Box Score

WAYNESBURG, Pa. (March 28) – The Waynesburg University baseball team opened up Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) play on Thursday with a nine-inning home game against Bethany College. The Yellow Jackets combined solid hitting with an outstanding pitching effort from sophomore J. Jay Paskert to beat the Bison 5-1.
 
The Yellow Jacket didn't waste much time in building a lead. After blanking Bethany (2-7, 0-4) in the top of the first inning, the home team (8-5, 1-0) pushed the first run across home plate when senior leftfielder Nick Berdine ripped a double into left-center field to score junior centerfielder Clay Roman. Waynesburg doubled its advantage in the bottom of the third when Roman picked up his first RBI of the day on a single that brought senior second baseman David Houseman in to score from second base.
 
After the Bison scored their only run in the top of the fourth inning to cut their deficit down to 2-1, the Jackets went to work on rebuilding their lead and putting the game out of reach. The re-established a two-run advantage in the bottom of the fifth, and it was Roman who did the damage once again, as he plated Houseman for a second time on the day with a single to push the score to 3-1 Waynesburg
 
The Jackets got one more RBI from Roman in the seventh, when he drove in senior shortstop Kyle Sasala to make it 4-1 in their favor. The game's final run of the day was recorded as catcher Derrick Zavatsky brought designated hitter Andrew Rose across home plate with an eighth-inning single to bring about the final score of 5-1.
 
Paskert tossed all nine innings of the win to improve to 2-1 on the year and drop his ERA to 3.38. The first-year Yellow Jacket allowed seven hits and two walks, while striking out six Bison to pick up the victory. Paskert seemed to get stronger as the game went on. He faced just 13 batters over the final four innings of play, and struck out three batters over that same span.
 
Roman led the offense with a four-for-four showing at the plate that included a double, a game-high three RBI and a run scored. Houseman went two-for-four with a game-high two runs score. The Yellow Jackets have now improved to 3-0 since returning to Pennsylvania from their spring break trip to Winter Haven, Fla. earlier this month.
 
The Jackets and Bison are scheduled to square off again on Saturday in a seven-inning PAC doubleheader. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.