Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

WAYNESBURG, Pa. (April 22) – The Waynesburg University baseball team welcomed the number-one team in the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) to town on Tuesday for a  seven-inning conference doubleheader. After falling behind early in both games, the Yellow Jackets battled back and nearly pulled off a pair of comebacks that ultimately fell short in a two-game sweep at the hands of the Presidents.
 
The Jackets (13-20, 9-8) dropped the opener 3-2 and fell 4-2 in the late contest. The loss dropped the Orange and Black into fourth place in the PAC standings, while W&J (19-11, 14-2) extended its lead in the conference to 4.5 games.
 
Both teams were able to push a run home in the first inning. After the Presidents pieced together three hits in the top of the frame, Waynesburg responded with a trio of base knocks in the bottom half of the inning. Sophomore right fielder Eric Crum led things off with a double and was moved to third base by a sacrifice bunt from freshman shortstop Nathan Mori. Senior centerfielder Clay Roman tied the game at 1-1 when he dropped in an RBI single that plated Crum. Two batters later, sophomore first baseman Matt Bensinger singled to put two runners on with two outs. Unfortunately, the visiting team was able to record the third out before any more damage could be done.
 
The Presidents scored twice in the top of the second, and blanked Waynesburg in the bottom half to take a 3-1 edge. After the early offensive showcase, neither team scored again until the bottom of the seventh, when the home squad made its push against the defending PAC champions.
 
With one out on the board, Crum reached base after being hit by a pitch. A Mori single put the tying run on base and moved Crum into scoring position. After a ground ball by Roman moved both base runner up 90 feet, freshman designated hitter Jonathon Kletzli singled Crum home to cut the Waynesburg deficit in half (3-2). Unfortunately, the Jacket rally was snuffed out with the host team still down a run.
 
After some early struggles, Waynesburg sophomore Brian Resnik put together a solid starting effort, despite seeing his five-start win streak come to an end. Resnik allowed three earned runs on six hits and two walks, while striking out four in defeat.
 
The Presidents looked like they were going to have a much easier time of things in game two after jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. The Yellow Jacket deficit grew to 4-0 after W&J plated another run in the top of the fifth. The Waynesburg bats finally came to life in the bottom of the sixth as the Jackets began a second comeback effort.
 
After Roman led off with a single, Kletzli doubled home the senior outfielder to break up the President shutout (4-1). Bensinger made it three-straight Waynesburg hitters reaching base after drawing a walk, but a double-play recorded by W&J left the home team with junior pinch-runner Kyle Weyand standing on third base. Junior leftfielder Ben Shorthouse kept his team's hope of a comeback in alive with an RBI single that plated Weyand. Unfortunately, the Presidents were able to preserve their 4-2 lead by getting the third out before the Jackets could do any further damage.
 
Sophomore Derrick Zavatsky, who has served as the team's closer up until Tuesday's twin bill, made his first start of the season on the mound and after surviving the three-run first inning, settled in to a respectable starting debut. He tossed five innings during which he gave up four runs on six hits and two walks and struck out four Presidents. Zavatasky allowed just one run on two hits and a walk over his final four frames of work.
 
Kletzli and junior second baseman Neal Yakopin tallied a team-high three hits each over the sweep to pace the Jackets. Kletzli smacked two doubles and drove in a pair of runs.
 
Waynesburg is back in action on Friday, April 25, when it travels to Grove City for a nine-inning PAC showdown. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.