BETHANY, W.Va. (March 29) – The Waynesburg University baseball team traveled to Bethany on Friday for a nine-inning Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) matchup with the Bison. After an entertaining nine innings on the diamond, the game went to the 10
th, where the Yellow Jacket bats exploded to lead them to a 14-6 victory.
The Waynesburg (10-10, 4-2) offensive performance was made all the more impressive by the credentials brought into the afternoon by the home-standing Bison (13-5, 3-2). The Bison went into the game ranked first in the PAC in both ERA (3.71) and total runs allowed (61).
The first three innings saw the two squads match each other blow for blow and run for run as each team scored a run in the first, a run in the second and two in third to forge a 4-4 tie heading to the fourth frame. The pace of the game changed for the next two innings that saw neither squad add to its run total.
Waynesburg grabbed a 5-4 edge in the top of the sixth when junior second baseman
Justin Buberl (Westminster, Md. / Westminster) doubled home senior shortstop
Alec Fantaskey (Williamsport, Pa. / Williamsport). The lead lasted until the bottom of the seventh, when Bethany fired back with two runs that gave them a 6-5 advantage.
After a scoreless eighth inning, the Jackets were down to their final three outs on the road. However, Buberl gave his team a big shot in the arm with a leadoff triple. The next batter, junior first baseman
Jonny Kutchman (Johnstown, Pa. / Richland) followed during the ensuing at-bat with a game-tying single. Bethany managed to induce a fly out and a double play to send the game to the bottom of the ninth.
After the leadoff batter walked, sophomore
Tyler Srbinovich (Warren, Ohio / Niles McKinley) came into the game and maneuvered his way through the challenge with a sacrifice bunt, a strikeout, an intentional walk and fly ball out to send the game to the 10
th.
It was then that the Waynesburg offense had maybe its best inning of the season. A total of 14 batters came to the plate and used five hits, an error, two walks and three hit batsmen to plate eight runs and put the game well out of reach.
Fantaskey, Buberl, freshman catcher
Tyler Woodrow (Gibsonia, Pa. / Pine-Richland), sophomore
Carter Uzzell (Fairfax, Va. / Bishop O'Connell) and Srbinovich all drove in runs. The Bison also helped out by hitting senior centerfielder
Mitch Nordstrom (Bethel Park, Pa. / Bethel Park) and senior leftfielder
Tyler Godwin (Bridgeville, Pa. / South Fayette) with the bases loaded and uncorking a wild pitch that allowed Fantaskey to sprint home.
After the Orange and Black offense enjoyed a wild and successful top half of the 10
th, Srbinovich and his defense were the picture of efficiency by producing a perfect bottom of the frame. A fly out and two groundouts sealed up the latest Jacket victory.
Srbinovich logged his first win of the season after putting up two no-hit innings of relief that included a walk and a strikeout. He relieved senior
Colton Uzzell (Fairfax, Va. / Bishop O'Connell), who posted his own hitless frame on the mound.
The two followed senior
Ty Wickline (Clarksburg, W.Va. / Liberty), who started and worked seven innings on the mound. He gave up six runs, five of which were earned, on eight hits and no walks.
Waynesburg banged out a season-high 19 hits in the win. Buberl recorded more than a quarter of those during a monster five-for-six outing that came a homerun shy of the cycle. He also tied for the game high in both RBI (three) and runs scored (two).
Srbinovich also logged three RBI, while sophomore
Brandon Durbin (Cresson, Pa. / Bishop Carroll) launched his first homerun of the season. Godwin posted a three-for-five day with two runs scored and was one of six players with multiple hits. A total of nine Yellow Jackets picked up at least one hit each in the win, while nine scored at least one run each and eight logged at least one RBI.
The same two teams will meet up in Waynesburg tomorrow morning for a PAC doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m.
