ANNVILLE, Pa. — Every game is a challenge in the Commonwealth baseball conference. Lebanon Valley College answered the challenge and brought their best effort in the midst of conference play against the Elizabethtown team Thursday afternoon. The Flying Dutchmen shut out the Blue Jays 9-0 in nine innings at McGill Fielder serving as a prelude to the Friday double header in E-town.

Elizabethtown (15-9, 5-2 CC) was held to four hits in the game at the hand of Lebanon Valley (13-13, 4-6 CC) pitcher Caleb Fick. Fick struck out four batters and surrendered no walks in the complete game effort.

Second baseman Tyler Weary led the team with a pair of singles. Weary was 2-for-3 at the dish on day. Catcher Dillon Tagle and right fielder Pat Mulligan were the other two Jays to record hits. An extra-base hit eluded the Jays all afternoon.

LVC scored two runs in the bottom of fourth with Matt Ruth working on the mound.  Colt Zarilla earned the RBI off a sacrifice fly and John Hildebrand connected for a run-scoring single.

E-town's offense continued through a power outage as The Flying Dutchmen continue to thrive at the plate. Lebanon Valley added five more runs in a productive bottom of the fifth off of five hits and nearly batting around the lineup. The home team added another pair of runs in the sixth on three hits including a two-RBI double.

Three pitchers worked their way into action amid LVC's high offensive push. Ruth struck out three and walked two in the early four innings. Mark Minisce and Matt Reade worked the final half of the game in relief. The relievers combined for four strike outs.

Turning the page, the Blue Jays will host Lebanon Valley tomorrow afternoon at Kevin Scott Boyd for the double header portion of the series. The games will get under way at noon.