CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky. (March 25) – The Waynesburg University baseball team opened its Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) schedule on Friday with a road trip to Thomas More College. The Yellow Jackets did what they could to climb out of an early hole, but their comeback try came up short in a 6-3 loss.
The Jackets (1-11, 0-1) gave up a four-run bottom of the first inning that put them in a deep deficit against the home standing Saints (6-3, 1-0). However, sophomore starting pitcher
Brandon Lawless was able to settle down from the early onslaught and didn't allow a run over the next four frames.
Unfortunately, Waynesburg was unable to take advantage of the stifling efforts of Lawless and his defense. Thomas More added to its lead with a run in the bottom of the sixth, before the Jackets finally broke up the shutout in the top of the seventh. Senior first baseman
Matt Bensinger tagged a solo homerun to make the score 5-1.
The Saints tacked on another insurance score in the bottom of the eight to go up 6-1. Waynesburg finally found its offensive rhythm in the top of the ninth, when it was able to record its final two runs of the day. Freshman
Eli Kucherawy singled home freshman pinch-runner
John-Glen Davis, before junior right fielder
Luke Carter lifted a sacrifice fly that allowed sophomore left fielder
Tyler Godwin to sprint across home plate. The Jackets proceeded to put two runners on and the tying run at the plate, but Thomas More was able to snuff out the rally.
Lawless suffered the loss on the mound after allowing five earned runs on six hits and three walks over 5.1 innings of work. Senior
Connor Furwa worked the final 2.2 frames on the hill and gave up a run on three hits and no walks.
Eight different Jackets collected one hit each in the loss, including junior designated hitter
Jonathon Kletzli, who picked up a double. The Waynesburg defense played error-free for the afternoon.
The same two teams will meet up for a seven-inning doubleheader tomorrow in Kentucky. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.
