WAYNESBURG, Pa. (April 8) – The Waynesburg University baseball team hosted Westminster for a Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) doubleheader on Sunday. After dropping a heartbreaker in game one, the Yellow Jackets bounced back to earn a split with the Titans.
 
After neither team scored over the first three innings, Westminster (8-7, 3-3) opened the scoring with a three-spot in the top of the fourth inning. Waynesburg (6-16, 2-6) remained in a three-run hole until the bottom of the seventh when sophomore first baseman Justin Buberl connected on a two-run single that trimmed the deficit down to one run (3-2).
 
The Jackets finally tied the game up in the bottom of the ninth when junior centerfielder Mitch Nordstrom singled home freshman pinch-runner Alex Toussaint. Unfortunately, Waynesburg gave up the game-deciding run in the top of the 10^th frame. The Jackets responded by putting two runners on with two outs in the bottom of the inning, but couldn't push the game-deciding score across home plate.
 
Sophomore starting pitcher Jonny Kutchman suffered the loss on the mound, despite four solid innings of work. He gave up three runs, only one of which was earned, on three hits and three walks. Freshman Zach Straub did a fantastic job of keeping his team in contention while tossing four shutout innings and giving up just three hits and two walks.
 
Junior Nate Gearhart took the loss after yielding Westminster's game-winning run during the second of his two innings out of the bullpen.
 
The Jackets took advantage of four walks and two errors over the first two innings of the late contest to grab an early 2-0 lead. However, a two-spot for Westminster in the fourth and a third run in the sixth gave the Titans a 3-2 edge.
 
After holding the visiting team off the board in the top of the seventh, the Waynesburg bats finally got rolling once again and put the game away in the bottom of the inning. A single and a walk followed by a successful sacrifice bunt put the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position. An intentional walk to freshman Tyler Srbinovich loaded the bases and a third free pass in the inning allowed Buberl to trot home with the tying run.
 
First-year catcher Tyler Reyes gave his team the lead back with a single that plated junior third baseman Tyler Reis and keep the bases loaded. The Titans gifted the Orange and Black another score when sophomore right fielder Brenden Kohan was hit by a pitch, making the score 5-3. A sacrifice fly by junior shortstop Alec Fantaskey closed the inning's scoring and stretched Waynesburg's advantage to 6-3.
 
Westminster picked up its final run in its half of the eighth, but Reis put the finishing touches on the win with a two-run homer in the bottom of the frame. Srbinovich wrapped up the win by recording a two-inning save.
 
Sophomore pitcher Mason Miller started and took a no-decision after putting together 5.1 solid innings. He gave up three runs, none of which were earned, on just three hits and a walk.
 
The Waynesburg bullpen combined to give up just one unearned run on two hits and a walk. Sophomore Colton Uzzel got the win in relief after working two-thirds of an inning.
 
Buberl totaled a team-high four hits over the split and tied for the team lead with two RBI. He also scored a team-best three times, was successful in both of his steal attempts and played error-free defense at both first and third bases.
 
Waynesburg is off until Saturday, April 14, when it hosts Saint Vincent for a PAC doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.