WAYNESBURG, Pa. (March 20) – The Waynesburg University baseball team hosted Penn State Behrend on Wednesday for a non-Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) doubleheader. The Yellow Jackets jumped out to an early lead in game one, before falling 8-3. The Jackets dropped the late contest 12-5.
 
Waynesburg (4-6) loaded the bases on three walks in the bottom of the first inning of game one, but looked like they weren't going to be able to cash in on the golden opportunity. However, junior first baseman Jonny Kutchman (Johnstown, Pa. / Richland) came up with a clutch two-out, three-run single to put the home team up 3-0 heading to the second.
 
Waynesburg maintained its advantage until the top of the third, when Behrend (7-5) scored five runs to take a lead it never relinquished to the host squad. The Lions added two runs in the fifth and one more in the sixth to close out the opener.
 
Sophomore Tyler Srbinovich (Warren, Ohio / Niles McKinley) started and took the loss after allowing five runs on six hits and a walk over 2.2 innings of work. Three other Jacket relievers combined to work the other 4.1 frames on the mound.
 
Game two saw Behrend jump out to a 7-0 lead heading into the bottom of the third. Kutchman broke up the shutout with an RBI groundout to make the score 7-1.
 
With the Waynesburg defense shutting down the Lion bats, the Jacket offense was able to chip into the deficit. Senior third baseman Tyler Reis (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Penn Hills) came up with a two-run single that made the score 7-3 in the bottom of the sixth. Two batters later, senior leftfielder Tyler Godwin (Bridgeville, Pa. / South Fayette) was the benefactor of a Lion error that allowed two runs to come across home plate and make the score 7-5.
 
Unfortunately, Behrend was able to induce an inning-ending double play that halted the comeback. The visiting team tacked on five insurance runs in the top of the seventh to close out the scoring.
 
Freshman Joe Sabolek (Lynnwood-Pricedale, Pa. / Belle Vernon) started on the bump and suffered the loss after yielding seven runs over four innings. The Jackets twice dipped into the bullpen before ending the late contest.
 
Senior shortstop Alec Fantaskey (Williamsport, Pa. / Williamsport) turned in the top offensive performance of either game by going three-for-three in the late contest with a triple and a run scored.
 
Waynesburg opens PAC play on Thursday, March 21, when it hosts Geneva for a nine-inning contest. Start time is scheduled for 2 p.m.