MUNHALL, Pa. -- Three runs in the top of the 10th inning helped the Washington & Jefferson College baseball team secure a 6-3 victory over Chatham University in Presidents' Athletic Conference play Sunday afternoon at West Field in Munhall.

The victory gives W&J the three-game series sweep of Chatham. The win also extends the Presidents' current winning streak to 10 games, which matches its longest winning streak since the 2017 season. 

W&J opened the scoring in the top of the third inning when Dante Dalesandro (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mount Lebanon) singled and scored on a passed ball to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. The Presidents tacked on another run when Adam Shaprio (Columbus, Ohio/Bexley) used a sacrifice fly to score Justin Griffin (Lombard, Ill./Glenbard East). A successful double steal by Griffin and Spencer Howell (Oakwood, Ohio/Oakwood) extended the edge to 3-0 in the fifth inning. 

From that point, Chatham would begin to chip away, scoring one in the bottom of the fifth before adding two runs in the bottom of the seventh to tie the score at 3-3. 

In the top of the ninth inning, W&J missed on a prime opportunity to regain the lead. Joey Bolick (Gibsonia, Pa./Pine-Richland) walked and stole second before moving to third base after a successful sacrifice bunt by Dalesandro. However, W&J could not find a way to plate Bolick and the game went to extra innings. 

The Presidents would not squander its opportunity in the 10th. Back-to-back singles by James Artale (Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Kenston) and Griffin set up a big inning for W&J. After a successful sacrifice bunt by Adam Moore (Olean, N.Y./Archbishop Walsh) moved both W&J runners into scoring position, Cole Reese (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) delivered an RBI single to bring home the go-ahead run. 

W&J would tack on two important insurance runs when pinch hitter Nick Guercio (Cabot, Pa./Knoch) smashed a two-run triple to right field to score Griffin and Reese. The two-run triple gave W&J a 6-3 lead heading to the bottom of the 10th inning. W&J closer Clay Martin (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan) earned his third save of the season with a scoreless 10th inning. 

Nick Drake (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan) started and pitched 6.0 strong innings, allowing just one run on four hits. The sophomore struck out four and walked two. Mitchell Taufer (Washington, Pa./Bishop Canevin) picked up the victory, pitching 2.0 scoreless innings of relief. Taufer struck out two and did not allow a baserunner. So far during his senior season, Taufer has pitched 14.0 scoreless innings in nine appearances out of the bullpen. 

Offensively, Griffin paced the Presidents by reaching base four times, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two walks. Dalesandro also added two hits during the win. 

With the win, W&J improves to 8-0 in PAC play and 13-7 overall. With the loss, Chatham falls to 0-6 in league games and 3-15 overall. 

The Presidents host Waynesburg University on Wednesday, April 3. Start time for the single nine-inning game is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. at Ross Memorial Park.