Box Score

BEAVER FALLS, Pa. (April 12) – The Waynesburg University baseball team combined outstanding pitching with a big seventh inning to pull out a 5-1 win over Geneva on Friday. The victory snapped a six-game losing streak for the Yellow Jackets.
 
The Jackets (10-12, 3-7) struck early against the Golden Tornadoes (9-15, 4-8) by plating a run in the first inning. Junior centerfielder Clay Roman collected a one-out single and moved into scoring position after a balk was called against Geneva. The next batter, senior leftfielder Nick Berdine stroked an RBI double to post the game's first score.
 
Waynesburg maintained its one-run lead until the bottom of the sixth, when the Tornadoes tied the game at 1-1. The Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) affair seemed destined for extra innings, as the game remained knotted up until the top of the ninth, when the visitors finally took control of the contest.
 
Sophomore designated hitter Neal Yakopin led off the inning with a single and moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore right fielder Ben Shorthouse. After Kyle Weyand came in to pinch-run for Yakopin, Geneva picked up the frame's first out when senior second baseman David Houseman reached on a fielder's choice that included Weyand being retired at third base. Senior shortstop Kyle Weyand walked to put runners at first and second, and the Jackets regained the lead thanks to Roman, who doubled in Houseman.
 
The Jackets extended their slim one-run advantage when Berdine produced the biggest hit of the game, a two-run single that brought Roman and Sasala across home plate to give the visitors a 4-1 advantage. Waynesburg tacked on one last insurance run when senior first baseman Bobby Hartman doubled to score Berdine and bring about the final score of 5-1.
 
Geneva's comeback attempt never got any further than a lead-off single in the bottom of the ninth, which was followed by three-straight outs recorded by the Jacket defense.
 
Sophomore pitcher J. Jay Pakert needed just two hours and 10 minutes to put together a complete-game win on the mound. The righty scattered seven hits and a walk to pick up his team-leading fourth win of the season (4-3). Paskert struck out five Geneva batters during his team-leading fifth complete game.
 
Berdine collected a game-high three hits in five at-bats to lead the Waynesburg offense. He also recorded a game-high three RBI and scored a run. Roman and Hartman added two hits each, while the former scored a game-high two runs.
 
These same two teams will meet up for a seven-inning PAC doubleheader in Waynesburg tomorrow that is scheduled to get underway at 1 p.m. The twin-bill will also be the setting the Jackets' annual Salute the Troops celebration. All active and former military personnel are encouraged to attend the event and will receive tickets for free concession items and be entered into a drawing for game-worn Waynesburg jerseys.