NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. (Apr. 2) – The Waynesburg baseball team nearly completed a big late-inning comeback against Westminster on Thursday, but fell a run short as the Titans held on for a 7-6 victory.

The loss dropped the Yellow Jackets to 8-11 overall and 3-5 in Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) action. Westminster improved to 8-14 on the season and 5-5 in conference play.

After falling behind 2-0 through three innings of play, the Jackets tied the game with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth. Waynesburg took their first lead of the day (4-2) in the top of fifth thanks to RBI doubles by centerfielder Rob Cool Jr and shortstop Anthony Defilippo.

A run in the bottom of the fifth and the bottom of the sixth tied the game back up at 4-4. Westminster regained the lead in the bottom of the seventh thanks to a trio of unearned runs off Waynesburg relief pitcher Ryan Schell.

After a scoreless eighth inning, Waynesburg went on the comeback trail in the top of the ninth.

After freshman Kenny Grant walked to lead off the inning, pinch-runner Ken Rosenbauer moved up to third on a balk and a wild pitch. Two batters later, third baseman Corey Goeggelman brought grant in when he grounded out to second.

Two batters later, Defilippo singled in Cool, who reached on an error. Unfortunately, the rally ended with the Waynesburg shortstop and Westminster held on for the win.

Junior Bryan Leones got the start on the mound for Waynesburg and gave up four earned runs on nine hits and a walk. Junior third baseman Wes White Jr led the offense with a game-high three hits in five at-bats. Cool scored three runs.

The Jackets will try to get back on the winning track tomorrow when they host another PAC rival in Bethany. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.