WAYNESBURG, Pa. (April 11) – The Waynesburg University softball team hosted Geneva for a Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) doubleheader on Tuesday. The Yellow Jackets cranked out 11 hits during a 6-2 win in game one, before falling 6-4 in a weather-shortened game two.
 
The Golden Tornadoes (14-12, 3-5) opened the scoring with a run in the top of the first inning. Waynesburg (7-16-1, 3-5) broke out the bats in the bottom of the third to take a 3-1 lead. The Jackets piled up five hits, including a leadoff double by senior designated player Mackenzie Smith. Back-to-back singles loaded the bases for sophomore shortstop Keri Renzler, who came through with a two-run double that gave the home team a 2-1 edge. Two batters later, sophomore first baseman Alex Lawrence drove a sacrifice fly ball to deep center field that allowed Renzler to score from third base.
 
The Jackets continued their hot hitting in the fourth with three runs on five more hits. Freshman centerfielder Courtney Syfert knocked in courtesy runner Savannah Walker to extend Waynesburg's lead to 4-1. Two batters later, freshman third baseman Cheyenne Wasko singled home Syfert. A fourth-straight single, this one by Lawrence, plated Renzler to grow the Waynesburg advantage to 6-1.
 
Geneva scored its second run of the opener in the top of the sixth, but sophomore pitcher Courtney Messenger was able to keep the damage to a minimum. Messenger produced a perfect seventh inning to finish out the victory.
 
The righty ace allowed seven hits, six of which were singles, over the complete-game effort. Messenger recorded two strikeouts and didn't walk a batter.
 
Game two opened with Geneva scoring a pair of unearned runs in the first. Waynesburg answered back in the bottom of the opening inning thanks to a two-run double by freshman right fielder Rachel Skon.
 
The game stayed tied until the third, when Skon struck again, this time singling home Wasko to give the Jackets a 3-2 lead. The host team took advantage of a wild pitch to score its fourth run. The errant offering allowed Lawrence to race home.
 
Unfortunately, as the weather started to go south, the Geneva offense started to find its stride. The Golden Tornadoes scored three times in the fourth to go up 5-4. The visitors tacked on an insurance run in the fifth to clinch the win. The game was called in the top of the seventh because of lightning.
 
Messenger took the loss in the late contest after giving up six runs, only three of which were earned, on nine hits and three walks over five innings in the circle. Senior Lyndi Gareis logged an inning of relief and also faced one batter in the seventh.
 
Skon paced the Waynesburg offense by going three-for-six with a double and three RBI. Wasko added a three-for-seven effort with a double, an RBI and two runs scored.
 
The Jackets are back in action on Thursday, when they host La Roche for a seven-inning doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.