BEAVER FALLS, Pa. (April 13) – The Waynesburg University softball team ended a nine-game losing streak to Geneva in the second half of the two squads' Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) doubleheader on Wednesday. The Yellow Jackets bounced back from a heart-breaking 1-0 walk-off loss in game one to score the skid-busting 3-2 win in the late contest.
 
Freshman Courtney Messenger did all she could to pitch Waynesburg (12-16, 4-4) to a win in the opener. She didn't allow an earned run over seven innings and gave up just five hits, four of which were singles, while striking out four Golden Tornadoes (11-11, 1-5). Freshman shortstop Keri Renzler picked up two of Waynesburg's five hits, one of which was a double.
 
The Jackets fell behind 1-0 in game two after Geneva plated a run in the bottom of the first inning. The visitors rebounded with their first run of the afternoon, which came in the top of the third. Junior left fielder Katey Potopenko connected on the first of her three hits in the late contest to drive in Renzler with the tying tally.
 
After the GT's regained the advantage in the bottom of the fourth, Waynesburg responded with a run in the fifth and the eventual game-winning score in the sixth. Freshman first baseman Alex Lawrence belted her team-leading fourth homerun of the season to knot things up at 2-2, before Renzler capped a big day at the plate by doubling in freshman third baseman Sabrina Stankus with the eventual game-winning run.
 
Messenger got a measure of revenge by picking up the pitching victory in relief of senior Stephanie Kotomski. Kotomski gave up a pair of earned runs on five hits over five-plus innings of work in the start. Messenger didn't allow a run in the sixth or seventh and struck out three opposing hitters.
 
Renzler went four-for-five at the plate during the split with two doubles, an RBI and a run scored. Potopenko added three knocks in seven at-bats.
 
Wednesday's split helped move Waynesburg into fourth place in the PAC standings. The top-four teams advance to the rapidly approaching conference tournament. Both games were played as "Lacing Up for a Cure" games, which serve to raise money and awareness for cancer awareness.
 
The Yellow Jackets are back in action tomorrow, when they host Pitt Greensburg for a non-PAC doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled to be thrown at 3:30 p.m.