EWING, N.J. — The Elizabethtown College baseball team salvaged a split in its doubleheader with The College of New Jersey (6-7) on Saturday afternoon. Overall, the Jays led 12-of-18 innings they played, but could not maintain their lead late in game one. Elizabethtown held on to win 3-2 in game two of the nine-inning doubleheaders.

The Blue and Gray drew first blood in game one with a two-run inning in the top of the third. Shortstop Kyle Gable lined a double to right center to lead off the inning and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. First baseman Matt Reade reached base on an error and Gable raced home from third to give E-town a 1-0 lead. Center fielder Kevin Berkheiser made it 2-0 when he lofted a sacrifice fly to center to score Reade from third.

Elizabethtown (7-3) tacked on a third run in the top of the fourth. Tyler Weary slapped a single to center, advancing to second on a wild pitch. After Gable reached safely on a bunt single, Dillon Tagle hit a grounder to short and scored Weary. Overall, Gable went 3-for-5 at the plate with a double, a run scored and a stolen base.

On the mound, Matt Ruth stifled the TCNJ (6-7) batting order with a stellar performance. He pitched seven innings while allowing six hits and recording three strikeouts. During the first four innings of the game Ruth left the Lions hitless.

TCNJ mustered a late surge and scored two runs in the seventh. The Lions struck while the iron was hot in the bottom of the eighth and snagged two more runs. Freshman shortstop Anthony Cocuzza supplied the game-winning hit when he singled to right and propelled the Lions to a 4-3 lead.

E-town mounted a comeback in the top of the ninth. Gable reached on an error then snagged second base. He scurried to third as Reade grounded out to the pitcher, but was stranded at third base as Berkheiser popped up to first to conclude the contest. 

The Lions could not keep the Blue and Gray at bay in game two. E-town claimed the lead in the fourth when right fielder Pat Mulligan laced a single up the middle and scored Weary to give the Jays a 1-0 advantage.

The Jays extended their edge to 3-0 in the top of the fourth. Alex Holbert singled to center, scoring Jon Bacher. Holbert swiped second and bolted to third after a throwing error by the TCNJ catcher. Gable smacked a single of his own up the middle and brought Holbert home.

Freshman pitcher Taras Letnaunchyn, this week's Commonwealth Conference Pitcher of the Week remained hot on the hill. In seven innings of work Letnaunchyn allowed five hits, two runs and added a strikeout. He is now 3-0 on the season.

The Lions could not summon any further late inning heroics to overcome the Jays in game two. Pitcher Todd Leister recorded his third save of the season and preserved a 3-2 Elizabethtown victory when he got Cocuzza to ground out to third with a man on second.

The Blue Jays have a quick turnaround, returning home tomorrow for an afternoon doubleheader. E-town will host Penn State Harrisburg at Kevin Scott Boyd Stadium starting at noon. The Jays are 13-0 on the diamond against the Harrisburg team.