W&J POSTGAME INTERVIEWS - Jeff Mountain, Jared Baird, Gannon Rooney

WASHINGTON, Pa. -- Gannon Rooney and Nick Vento each hit two-run homers as the Presidents advanced to the third day of the 2015 NCAA Division III Mideast Regional with a 9-3 win over second-seeded Adrian.

Washington and Jefferson picked up their fourteenth home win of the season and seventh regional win in school history on Thursday, but few have felt more special.

The No. 6 Presidents (29-16) eliminated the second seed Adrian College from the Mideast Region with a 9-3 win at Ross Memorial Park.

"The opportunity to play at home in the NCAA tournament is a special thing," Presidents coach Jeff Mountain said. "Obviously, our first regional win was unique and special but today was definitely a highlight.

"We were very confident coming in. We were confident with the guy we had on the mound today. We came out ready to play. Baseball is a unique sport. One day one thing happens and the next something else happens. We were victimized by two out runs yesterday and today we scored four runs with two outs in the second inning. Big innings are difficult to come by at this stage."

The Presidents jumped out to an early 5-0 lead on the Bulldogs in the second inning. All runs were unearned off of Bulldogs starter Jordan Frayer.

With already a 3-0 lead, freshman Gannon Rooney delivered the big blow with a towering two run shot over the left field fence.

"It felt really great," Rooney said. "You can feel the momentum changing to our side. I knew he (Frayer) would come to me and try to get a quick out. I was just looking for a good pitch to hit and I had enough power and wind behind it. It loosened everybody up. With the way Jared (Baird) has been throwing, we knew we only needed a couple of runs to back him up. We have been able to rely on him."
 
The five runs would have proven to be enough for senior Jared Baird who was starting his third game in the last seven days.

Baird pitched 7.2 innings, allowing two runs on four hits and struck out seven.

"It is the postseason, so I knew I just had to go out there and get it done," Baird said.

"I think what Baird has done for the last week is just unbelievable," Mountain said. "It is one of the most amazing things that I have been a part of. I think he is inspiring the rest of the guys as well."

With a 6-1 lead, the Presidents received their second two-run home run of the game, this time off the bat of Nick Vento. It was the fourth of the season for Vento.

All tournament long the Bulldogs (33-12) struggled to find a consistency in their offense, scoring four runs in two games.

"Obviously not the way we want to end the season," Adrian coach Craig Rainey said. "I thought our guys did a good job of battling hard. Things didn't fall our way the last couple of days."

The lone bright spot for the Bulldogs was centerfielder Jeff Gertley. Gertley belted his second home run of the regional in the eighth inning to chase Baird from the game.

"I struggled the whole day at the plate and I was looking for a pitch I could drive and was able to do so," Gertley said.

Jordan Frayer suffered the loss for the Bulldogs, going two innings, allowing six runs (one earned) on six hits.

"One thing followed the other and I just didn't execute well in that second inning."

Offensively, everyone in the lineup for the Presidents recorded at least one hit or an RBI.

"When we are at our best, we are getting production from all guys in the lineup," Mountain said. "It took us awhile to see who was going to be our guys. They are getting into a better routine. We need to be that way. Everyone needs to be able to hit."

The 29th win was the eighth highest in a single season for the Presidents.

W&J will play the 3:15 game on Friday, May 15 against an opponent to be detemined through play on Thursday afternoon.