W&J wins 10th PAC baseball title with 17-5 win over Thomas More

W&J wins 10th PAC baseball title with 17-5 win over Thomas More

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CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky. (pacathletics.org) – After falling to top-seeded Thomas More College 7-4 Saturday morning in the title round of the 2015 Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) Baseball Championship Tournament to force the championship’s if necessary game, fourth-seeded Washington & Jefferson College secured the program’s 10th league crown after totaling 18 hits in its 17-5 game two win over the Saints.

Saturday’s battle for the PAC championship was the fifth between W&J (28-15) and Thomas More (30-12) since 2006. This year’s championship tournament was the first to go to the if necessary game since 2010, when No. 2 Thomas More claimed a 2-1 win over No. 1 W&J in Washington, Pa. for its first-ever PAC title.

W&J, the first number four seed to claim the league title since Grove City College in 2008, earns the conference's automatic bid to the 2015 NCAA Division III Baseball Championship. The Presidents are scheduled to host the Division III Mideast Regional at Ross Memorial Park from May 13-17. Team selections and regional assignments for the Division III Championships will be announced Monday, May 11 on ncaa.com.

May 9 • Game G
Crestview Hills, Ky. | Thomas More Field
(4) W&J vs. (1) Thomas More
W&J 17, Thomas More 5 Box score
Just one day after orchestrating a complete-game, one-run effort in W&J’s 5-1 victory over second-seeded Waynesburg, senior lefty Jared Baird (East Freedom, Pa. / Central) took the baseball once again from head coach Jeff Mountain in Saturday’s if necessary game and scattered five runs (1 earned) on 11 hits and struck out five in the Presidents’ 17-5 title-clinching victory over top-seeded Thomas More.

W&J freshman centerfielder Gannon Rooney (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Upper St. Clair) had W&J's first five-hit game since May 17, 2013 when Scott Brady recorded five hits in an 11-8 15-inning victory over Thomas More in the NCAA Division III Mideast Regional. The rookie leadoff hitter finished 5-for-6 at the plate, notched his fifth home run of the season and scored three times.

Senior third baseman Kyle Smith (Pickerington, Ohio / Central) went 3-for-5 with a double, four RBI and three runs.

Thomas More jumped out to an early 3-0 lead through the game’s first two innings, but W&J responded by scoring four runs in the fourth, sixth in fifth, five in the eighth and a pair in the ninth.

Thomas More senior catcher Brad Popham (Edgewood, Ky. / Dixie Heights) finished 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI while senior first baseman Nick Connor (Cincinnati, Ohio / Elder) went 3-for-5 with a double and two runs.

Junior righty Logan Miller (Cincinnati, Ohio / LaSalle) suffered the loss for the Saints, allowing four runs (4 earned) on five hits in an inning of relief for starter Tony LaCorte (Erlanger, Ky. / St. Henry). LaCorte, a freshman righty, gave up three runs (3 earned) on a pair of hits in 3.0 innings.

May 9 • Game F
Crestview Hills, Ky. | Thomas More Field
(4) W&J vs. (1) Thomas More
Thomas More 7, W&J 4 Box score
A three-run home run by junior designated hitter Donovan Pogue (Sharonville, Ohio / St. Xavier) in the top of the eighth inning proved to be the difference for the top-seeded Saints in their 7-4 victory over fourth-seeded W&J on Saturday morning, forcing the championship tournament’s if necessary game to be contested.

Freshman righty Jayson Essell (Cincinnati, Ohio / Oak Hills) was terrific in his start for the Saints as they managed to stave off elimination for the third time in the last two days, going 6.0 strong innings and allowing four runs (3 earned) on seven hits. Sophomore righty Ken Ruberg (Cincinnati, Ohio / LaSalle) would pick up the win in relief of Essell, throwing 3.0 innings of no-hit ball. Ruberg also grabbed a win in Friday’s 9-8 elimination game win over Waynesburg.

Thomas More totaled 14 hits in Saturday’s opening win.

Pogue finished the 3-for-5 with a home run, three RBI and a pair of runs scored. Sophomore rightfielder Ben Kenning (Cincinnati, Ohio / Elder) went 3-for-5 with a double, RBI and run scored.

Sophomore righty Joe Vita (Gibsonia, Pa. / Hampton) went 6.0 innings in his start for the Presidents, allowing four runs (4 earned) on eight hits with three strikeouts and four walks. Junior righty Nick Kolat (North Huntingdon, Pa. / Norwin) suffered the loss in relief of Vita, giving up two runs (2 earned) on four hits in one and a third innings.

Senior centerfielder Cory Bauer (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Brentwood) went 2-for-2 with a double, RBI and run scored.

May 8 • Game E
Crestview Hills, Ky. | Thomas More Field
(2) Waynesburg vs. (1) Thomas More
Thomas More 9, Waynesburg 8 Box score
With the score knotted at 8-8 going into the bottom of the ninth, Thomas More sophomore outfielder Casey Metzger (Cincinnati, Ohio / Oak Hills) stroked a leadoff double before advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt by junior shortstop Marcus Woelfel (Harrison, Ohio / Harrison). Metzger scampered in for the game-winning run following a Waynesburg throwing error, helping the Saints secure a spot in Saturday’s championship round.

Sophomore righty Ken Ruberg (Cincinnati, Ohio / LaSalle) picked up the win for the Saints, working the final 2.2 innings and allowing one run (0 earned) on a pair of hits.
The Saints combined for 16 hits in the win, and were led by three-hit efforts from freshman third baseman Bailey Abbatiello (Cincinnati, Ohio / LaSalle), senior first baseman Nick Connor (Cincinnati, Ohio / Elder) and Metzger.

Junior leftfielder Zach Fardo (Alexandria, Ky. / Bishop Brossart) and sophomore rightfielder Ben Kenning (Cincinnati, Ohio / Elder) each finished with a pair of RBI in the win.

Sophomore David Crum (Plum, Pa. / Plum) suffered the elimination game loss for the Jackets, allowing one run (0 earned) on a hit in two-thirds of an inning.

Sophomore catcher Ben Miller (Columbia, Md. / Hammond) led Waynesburg at the dish, going 2-for-3 with a double, a home run, three RBI and a run scored. Sophomore third baseman Cameron Bernhardt (Connellsville, Pa. / Connellsville) finished 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored.

May 8 • Game D
Crestview Hills, Ky. | Thomas More Field
(3) Thiel vs. (1) Thomas More
Thomas More 11, Thiel 4 Box score
Sophomore outfielder Ben Kenning (Cincinnati, Ohio / Elder) went 3-for-5 with a home run, four RBI and three runs scored to pace the top-seeded Thomas More in Friday’s 11-4 elimination game win over third-seeded Thiel.

Junior outfielder Zach Fardo (Alexandria, Ky. / Bishop Brossart) finished 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, three RBI and a pair of runs scored and senior first baseman Nick Connor (Cincinnati, Ohio / Elder) chipped in with three base hits and two runs scored.

Junior righty Brandon Humphrey (Cincinnati, Ohio / LaSalle) went the distance to earn the win for the Saints, allowing four runs (2 earned) on 11 hits with four strikeouts.

The Saints jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning and never looked back.

Thiel senior shortstop Cody Trinch (Franklin, Pa. / Franklin) went 2-for-5 with a double, a RBI and a run scored. Junior first baseman Trent Smith (Franklin, Pa. / Franklin) and sophomore designated hitter Ryan Brumbaugh (New Wilmington, Pa. / Wilmington) had a pair of hits each.

Sophomore righty Kevin Forrester (Canonsburg, Pa. / Canon-McMillan) suffered the loss after giving up eight runs (8 earned) on 12 hits in 4.1 innings.

May 8 • Game C
Crestview Hills, Ky. | Thomas More Field
(4) W&J vs. (2) Waynesburg
W&J 5, Waynesburg 1 Box score
Senior lefty Jared Baird (East Freedom, Pa. / Central) helped the fourth-seeded Presidents advance to Saturday’s PAC Championship Tournament title round with a complete-game effort in Friday’s 5-1 win over second-seeded Waynesburg.

Baird surrendered just one run (1 earned) on six hits while striking out four in the complete-game win, his fourth straight for the Presidents.

The Presidents posted two runs in both the fifth and sixth innings before adding another in the eighth.

Junior outfielder Nick Morton (New York, N.Y. / Packer Collegiate) went 3-for-4 at the plate for W&J, scoring one run and driving in one.

Sophomore outfielder Justin Zak (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Allderdice) went 2-for-4 with a double, two runs and a RBI while junior outfielder Nick Vento (Murrysville, Pa. / Franklin Regional) finished 2-for-4 with a RBI and a stolen base.

Sophomore righty Luke Carter (Saegertown, Pa. / Saegertown) took the loss for the Jackets, allowing four runs (4 earns) on eight hits in 5.2 innings with three strikeouts and three free passes.

Waynesburg senior outfielder Eric Crum (Catonsville, Md. / Catonsville) finished 1-for-4 with a solo home run in the top of the fifth.

May 7 • Game B
Crestview Hills, Ky. | Thomas More Field
(4) W&J at (1) Thomas More
W&J 6, Thomas More 5 Box score
Fourth-seeded W&J scored six runs through the first three innings and made every one count in Thursday’s 6-5 win over top-seeded Thomas More.

Freshman centerfielder Gannon Rooney (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Upper St. Clair) belted a leadoff home run on the first pitch of the game. The home run was Rooney’s team-leading fourth of the season. Rooney finished 2-for-4 at the plate.

Sophomore righty Riley Groves (Louisville, Ohio / Louisville) improved to a PAC-best 9-1 after working 6.1 innings for the Presidents. Groves gave up five runs (3 earned) on eight hits with a pair of strikeouts.  

Sophomore catcher Derek Helbing (Pataskala, Ohio / Watkins Memorial) went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored.

Thomas More junior righty Logan Miller (Cincinnati, Ohio / LaSalle) was the hard luck loser in game two, allowing six runs (2 earned) on six hits in 3.0 innings. Junior righty Taylor Smith (Crestview Hills, Ky. / Beechwood) and sophomore righty Ken Ruberg (Cincinnati, Ohio / LaSalle) combined to toss 6.0 innings of scoreless relief for the Saints.

May 7 • Game A
Crestview Hills, Ky. | Thomas More Field
(3) Thiel vs. (2) Waynesburg
Waynesburg 7, Thiel 4 Box score
Trailing No. 3 Thiel by a 4-0 margin after three innings, No. 2 Waynesburg rallied with two runs in the fourth, two in the sixth and three in the seventh to claim a 7-4 come-from-behind win in Wednesday’s PAC Championship Tournament opener.
 
Waynesburg junior righty Brian Resnik (Burgettstown, Pa. / Burgettstown) was terrific for the Jackets, surrendering four runs (3 earned) on nine hits in a complete-game effort, his sixth such outing of the season. Resnik fanned seven Tomcats while picking up his ninth victory of the season.
 
Senior shortstop Ben Shorthouse (Export, Pa. / Franklin Regional) went 2-for-4 with a double and a pair of RBIs. Sophomore catcher Ben Miller (Columbia, Md. / Hammond) finished 2-for 3 with a RBI and a run scored while sophomore third baseman Cameron Bernhardt (Connellsville, Pa. / Connellsville) went 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored.
 
Thiel junior first baseman Trent Smith (Franklin, Pa. / Franklin) finished 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs and a run scored. Junior second baseman Josh Doody (Grove City, Pa. / Grove City) chipped in with three hits and a pair of runs scored.
 
Junior lefty Matt Elko (Middlefield, Ohio / Berkshire) was credited with a no decision after allowing four runs (3 earned) on nine hits in 6.0 innings. Senior righty Parker Meyers (Bethel Park, Pa. / Bethel Park) suffered the loss, allowing three runs (3 earned) in one-third of an inning.