WASHINGTON, Pa. – A pair of freshmen, Brian Feldman (Gibsonia, Pa./Eden Christian Academy) and Brendan Cruz (Carnegie, Pa./Chartiers Valley), combined to account for five hits, seven RBI and six runs scored as the W&J baseball team downed visiting Allegheny by a 16-4 score in a non-conference matchup at Ross Memorial Park.
The win is the fourth-straight for the Presidents, who improve to 22-9 overall. The Gators dropped to 20-11 overall.
After a pair of scoreless frames, W&J posted a four-spot in the third inning. Feldman doubled in a pair to give the Presidents a 2-0 lead. Luke Alvarez (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) produced a sac fly and Ryan Ross (Fredericktown, Pa./Beth-Center) singled home Feldman to make it 4-0.
Allegheny got a run back in the fourth when a wild pitch brought a runner home with two outs. However, the Presidents quickly responded with three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Alvarez drove home another run with an RBI single in front of a two-run single by Nate Hess (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) made it 7-1.
Cruz slugged his first collegiate home run, a two-run shot, to make it 9-1 in the fifth.
W&J scored twice in the sixth. Eli Owens (Alexandria, Va. / West Potomac) produced an RBI single and Teddy Platt (Venetia, Pa. / Peters Township) scored on a wild pitch to grow the advantage to 11-1 after six innings of play.
Allegheny scored three times in the seventh to cut the W&J lead to 11-4. The Presidents quickly responded with another run in the bottom half when Feldman delivered an RBI single to score Cruz.
Feldman came through again in the eighth inning. The freshman sent a fly ball down the left field line which dropped in to score two more W&J runs. The Presidents would push two more runs across in the inning to finish off the 16-4 win.
Feldman went 4-for-6 at the plate with five RBI and two runs scored. Cruz drove in a pair of runs and scored four times. Joe Lehner (Painesville, Ohio / Lake Catholic) and Knox Meier (Tampa, Fla. / Berkeley Prep) also collected multi-hit showings with two apiece.
Nine different pitchers toed the rubber for the Presidents. Alex Tomsic (Beaver Falls, Pa. / Blackhawk), the game’s starter, was the lone W&J hurler to toss multiple innings Thursday.
Tomsic, Jake Stiehl (Reston, Va. / South Lakes), Rafe McClure (Columbus, Ohio / Upper Arlington), Hess, Ryan Rametta (Leechburg, Pa. / Kiski Area), Tyler Brooks (Alexandria, Va. / Saint John’s College) and Sam Stewart (Raleigh, N.C. / Pro 5 Academy) all posted scoreless appearances. McClure worked a scoreless fifth and was credited with the victory.
On Deck: W&J hosts Thiel College for a conference doubleheader on Saturday, April 27. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. The Presidents will honor their senior class prior to first pitch.
