bullpen during the back end of games.  He finished last season with a 2-3 record, including two saves, while striking out 25 batters.

A group of juniors will look to step up and fill key slots in W&J’s rotation throughout the season, including Tommy Brown (Wintersville, Ohio/Steubenville), Mitch McClay (Washinton, Pa./Trinity) and Pasquine.  McClay recorded 17 appearances in 2008, including six starts, and posted an overall record of 5-1.  His 35 strikeouts were second-most on the staff.

;Pasquine, who made 14 appearances out of the bullpen last season, has concentrated hard in the offseason to prepare to become a starting pitcher in 2009.  The coaching staff also has high expectations for Brown after a strong fall showing.  Brown suffered through injuries last year following a 2007 season in which he had a 2-0 record with a 2.84 ERA. 

Sophomore Pat Kennedy (Westerville, Ohio/South), who saw limited varsity action a year ago, has a strong arm and appears ready to crack the starting rotation.  Junior Tom Dodd (Union City, Pa./Union City) and sophomores Jordan Zivoder (Lyndhurst, Ohio/Brush) and Jeremy Schriver (Westerville, Ohio/Thomas Worthignton) all have the ability to provide key innings as starters or relievers.