Box Score
WAYNESBURG, Pa. (March 26) – The Waynesburg University baseball team improved to 3-0 at their new home park and won their fourth-straight game on the season with a 2-1 win over Thiel. The contest was the opener to Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) play for both teams.
The Yellow Jackets improved to 5-7 on the season and 1-0 in PAC action. The loss snapped a four-game Thiel winning streak and dropped the Tomcats to 7-6 on the season and 0-1 in conference play. Waynesburg also broke a five-game losing streak against their rivals from Greenville, Pa.
It was clear from the get-go that the game was going to be a pitchers duel between Waynesburg freshman Anthony Longo and Thiel junior James Teyssier as the two hurlers posted nothing but zeroes through three innings of play.
The Tomcats got the scoring going in the top of the fourth with a double from first baseman Justin Scarpitti and a sacrifice fly from second baseman Eric King.
Through seven innings, Waynesburg was unable to push a runner across the plate against Teyssier. However, that all changed in the bottom of the eighth. Designated hitter Chris Dittmar roped a double to lead off the inning before being replaced by pinch-runner Andrew Spargur. After center fielder Brandon Myers laid down a bunt single to put runners on the corners, second baseman Wes White Jr tied the game with a sacrifice fly to center field that scored Spargur.
Third baseman Corey Goeggelman followed White with a double of his own. Goeggelman was able to advance to third on a throw home that retired Myers, who was trying to score all the way from first. The game-winning run was recorded in the next at-bat when shortstop Anthony Defilippo singled in Goeggelman.
The offense was just enough for Longo, who looked terrific in his first start for the Jackets. In the top of the ninth, Thiel was able to rally somewhat by getting runners to first and second. However, with two outs on the board, Longo forced the game-ending groundout to DeFilippo.
The Steubenville native scattered six hits and a walk over nine innings of work. He also picked up his first two strikeouts in a Waynesburg uniform. Goeggelman led the offense with a single and a double, while also adding a sacrifice bunt to his day.
The Yellow Jacket and Tomcats will see each other again on Saturday, March 27, when the two teams square off in Greenville for a PAC doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
