CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky. – The second-seeded Thiel College baseball team dropped a 4-0 decision to the third-seeded Washington & Jefferson Presidents in their opening game of the 2016 Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Championship Tournament, held at Thomas More College.
 
W&J did all of their damage during a four-run fourth inning. Two of the runs came behind a Ryan Sciullo home run to left field. A RBI single by Michael Ruffing, who later scored on an error were the two other runs in the fourth inning.
 
Riley Groves pitched a complete game, one-hitter for W&J. Trent Smith (Franklin, Pa./Franklin) knocked the lone hit off of Groves with a leadoff base hit in the seventh inning. Josh Doody (Grove City, Pa. /Grove City), Brian Genco (Strongsville, Ohio/Strongsville) and Trent Mosley (South Euclid, Ohio/Brush) each reached base via walk for Thiel.
 
Matt Elko (Middlefield, Ohio/Berkshire) took the loss for Thiel. Elko struck out seven and only allowed four runs (three earned) in five innings of work. Kevin Forrester (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan) pitched four shutout innings in relief of Elko.
 
Thiel (28-13) will face the fourth-seeded Grove City Wolverines in an elimination game tomorrow. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. from Thomas More Field.