Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
LATROBE, Pa. (Apr. 2) – The Waynesburg softball team won a pair of thrilling one-run contests on Thursday, as they downed Saint Vincent by the finals of 4-3 in game one and 5-4 in game two, which lasted nine innnings.
The wins bump the Yellow Jackets up to 9-7 on the season, while the Bearcats dropped to 7-9 overall.
In the opener, the two teams traded runs in the first inning. However, neither squad was able to put up another run until the top of the fifth when Saint Vincent took a 2-1 lead.
The Jackets responded with a run in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game up at 2-2. Once again, the Bearcats were able to jump back ahead in the top of the seventh with an unearned run.
In the bottom of the frame, Waynesburg exploded with a power surge at the plate to grab the victory.
Shortstop Kristen Lautenschlager led off the inning with a one-run homer off Saint Vincent pitcher Mollie Stock. After the Bearcats were able to put a pair of outs on the board, Yellow Jacket designated hitter Amanda Baughman belted a walk-off solo home run down the leftfield line to grab the victory.
The solo shot allowed senior pitcher Autumn Minor to win her fifth-straight start in the circle. The Waynesburg native went to 5-4 on the season after yielding just two earned runs on 10 hits. She didn't walk a batter and rolled up six strikeouts.
Left fielder Nicole Forte went three-for-four with a run scored at the plate in the opener.
Game two was just as thrilling as the Bearcats jumped out to a 4-1 lead after four innings. However, the Yellow Jackets responded with a run in the top of the fifth and two more in the top of the sixth.
After the two teams failed to score in the seventh and eighth innings, Waynesburg took their first lead since a 1-0 advantage in the top of the first, when Minor ripped a two-run double into right field that scored Lautenschlager.
Baughman, who got the start in the circle, was able to record two of her season-high 10 strikeouts and snag the game-ending groundball to end the contest. The sophomore improved to 4-3 on the year after giving up three earned runs on 10 hits and three walks.
Lautenschlager had arguably her best day as a collegiate player by going six-for-eight with three runs scored and an RBI while working from the leadoff spot.
Waynesburg is back in action on Saturday, when they host Grove City, the number-one team in the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC). The games are scheduled to get underway at 1 p.m.
