PITTSBURGH, PA – Jay Novak hit a 2-out ninth inning double down the left field line to tie it at 13-13. Darkness followed shortly after and #22 La Roche and Washington & Jefferson played to a 13-13 tie.
Starter Alek Tesla battled his way through the first inning. W&J loaded the bases with no outs, but the Redhawks limited the damage to just two runs.
Shortstop Austin Hoffman and catcher Shane Roebuck made a string of good plays to retire W&J in order in the second. The Redhawks got things going in the bottom of the second.
Roebuck drew a leadoff walk and Jay Novak was hit by a pitch. Jonathan Melendez tied it with a double to the left field wall. Gino Quahliero gave the Redhawks a 3-2 lead with a bunt single up the third baseline.
W&J tied it with a 2-out double in the third inning. La Roche nearly found the go-ahead run in the bottom of the third, but W&J caught a runner trying to advance home.
Hoffman hit a solo shot over the right-centerfield wall in the fourth inning. W&J tied it with an RBI double in the top of the fifth.
La Roche busted out for five runs in the bottom of the fifth. They took advantage of two hit by pitches and a walk. Novak hit a dribbler to third base to give the Redhawks a one run lead. Melendez put La Roche up two with a sac fly to right field. Quahliero and Hoffman followed with RBI singles and Quahliero advanced home on an error.
W&J scored 8 runs to take a 13-9 lead through six and a half innings. Melendez got one back on an RBI double in the bottom of the inning. The Redhawks however stranded runners on second and third.
Jake Seymour tossed a scoreless eighth. He allowed a run in the ninth but got out of a bases loaded jam to give La Roche a fighting chance.
The Redhawks came through. Professori and Urban drew 2-out walks and Roebuck made it a two run game with a single into left field. Novak lined a 2-2 pitch down the left field line to score Urban and Roebuck scored all the way from first base.
Darkness forced the game to conclude at 13-13 after nine innings.
Melendez went 3 for 4 with 4 RBIs, a double and a run. Novak scored twice and hit in two. Shane Roebuck scored four runs.