WAYNESBURG, Pa. (April 15) – The Waynesburg University baseball team welcomed Grove City to town for a nine-inning Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) showdown on Friday. The two teams combined for 28 hits in a 12-10 Wolverine win.
 
The offensive fireworks got started in the first inning when GCC (18-7, 10-2) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the frame. Waynesburg (8-16, 6-4) fired back with a two-spot in the bottom of the inning. Senior first baseman Matt Bensinger singled home freshman second baseman Tyler Reis to tie the game. Junior designated hitter Jonathon Kletzli lifted a sacrifice fly that allowed junior center fielder Josh Hausler to sprint home and give the Jackets an early 2-1 edge.
 
Waynesburg extended its advantage to three runs in the bottom of the second when Bensinger posted his second and third RBI of the day. The veteran's two-run knock scored Reis and junior third baseman Cameron Bernhardt to make the score 4-1.
 
Just when it looked like the Jackets were taking control of the conference showdown, GCC exploded for one of its two big innings of the day. The Wolverines plated six runs in the top of the third to grab a 7-4 advantage. That lead expanded to four runs when GCC pushed another run home in the top of the fourth.
 
Trailing 8-4, the Orange and Black was able cut its deficit in half in the bottom of the frame. Reis teed off on his first collegiate home run, a solo shot to make the score 8-5. Junior right fielder Tyler Godwin plated his first run of the day by slapping a single through the left side of the infield that brought Bensinger in to score. After a rare scoreless inning, the Jackets tied the game up at 8-8 when Bensinger launched a two-run homer, his team-leading fifth of the year, in the bottom of the sixth.
 
After a scoreless seventh, Grove City regained the lead with four runs in the top of the eighth inning. Trailing 12-8 late in the game, Waynesburg took one last shot at a comeback.
 
Godwin came up with another big hit in the bottom of the eighth, when he connected on a two-run double that brought about the eventual final score of 12-10. Freshman Eli Kucherawy was hit by a pitch and Bernahrdt walked to load the bases with just one out on the board. Unfortunately a strikeout and a fielder's choice derailed the Jackets' comeback attempt.
 
Waynesburg out-hit Grove City 15-13 and drew six walks, but the outstanding offensive effort was derailed in part by four errors that led to two crucial unearned runs. The two teams combined to use nine different pitchers on the day.
 
Five different Jackets put together multi-hit efforts in the loss, including Hausler, Bensinger and Godwin, who posted three hits each against GCC. Bensinger recorded a team-high five RBI and tied for the game lead in runs scored (three).
 
Junior Luke Carter got the start on the mound and gave up seven runs, six of which were earned, over 2.1 innings. Junior Parker Beatty was solid in relief, but suffered the loss after giving up five runs, four of which were earned, on six hits and a walk. Beatty piled up an impressive eight strikeouts over 5.2 innings on the mound. Sophomore Noah Lolley and junior Scott Hefty combined to put together a scoreless ninth.
 
The same two teams will face off in a seven-inning doubleheader in Grove City tomorrow. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.