Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (March 12) – The Waynesburg University baseball team picked up a two-game sweep over Cazenovia (N.Y.) on Thursday at the Russ Matt Baseball Invitational.
The Yellow Jackets took game one in impressive fashion by blowing out the Wildcats by the final score of 13-6. The Jackets followed that with a nail-biting 6-5 triumph. The wins improved Waynesburg's record to 4-5 on the young season.
Waynesburg jumped out to a 6-0 lead after two innings following a pair of three-run innings. Cazenovia broke up the shutout with two runs in the bottom of the fourth, trimming the Jacket lead to 6-2.
However, Waynesburg was able to seal the deal in the top of the fifth inning when they tallied the eventual game-winning runs.
In that inning, freshman catcher Brendan Scioscia led off with a double. After giving up an out, junior right fielder Andrew Spargur reached base on catcher's interference. Junior second baseman Wes White Jr reached base on a fielder's choice, putting runners on first and third with two outs on the board.
Waynesburg got a pair of clutch hits from designated hitter Corey Goeggelman and sophomore shortstop Anthony Defilippo, who both singled in runs to put their team up 8-2.
Cazenovia added four runs over the fifth, sixth and seventh innings, but Waynesburg responded with a four-spot in the top of the sixth and one more tally in the top of the seventh to clinch the victory.
As a team, the Jackets cranked out 17 hits, including a team-best four knocks each from Goeggelman and Defilippo. Goeggelman went four-for-five with two RBI, a run scored and a stolen base. Defilippo went a perfect four-for-four with five RBI and two stolen bases.
White reached base five times and scored five runs, while Scioscia went three-for-five, coming a homerun shy of the cycle, with three runs scored.
Junior Zac Rhoades got the win on the mound after tossing a complete game. The Washington native gave up five earned runs on nine hits and four walks. He struck out five in the victory.
In game two, Waynesburg was once again able to take the first lead of the game with two runs in the bottom of the second. However, the Wildcats responded with a four-spot in the top of the third to take a 4-2 lead.
The two teams continued to go back-and-forth in a very entertaining contest as the Yellow Jackets tied the game up at 4-4 with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. But, Cazenovia took the lead right back with a score in the top of the fifth.
Once again, Waynesburg was able to tie the game thanks to a run in the bottom of the fifth. After shutting the Wildcats out in the top of the sixth, the Jackets took their first, and last, lead of the contest in the bottom of the inning.
After White singled to lead off the frame, he was sacrifice bunted to second base by Goeggelman. Defilippo was intentionally walked to put runners on first and second, who then moved to second and third, respectively, when they each stole a base.
Cazenovia decided to intentionally walk first baseman Bill Hanning to load the bases. The gamble didn't pay off as White scored the eventual game-winner on a passed ball.
However, the game was far from done as the Wildcats loaded the bases in the top of the seventh with only one out on the board. Luckily for the Jackets, freshman Steve Ferimer came into the bullpen and slammed the door on the comeback try with a groundout that came from first base to catcher and a fly out to left field.
Ferimer, who was the third Jacket pitcher of the day picked up the win out of the bullpen. Sophomore Pat Ehrin got the start on the mound and worked 4.1 innings in which he gave up five runs on four hits and three walks.
White picked up two more hits in the win, stole a pair of bases and scored twice.
Junior Patrick Logan crushed a two-run homer in the second inning to help out the offense.
Waynesburg will end their stay in Florida on Friday when they face Baldwin-Wallace.
