WAYNESBURG, Pa. (April 30) – The Yellow Jacket softball team and Geneva College split a doubleheader on Saturday. In between games, the two teams presented a collaborative donation to the Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, supporting the funding for the development of a cure to childhood cancer.
After losing Game one in extra innings, 6-1, the Waynesburg University softball team rallied to win Game two of its doubleheader against Geneva College Golden Tornadoes by a count of 6-4.
In Game one, the Yellow Jackets (14-13) took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI groundout by Tonya Tanner. The two teams were scoreless until the fourth inning, when an errant throw by the Jackets first basemen allowed the tying run to score from second base.
Geneva immediately put the ball in the hands of their ace, Julie DiLonardo, who silenced the Jackets bats, allowing just two hits in nine innings of work including holding the Jackets hitless throughout the six extra frames. Amanda Baughman was up to the challenge of outdueling DiLonardo, throwing 12 strong innings, surrendering just eight hits and striking out 14 batters to keep the game knotted at 1-1.
Unfortunately for Baughman and the Jackets, there was a 13th inning; six hits and five runs later, Geneva walked away the winners of game one. Baughman has now thrown 38.2 innings in five days.
Between games the two teams gathered for a group picture; a memento to the collaborative donation to the Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation.
The Jackets rushed out of the gate, scoring two runs in each of the first three innings of game two to take a 6-1 lead. Jasmine Blackwell had a pair of RBIs, while Rachael Moon, Amanda Baughman, Lizz Bombara and Jaime Gillum each recorded one RBI.
The Jackets coasted from that point, riding the pitching of freshman Carrie Maier to a 6-4 win. Maier threw all seven innings, allowing just one earned run on eleven hits.
Four Jacket hitters had multi-hit games, as Jasmine Blackwell, Amanda Baughman, Lizz Bombara and Madison Presto each had two hits.
The Yellow Jackets return to action at 3 p.m. on May 3rd for the regular-season finale with Grove City College.
