Bearcats upset top-seeded W&J to open PAC Tournament

More news about: St. Vincent

The Bearcat baseball team, behind a complete game from Jimmy Malone, defeated top-seeded Washington & Jefferson in the opening round of the PAC Playoffs by a score of 4-2.

Saint Vincent, seeded fourth in the tournament, scored three times in the top of the 5th inning to erase a 2-1 deficit, and Malone did the rest, throwing a 110-pitch complete game.  He scattered 10 hits, walked none, and struck out two.

Tanner Yard was hit by a pitch to start the game, then moved to second when Matt Morrone reached on an error.  However, the Bearcats were unable to advance the runners and the game remained scoreless after half an inning.
 
The Presidents got a leadoff single in the bottom of the first, but SVC starter Jimmy Malone picked the runner off of first base.
 
In the second, SVC once again put two runners on base, as Brady Duricko singled and Parker Janosko drew a walk, but W&J's Ben Marsico once again got out of the inning, keeping the game scoreless.  

The bottom of the second was nearly a repeat of the first, as W&J had a baserunner erased by a Malone pickoff.
 
Saint Vincent got on the board in the top of the third, as Stone Holtman led off with a triple, and Bobby Finndrove him home with a single.  
 
However, the lead would not last long, as a leadoff home run by Dave Dalesandro in the bottom of the third tied the game, 1-1.  An inning later, three straight singles by the hosts gave the Presidents a 2-1 lead.
 
The Bearcats battled back in the top of the fifth inning.  Yard reached on an infield single to lead off, moving to second on an errant throw.  Holtzman then laid down a sacrifice bunt, moving Yard to third.  Morrone followed with an apparent double that scored Yard to tie the game, but an appeal resulted in Morrone being called out for missing first base.  Finn then hit a book-rule double that bounced over the fence in left field, and Kilkeary singled him home, putting SVC in front, 3-2.  A single by Duricko put runners at first and second, and Ramon Milke drove home the Bearcats' fourth run of the game with a single.

Malone (5-2) allowed baserunners in each of innings 5 through 8, but kept W&J off the board, then got a 1-2-3 ninth inning to end the game.  

The Bearcats now advance in the winner's bracket and will face second seeded Thomas More College on Friday (May 11) at 12 p.m.