WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Elizabethtown College Blue Jays baseball team split with Catholic, falling in game one, 5-4, before taking game two in a slugfest, 16-14, Friday afternoon in Landmark Conference action.

With the split, the Blue Jays move to 16-16 overall and 9-5 in the Landmark, while the Cardinals sit at 24-7 on the season and 10-1 in league play.

GAME ONE: CATHOLIC 5 ELIZABETHTOWN 4

Elizabethtown's comeback came up just short in game one of the weekend series, falling to Catholic 5-4.

Junior Ben Watson led the Blue Jays offense, finishing the game 2-5 with two home runs, two runs scored, and three RBI. Seniors James Vito and Joey Thomas each had a double.

Senior Peter Giombetti paced the Cardinals, going 3-4 with three doubles and a RBI

Trailing 3-1 heading to the top of the seventh, Etown tied the game with one swing of the bat. After Thomas led off the inning with a double to left center field, Watson stepped in two batters later and knocked a home run over right center field fence to tie the score at three.

Catholic, however, responded with a run in the seventh the eighth to push its advantage back to two at 5-3. The Blue Jays attempted a comeback in the top of the ninth with two outs as Watson stepped in and hit his second home run of the game over the right center field fence to move within one (5-4). After senior Robbie Bertucio reached on an error by the shortstop, brining the go ahead run to the plate, the Cardinals snuck away with the win, striking out the final batter.

Graduate student Tyler Dunbar (3-5) took the loss, allowing two earned runs on eight hits and striking out four over 6.1 innings of work. 

Junior Tucker Alch (7-1) earned his seventh win of the season, allowing three earned runs on eight hits while striking out five.

GAME TWO: ELIZABETHTOWN 16 CATHOLIC 14

A 10-run fourth inning propelled the Blue Jays to a 16-14 win, delivering Catholic its first Landmark loss of the season. 

Watson and senior Tyler McGonigle each finished with four RBI, a double, and a triple to drive the Etown offense. Sophomore Garrett Schwartzbeck hit his first career home run, going 2-4 with three RBI and three runs scored.

Senior Matt Tesoriero pushed the Cardinals offense, going 2-5 with a home run, with two runs scored, and four RBI.

Trailing 8-1 heading to the fourth, Etown erupted for 10 runs in the top of the inning to take an 11-8 lead. The inning was highlighted by a two-run single from freshman RJ Agriss, a three-run double from McGonigle, and a two-run triple by Watson.

Catholic moved to the front again, scoring four runs in the fourth and two runs in the fifth.to take a 14-10. The Blue Jays, however, would have the last laugh, scoring five runs  in the top of the eighth. Schwartzbeck dialed up his first career home run at the right time, blasting a three-run bomb to left center field which proved to be the winning run.  

Junior Zach Silfies then slammed the door in the top of the ninth, pitching a perfect inning with one strikeout to give Etown the 16-14 win.

Senior Eric Sipling (4-1) earned his fourth win of the season in relief, allowing two earned runs on five hits and striking out four over 4.2 innings of work. 

Junior Brendan Martin (3-1) took his first loss of the season in relief, allowing five earned runs on three hits and struck out one. 

Elizabethtown finishes the weekend series tomorrow, April 16 at Catholic.Opening pitch is set for 12 p.m.