WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (March 6) – The Waynesburg University baseball team squared off with Cornell (Iowa) on Sunday at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational. The Yellow Jackets trailed by just two runs after six innings, but the Rams finished strong to score the 18-5 win.
 
Cornell (1-1) scored two runs in the second inning and four more in the third to build an early 6-0 advantage. Waynesburg (1-2) broke up the shutout in the bottom of the third when senior second baseman Justin Smith scored on a passed ball to make the score 6-1.
 
Junior shortstop Nathan Mori kept things going for the Jackets by slashing a two-run double down the right field line in the bottom of the fifth. After another Cornell score put the Rams up 7-3 in the top of the sixth, Waynesburg pulled to within two in the bottom of the frame. The damage was done by an RBI single by junior designated hitter Justin Davey and a fielders' choice RBI by junior center fielder Josh Hausler.
 
Unfortunately, Cornell put the game out of reach with a seven-run seventh and a four-run eighth. The game was called before the ninth inning could begin.
 
Hausler continued a hot start to his season by going two-for-four with a double, a walk, an RBI and a run scored.
 
Junior Jacob Meyer took the loss on the mound after starting and pitching 2.2 innings. He allowed six runs, all of which were earned on nine hits and no walks. He was the first of four Waynesburg pitchers that took the hill on Sunday.
 
The Jackets continue their spring break trip on Monday, with a doubleheader against Worcester Polytechnic Institute. First pitch is scheduled for 9 a.m.