BETHANY, W. Va. -- The Washington & Jefferson baseball team had its program-record win streak snapped at 16 games today with a 5-2 road loss to Bethany.
With the setback, the Presidents fall to 19-8 overall and 14-1 in the PAC. Bethany, on the other hand, improves to 18-11 overall and 8-8 in conference.
Spencer Howell (Oakwood, Ohio/Oakwood) scored the first run of the game in the first inning, getting home on an error by the opposing second baseman.
With the score tied at 1-1 in the sixth, W&J retook the lead, 2-1, with a Mullen Socha (Independence, Ohio/St. Ignatius) home run. Socha leads the Presidents this season with five homers, hitting one in back-to-back games.
Bethany took the advantage in the bottom of the sixth with two RBI singles. The Bison sealed the 5-2 victory in the seventh inning with a two-run homer, their second of the series.
Unfortunately for the Red & Black, Socha's homer stood as their final run of the game. Despite being held to two runs, W&J had plenty of chances, as it ended the tilt with 12 runners left on base.
On the pitching mound, Santino Platt (Pittsburgh, Pa./OLSH) started and went 5.1 innings. The senior allowed three runs, two earned, and struck out three.
Socha led the Red & Black with a 3-for-5 day from the plate with two runs and one RBI. The senior second baseman has tallied a hit and an RBI in seven straight games.
Josh Crummer (Great Falls, Va./Flint Hill School) also had multiple hits today with two, one being a double. Crummer leads W&J with a .384 batting average and he is tied for 37th nationally with 12 doubles.
Dante Dalesandro (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mount Lebanon) also tallied a hit in the bout, extending his career-best hit streak to 19 consecutive games.
The Presidents will look to bounce back from today's result on Wednesday, April 17, at 6 p.m. at Ross Memorial Park.