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Box Score 2
WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Feb. 23) – The Waynesburg University baseball team opened its 2013 season Saturday afternoon by dropping two close games to reigning AMCC conference champion and 2012 NCAA Tournament qualifier La Roche. Waynesburg held a lead for most of game one, before the Redhawks rallied for a 4-2 victory. The Jackets kept the second contest close before ultimately dropping a tight 3-2 decision.
La Roche (2-0) got on the board first in game one, scoring a run in the second inning. The Jackets (0-2) battled back with two runs in the bottom of the third. After third baseman
Tim Chilcote flied out to start the inning, freshman designated hitter
Matt Bensinger walked in front of center fielder
Clay Roman, who then singled and advanced on an error by the La Roche centerfielder. That put runners on second and third for the Jackets' leadoff hitter,
Kyle Sasala. The senior shortstop pushed the Jackets in front 2-1 with a two-run single that plated Bensinger and Roman.
The Jackets saw several opportunities to add to the lead come up just short of fruition. In the fourth inning, Waynesburg had runners at the corners with just one out, before back-to-back strikeouts ended the threat. It appeared the Jackets might find an insurance run in the sixth inning after senior first baseman
Bobby Hartman walked to lead off the inning, and was moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by second baseman
Andrew Rose. Unfortunately, the visitors were able to wriggle out of danger once again.
Trailing 3-1, La Roche tallied three runs in the seventh inning to claim the season-opening victory. Senior pitcher
Anthony Longo was saddled with the tough-luck loss after working 6 1/3 innings pitched and giving up four runs on seven hits. He struck out one and walked one. Roman led the offense in game one, going 2-for-3 and scoring a run while hitting out of the ninth spot in the lineup.
La Roche jumped out quickly in game two, tallying solo runs in the first and third innings to take a 2-0 lead. The Jackets chipped away with a run in the bottom half of third inning as Chilcote walked and advanced to second base on a passed ball before being driven home by second baseman
Neal Yakopin. La Roche responded with a solo run in the fifth to push the lead back to two runs at 3-1.
Waynesburg tried to tie the contest in the bottom of the sixth inning when Sasala doubled to lead off the inning. After Roman flew out, Berdine doubled home Sasala to make it 3-2 and put the tying run in scoring position. However the rally was cut short when La Roche's bullpen came in and shot down the Jackets with a pair of outs.
Berdine went two-for-three with an RBI, while Sasala and Chilcote scored the home team's lone tallies of the late contest. Sophomore pitcher Walter Paskert went the distance in game two, allowing three runs on just four hits. The first-year Jacket struck out five while walking three in the contest.
Waynesburg will try to bounce back when they host Juniata College on March 2 for another home doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
