Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
WASHINGTON, Pa. (April 6) – The Waynesburg University softball team battled for 14 innings during a doubleheader at Washington & Jefferson College. Unfortunately, the Yellow Jackets were unable to pick up a victory in their first Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) action of the season.
The Jackets led late into the opener, but dropped a 5-4 decision. In game two, the Jackets rallied back from an early deficit, but couldn't finish the comeback in a 5-3 loss. With the defeats, Waynesburg fell to 7-11 on the season and 0-2 in conference play. W&J is now 7-9 on the year and 2-0 in PAC action.
The Jackets opened up a 2-0 lead in game one after a leadoff home run by shortstop Kristen Lautenschlager and an RBI doubles by second baseman Bre Kokladas that plated right fielder Brittany Lyle.
After W&J tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the first, the Presidents took their first lead of the day with a run in the bottom of the second. Waynesburg fired back with a game-tying run (3-3) in the top of the third on a solo shot by junior pitcher Amanda Baughman.
After scoreless frames in the fourth and fifth innings, the Jackets retook the lead with a two-out RBI single by shortstop Rachael Moon that moved Waynesburg ahead 4-3. Unfortunately, the lead was short-lived as a pair of Jacket errors played a big part in W&J taking a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the sixth. The visitors managed to put a runner on in the bottom of the seventh, but a double play slammed the door on the late rally.
Though it came in a loss, Baughman had another big day for Waynesburg. She went two-for-three at the plate with a single, a walk and her third homerun of the season. Kokladas also went two-for-three with an RBI.
Baughman took the loss on the hill after working all seven innings. Only two of the five runs given up by the righty on eight hits were earned. She struck out four and didn't yield a walk.
In game two, the Presidents jumped out to a 4-0 lead after three innings of play. However, the Jackets managed to cut it to a three-run lead (4-1) after third baseman Samantha Volponi singled in second baseman Katie Rihn.
W&J rebuilt a four-run advantage (5-1) with a run in the top of the sixth, but Waynesburg wasn't ready to roll over and concede the game just yet. In the bottom of the seventh, the first four Jackets reached base on three singles and an error. The final hitter of that spurt, freshman Annastasia Hartnett, singled in Moon to make it 5-2. After the first out of the inning was recorded, Lautenschlager singled in Baughman to make it 5-3.
Unfortunately, with the bases loaded and only one out on the board, Waynesburg's surging offense was shut down and the Presidents escaped with the win.
The Jackets, who out-hit their opponents in both of Tuesday's games, got two hits each from Moon and Baughman in the late game. Lautenschlager took the loss in the circle after starting and working four innings and giving up three earned runs on seven hits and a walk. She also struck out three Presidents. Freshman #Stacey Knox# closed up the game with three quality innings in which she gave up one unearned run on a hit and a walk.
Waynesburg will try to notch their first PAC win on Saturday, April l0, when they host Thiel for a seven-inning doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
