WASHINGTON, D.C. – Sophomore Nicholas Ortega allowed one run over seven innings and the No. 3 Elizabethtown College baseball team cruised to the Landmark Conference Championship with a 10-1 victory over No. 2 Catholic Sunday afternoon.

With the win, the Blue Jays move to 16-9 on the season, extending their winning streak to seven games. The Cardinals finish the year with a 16-11 record.

Senior JT Thompson led the way for Etown, going 3-5 with a home run, three RBI, and a run scored. Classmate Arley Shepherd was 2-3 with a double and two runs scored while freshman Justin Wetzel finished the afternoon 3-3 with a double, three RBI, and a run scored. Junior James Vito (2) and senior Andrew Fisher (1) rounded out the RBI for Elizabethtown.

After a scoreless first inning, the Blue Jays began to manufacture runs in the second. With two outs, Shepherd doubled to right field for Etown's first baserunner of the inning. Vito then stepped in and put the Blue Jays up one, slapping a single to center field, plating Shepherd.

The Blue Jays would go on to score a run in the third and fourth for a 3-0 advantage before Etown opened things up in the fifth with four runs. With no outs and the bases loaded, Vito started the scoring, working a walk for the Blue Jays' first run of the inning. Catholic managed to get one out after a pitching change, but Wetzel snatched the momentum right back, knocking a single to left field, scoring junior Joey Thomas, and giving Etown the 5-0 lead.

Fisher and Thompson each tacked on another RBI before the end of the frame, putting the Blue Jays on top 7-0.

Elizabethtown scored three more runs and allowed one Catholic player to cross home plate, winning in a rout 10-1.

Ortega (1-2) pitched his best game of the season, scattering four hits over seven innings and allowed one run while striking out six. The seven innings pitched and six strikeouts are both career-highs for Ortega. Senior Kelly Holdren recorded the final six outs for the Blue Jays, giving up one hit and striking out two. The senior continues his dominant 2021 run, touting a 0.00 ERA with 40 strikeouts in 26 1/3 innings pitched.

Chris Kelly (2-2) took the loss for the Cardinals, allowing three earned runs on eight hits and striking out one.

Elizabethtown will travel to No. 1 Scranton on Saturday, May 22 for the Landmark Conference Championship. Game time for the three-game series is yet to be announced. There will be two games on Saturday and if necessary a third on Sunday.