WASHINGTON D.C. – The Elizabethtown College baseball team took both games of the doubleheader from Catholic, 7-6 and 2-1, Sunday afternoon in Landmark Conference action.
With the two wins, the Blue Jays improve to 9-7 on the season, while the Cardinals fall to 8-6 overall.
Sophomore Ben Watson made his two hits on the day count, hitting a home run in game one, a triple in game two, while finishing with three runs scored and a RBI on the afternoon. Seniors Andrew Fisher and JT Thompson and junior Tyler McGonigle combined for five hits, three runs scored, four RBI, and a double over the two games.
GAME ONE: ELIZABETHTOWN 7 BLUE JAYS 6
Down one run (3-2) heading into the seventh inning, the Blue Jays' bats came alive for three runs in the inning. With Fisher on second base and one out, Thompson singled down the left field line, plating Fisher and tying the game at three. A pinch-hit double by junior Lucas Carr then put runners on second and third before McGonigle doubled to right field, scoring both runners and giving Etown the two-run lead (5-3) heading into the bottom of the inning.
The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the eighth, but Catholic tacked on three in the bottom of the frame, making the score 6-6 in the ninth.
Junior Robbie Bertucio found the game winning hit in the final inning, singling with runners on second and third, bringing Watson around to score and putting Etown up 7-6.
Junior Eric Sipling (1-0) earned his first win of the season in relief, pitching 1 1/3 innings, allowing no runs on one hit and striking out two. Senior Tyler Dunbar started the game, working six innings and striking out eight batters, while giving up three runs on six hits.
Freshman Jesse Lacefield (0-1) took the loss for Catholic in relief, pitching a 1/3 of an inning, allowing the game winning run. Junior Jack Zaffiro started for the Cardinals, going five innings and allowing two runs on three hits and striking out four.
GAME TWO: ELIZABETHTOWN 2 CARDINALS 1
Falling behind 1-0 in the second inning, the Blue Jays remained silent until the top of the sixth. After senior James Vito walked to start the inning, Fisher reached on a throwing error by the pitcher, moving pinch-runner freshman AJ Bednar to third. Senior Arley Shepherd then brought Bednar home with a groundout to second, tying the score at one.
Etown completed the rally in the top of the seventh as Watson led off the inning with a triple to right-center field. Junior Joey Thomas walked next and stole second before the Cardinals intentionally walked junior Robbie Bertucio to load the bases with one out. Bednar stepped in and blooped one to shallow right field, forcing the second basemen to make a difficult catch, but scoring Watson and giving the Blue Jays the 2-1 lead.
Senior Kelly Holdren completed the comeback, pitching a 1-2-3 seventh for Etown's third win in a row.
Holdren (4-0) earned his league-leading fourth win of the season, pitching five shutout innings, allowing two hits and striking out seven. Senior Reece Jones started for Etown, pitching 1 2/3 innings, giving up one run on one hit and striking out two. Classmate Matt Barton pitched 1/3 of an inning, registering a strikeout.
Junior Nick Marini (2-1) went the distance in the loss, allowing one earned run on three hits and striking out five.
Etown is back in action on Saturday, May 1 when they travel to Bethlehem, Pa. to take on Moravian. Opening pitch of the doubleheader is set for 12:30 p.m. For updated spectator policies from the other Landmark schools, please visits the conference's spectator policy landing page.
