STEUBENVILLE, Ohio (March 25) – The Waynesburg University softball team traveled to the Buckeye State for a Saturday doubleheader at Franciscan. The Yellow Jackets split a pair of one-run games with the Barons.
Waynesburg (4-8) suffered a 2-1 setback in game one, before winning a 15-14 slugfest in the late contest. After not playing for three weeks since their spring break trip to Florida, the Jackets have gone 2-2 over four games played in two days.
Sophomore pitcher
Courtney Messenger was the tough luck loser in the circle in game one. She gave up five hits and no walks over a complete-game effort. Waynesburg's lone run came courtesy of a homerun by senior catcher
Mackenzie Smith. It was one of two hits in the early contest for Smith.
Game two was a thrilling back-and-forth affair that opened with the Jackets scoring four runs in the top of the first inning. Freshman
Ashley Dubovich produced a two-run double that put her team up 3-0.
The Barons (4-8) responded in a big way by scoring 11-straight runs. The home team tallied three in the first and two more each in each of the second through fifth frames. By the time the sixth inning rolled around, Waynesburg trailed 11-4.
Luckily, the Jacket bats reignited in the sixth with four runs in the top of the frame. The rally began with a solo homerun off the bat of sophomore first baseman
Alex Lawrence. Waynesburg tied the score 11 with a three-spot in the seventh that sent the game into extra innings.
The Jackets took a 13-11 lead in the top of the eighth on a two-run double by sophomore shortstop
Keri Renzler. However, Franciscan answered with a pair of scores that extended the game to inning number nine.
Lawrence came up big yet again with a two-run bomb in the top of the ninth to make the score 15-13. Franciscan was able to plate one final run in its half of the ninth, but Messenger, who came in to the game in relief, was able to slam the door on the rally and clinch the victory.
Lawrence put together a huge day at the plate, going six-for-eight with two homers, two doubles, three RBI and four runs scored. She slugged 1.750 over the split. Along with logging both pitching decisions, Messenger went two-for-three with an RBI and a run scored.
Waynesburg is back in action on Tuesday, March 28, when it hosts Point Park University for a doubleheader .First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
