Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
DAVENPORT, Fla. (March 7) – The Waynesburg University baseball team began its weeklong run in the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational on Monday with a doubleheader against Wittenberg.
The Yellow Jackets dropped to 2-2 on the season after getting swept by the Tigers, who took game one 6-3 and followed that up with an 8-3 triumph over the Jackets. Wittenberg is now 4-2 on the season.
Game one started out well for Waynesburg, which jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning thanks to an RBI double by third baseman Tim Chilcote that scored centerfielder Brandon Myers, and an RBI single by designated hitter Noah Pust that plated Chilcote.
Unfortunately, Wittenberg responded by scoring the next six runs in the ball game, including a two-run second and a three-run fifth. The Jackets picked up a run in the top of the seventh inning on a sacrifice fly by senior shortstop Anthony DeFilippo, but that was as far as the comeback try went.
Sophomore Anthony Longo pitched all six innings for Waynesburg and took his first loss on the year (1-1). He allowed five earned runs on 12 hits and walked two batters.
After falling behind 1-0 in the top of the third inning in game two, the Jackets fired back with a score of their own in the bottom of the frame when DeFilippo tripled and scored on a wild pitch.
The Tigers regained the lead with a three-spot in the top of the fourth, but the Jackets kept it close after posting two runs of their own in the bottom of the inning. Junior first baseman Nick Berdine plated junior left fielder Mike Neckerman and junior right fielder Ken Rosenbauer with a triple to right-center field that cut Wittenberg's lead to 4-3.
After neither team scored in the fifth or sixth innings, the Tigers put the game out of reach with four runs in the top of the seventh. Senior Jesse Gonzalez made his second start on the mound of the season (0-1) and took the loss after giving up four runs, all earned, in six inning of work. The veteran righty yielded eight hits and a walk, while striking out three.
Pust, DeFilippo and junior catcher Brendan Scioscia all collected two hits on the day. Rosenbauer scored a pair of runs during the twin bill.
Waynesburg gets back to work in the Florida sun tomorrow when they face Juniata for two games. First pitch is scheduled for 12:30 p.m.
