WAYNESBURG, Pa. (April 21) – The Waynesburg University softball team hosted Saint Vincent for a Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) doubleheader on Thursday. The Yellow Jackets upset the Bearcats in the opener by the final score of 4-1, before falling 6-3 in game two.
Freshman
Courtney Messenger was able to do just enough to keep the powerful Saint Vincent (21-11, 9-5) offense under control in the opener. She allowed 11 hits, but limited 10 of them to singles and didn't walk a batter.
The Jacket (15-21, 6-8) offense took advantage of some first-inning opportunities that were presented to them by the Bearcats. Freshman shortstop
Keri Renzler led off with a walk, before freshman leftfielder
Cat Allstatt legged out at infield single. Freshman first baseman
Alex Lawrence kept things rolling with a bunt single to load the bases for senior designated player
Katey Potopenko. The veteran showed her patience by waiting out a walk that allowed Renzler to trot home with the day's first run. Junior catcher
Mackenzie Smith plated the eventual game winner with a groundball out that scored Allstat.
Saint Vincent scored its only run of the opener during the top of the sixth inning. However, Waynesburg answered the visiting team's challenge with its final two runs of the game in the bottom of the frame. Junior second baseman
Ashley Demarco created a productive out when she picked up an RBI groundout that made the score 3-1. Renzler drove home the game's final tally with a sacrifice fly to centerfield that allowed senior right fielder
Cami Grimes to sprint home.
Saint Vincent managed to load the bases in the bottom of the seventh, but Messenger induced a game-ending groundout to seal the win.
Lawrence went a perfect three-for-three at the plate with a double to pace the Jacket offense. Senior centerfielder
Jessica Dorazio singled and stole a base in her final home collegiate game.
SVC opened the scoring in game two with a run in the top of the first. Waynesburg quickly responded in the bottom of the frame when the freshman duo of Lawrence and Renzler did it again. The first-year first baseman smacked a game-tying double that allowed her classmate to sprint home.
The Bearcats jumped ahead 3-1 after a tally in the fourth and one more in the fifth. The home team battled back in the sixth and, once again, Lawrence led the charge. She ripped her second double of the game to score Allstat, before coming home herself on a Smith single.
With the game tied up at 3-3, head coach
Richele Hall decided to pull Allstat, who got the start in the circle, and returned Messenger to the pitcher's spot. Unfortunately, Saint Vincent's offense readjusted quickly to the first-year ace and scored the game's final three runs to pick up the victory.
Lawrence went two-for-three in game two with a pair of doubles, two RBI and a run scored.
Waynesburg is scheduled to return to competition on Saturday, April 23, when it travels to Grove City for a PAC doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
