Box Score
GROVE CITY, Pa. (March 31) – The Waynesburg University baseball team dropped a 12-9 Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) contest at Grove City on Wednesday afternoon.
The loss dropped the Yellow Jackets to 6-11 on the season and 2-4 in PAC play. The Wolverines improved to 6-7 on the year with a 2-1 mark in conference action.
The game was a tight one throughout as both squads posted a run each in the first and second innings. With the contest knotted up at 2-2, the Jackets appeared ready to take control with a five-run top of the third. Right fielder Nick Berdine blasted his second homerun of the season, a two-run shot into left center field, during the offensive breakout.
However, the home team rebounded with four runs in the bottom of the third to cut the lead to 7-6. Grove City then took the lead (8-7) with two runs in the bottom of the fourth, before Waynesburg regained the advantage (9-8) with a pair of tallies in the top of the fifth. Shortstop Anthony DeFilippo singled home a run in the frame and first baseman Bill Hanning gave his team the lead when he scored on an error.
The Wolverines countered with a run in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game up at 9-9, then took a 12-9 lead with a three-spot in the bottom of the eighth to seal the deal. Though hot early on, the Waynesburg bats were unable produce a run over the final four innings of the game, despite out-hitting Grove City 16-10 on the day.
DeFilippo, catcher Brendan Scioscia and designated hitter Bryan Leones pounded out three hits each in the loss to lead the visiting team. DeFilippo drove in a team-high three runs while going three-for-six at the plate. Leones smacked two doubles and scored a pair of runs.
Pat Ehrin suffered the loss on the mound after relieving starting pitcher Mike Neckerman. Ehrin tossed four innings of four-run ball in which he allowed four hits and recorded four walks. He also struck out three opposing batters. Neckerman worked three innings and gave up seven runs, five of which were earned, on five hits and four walks. He picked up two strikeouts in the bullpen appearance.
The Yellow Jackets hope that a trip back to their home field on Thursday, April 1, will end a four-game losing streak. Waynesburg will host the same Grove City Wolverines for a pair of seven-inning games. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
