WASHINGTON, Pa. – March 29, 2022 – The Chatham University baseball team faced a stiff test early in the PAC schedule, falling to top-ranked Washington & Jefferson in a double header. The 5-1 and 9-2 defeats drop Chatham's record to 6-7 overall and 0-4 in conference action.
Game one ended up being a defensive affair throughout most of the contest, with the Cougars striking first in the top of the third when a groundout courtesy of sophomore
Dylan Vogel scored the game's first run. However, the Presidents responded three times over with a SAC fly and a two-RBI double to take the lead.
Then in the fifth, a couple more base knocks by the Presidents gave the hosts insurance. An RBI double and single made the score 5-1 and the Cougars could not get any more runs, ending the game at that tally.
Senior
Caleb Lehman led the Cougars with a 2/3 day and a double, accounting for half of Chatham's game one hits. First-year
Quinn Burke and senior
Luke Paulson had the other base hits, with the former of the two scoring Chatham's only run.
Senior
Ryan Denz pitched to contact and lasted three innings, taking the loss despite allowing just three base hits. First-year
Kole Mayle followed with a two inning performance and Chatham's only strikeout while sophomore
Mason Schwartz concluded the game.
In game two, Chatham trailed 4-0 after one and 9-0 after five. Despite the lopsided final score, the damage was done in just two innings. Outside of the two frames, Chatham allowed just two hits the rest of the contest. Junior
Brandon Griener grounded out and distracted the President defense to allow the Cougars' first run to score, then a base hit by first-year
Brady Wingeart scored the second and final run.
Four Cougars saw time on the bump. Junior
JJ Shibest started the first and took the loss. First-year
Dawson Morrow pitched the next 3.2 innings and performed admirably, striking out two. He was followed by sophomore
Mitchell Thornton going 2.1 innings and first-year
Aidan Callinan concluding the final inning.
The Cougars' next test comes in less than 24 hours with a nine-inning game at Westminster beginning at 3:30.
