SALEM, Va. – Elizabethtown College Baseball opened the 2020 season by splitting a doubleheader with Roanoke, dropping game one, 6-0, before bouncing back to win game two, 9-0, in non-conference action Saturday afternoon.

Sophomore Tyler McGonigle led the Blue Jays with three hits, two RBI and two runs scored on the day. Senior Riley McGinley matched him with two RBI of his own, while senior Derek Manning and junior JT Thompson each registered a double. Junior Andrew Fisher accounted for three runs scored.

Roanoke racked up all six of its runs in the second and third innings, highlighted by a two run bomb from junior Nick Salva to make the score 6-0 after three in game one.

Sophomore Evan Parks took care of business on the mound for the Maroons, pitching a complete game with seven strikeouts and allowing only four hits.

Freshman Nick Ortega was a bright spot for the Blue Jays in game one, making his collegiate debut, pitching five innings of relief and allowing no runs on three hits and striking out two.

After mustering only four hits in game one, the Blue Jays bounced back immediately in game two, scoring five runs in the top of the second. Thompson started the run by doubling in senior Mike Christy from second, followed by RBI singles from McGonigle, freshman Ben Watson and McGinley. Elizabethtown tacked on its fifth run of the inning after Manning reached on an error, plating Watson.

The Blue Jays tacked on two more runs in the fourth, one in the fifth and one in the seventh to give junior Joseph Sarich (1-0) more than enough support on the mound. The third-year lefty went six inning, scattering five hits and striking out five. Juniors Reece Jones, Michael Rajnik and Kelly Holdren completed the shutout for Elizabethtown, combining for three hits and three strikeouts in the win.

The Blue Jays head for warmer weather next weekend as they head to Florida for their annual spring break trip. Elizabethtown opens with a doubleheader against Wilkes on Sunday, Mar. 1. First pitch is set for 10 a.m.