Weekend College Top 10: W&J tennis among slew of conference champs

Every Monday, the Tribune-Review will highlight 10 top area college performances from the weekend:

1. W&J men’s tennis claims first PAC title since 1969

The Presidents defeated Grove City, 5-1, on Saturday in the conference championship, helping W&J earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III championships, which start May 6. Nate Wang (Peters Township), who won at No. 1 doubles alongside Sam Bellini (Mount Lebanon) in the final, was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Performer. Cole Hartman (Shady Side Academy) added a win at fourth singles.

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2. Robert Morris men’s golf earns NEC title

Max Palmer (3-over-par) took second and Kyle Grube (4-over) third as the Colonials won the Northeast Conference championship by six strokes over Bryant on Sunday in Daytona Beach, Fla. Robert Morris led wire to wire en route to its fourth NEC title, the last coming in 2015.

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3. Saint Vincent softball surges to top seed in PAC tourney

The Bearcats swept Bethany, 16-2 and 21-1, in a doubleheader Sunday to clinch the No. 1 seed. In the first game, Riley Assalone hit her first collegiate homer and finished 3 for 4 with five RBIs. Alona Sleith (Yough) added three hits and three RBIs. In the second game, Abbey Ginter, Kelsey Tobin (Hempfield) and Kaylee Ludwick (Elizabeth Forward) had three RBIs apiece. Saint Vincent (25-13, 13-3) opens the double-elimination tournament at noon Thursday against fourth-seeded Geneva (19-17, 9-7). Second-seeded Thiel and third-seeded Westminster play at 10 a.m.

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4. Geneva softball clinches final spot in conference tournament

Marina Manuppelli hit a two-run homer and scored the winning run on an error in the bottom of the seventh inning, helping the Golden Tornadoes edge Grove City, 4-3, in the second game of a doubleheader Saturday. The win, coupled with a 7-3 victory in Game 1, locked up the final playoff spot in the PAC Tournament. April Lude and Manuppelli had three hits apiece in the opener, and Paige Hollinger had three RBIs. Geneva (19-17) faces top seed and tournament host Saint Vincent (25-13) at noon Thursday.

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5. Pitt-Greensburg’s Common breaks hit record

Senior Chris Common (Penn-Trafford) had three hits during a doubleheader sweep of D’Youville on Saturday to take over first place in Bobcats history with 168. Pitt-Greensburg won 12-3 and 19-3 and improved to 13-17 overall and 10-6 in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference.

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6. Geneva men’s track and field makes it 3 straight PAC titles

Josh Duffie won the 3,000-meter steeplechase and took second in the 10,000 and 5,000, earning Overall Most Outstanding Performer and Most Outstanding Performer for track events to help the Golden Tornadoes to the team championship. Geneva had 212 points in the two-day event, with host Grove City placing second with 133. The Wolverines’ Seth Ray earned Most Outstanding Performer for field events after winning the high jump and placing second in the triple jump.

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7. Waynesburg women earn 4th PAC title in a row

Victories by Jordan Simpson (Chartiers-Houston) in the javelin, Katherine Fair in the 400 hurdles and Aubrey Wingeart in the 1,500 meters helped the Yellowjackets win the team championship with 148.5 points over the weekend in Grove City. The Wolverines took second with 120.5 points. Chatham’s Rebecca Pennington (Karns City) was named Overall Most Outstanding Performer and Most Outstanding Performer in track events after winning the 10,000 and 5,000. Grove City junior Katlyn Adams earned gold in the triple jump and long jump and was named Most Outstanding Performer in the field.

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8. W&J men win PAC golf championship

Garrett Barilar tied for second with a 5-over-par 76, helping the Presidents to first place as a team Saturday at Oglebay Resort’s Speidel Golf Club in Wheeling, W.Va. The conference championships include 36 holes in the fall and 18 in the spring. Grove City’s Cole McCook shot 77 on Saturday and was named PAC Player of the Year with a three-round score of 226. W&J’s Jake Darr, who shot 79 on Saturday, was second with a combined score of 228. Saint Vincent’s Jimmy Dolan was the low man Saturday with a 75. W&J’s team score of 930 was 16 better than Grove City.

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9. Point Park baseball reaches 30-win mark

The Pioneers swept Ohio Christian University, 16-3 and 11-6, on Saturday in a River States Conference doubleheader. Ed Pfluger homered in each game — upping his season total to a team-high eight — and finished 4 for 4 with six RBIs and five runs. Point Park improved to 30-15 overall and 18-8 in the conference, its eighth season of 30 or more wins in coach Loren Torres’ 10 years.

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10. Pitt’s Hammer dominates in victory

Dan Hammer tied his career best with 11 strikeouts in eight shutout innings, leading the Panthers past Presbyterian, 2-1, in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday. Hammer (3-5) allowed five hits in the longest outing of his career for the Panthers (14-28). Pitt lost the second game 9-7 in 12 innings to Presbyterian (21-23).