WAYNESBURG, Pa. (April 22) – The Waynesburg University softball team hosted Geneva on Monday for a Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) doubleheader. Seniors Alex Lawrence (Bridgeville, Pa. / Chartiers Valley) and Courtney Messenger (East Liverpool, Ohio / Beaver Local) led the charge to a split with the Golden Tornadoes.
 
Messenger, who threw every pitch of the twin bill, and Lawrence were the driving forces behind the Yellow Jackets' (7-23, 3-9) 1-0 win in game one. The four-year starting hurler scattered four hits and didn't walk a batter in the early contest to earn her fourth win of the season. Lawrence produced the only run of the game when she teed off on a solo homerun in the bottom of the second inning. It was her fourth of the year, which ties her first in the PAC.
 
Lawrence and junior catcher Rachel Skon (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Brashear) combined for all four of the Jackets' hits against Geneva (17-15, 7-5), logging a pair of base knocks each in the early contest. Skon added a double to her day.
 
After gritting out an emotional win to open the day, the Jackets faced major defensive struggles in game two that led to a 9-1 loss (six innings) in game two. Eight of the runs given up by Messenger were unearned, including two in the first inning, that wound up being the decisive scores.
 
Messenger gave up nine hits in game two while suffering the loss. Six different Waynesburg players collected one hit each in the setback.
 
The Jackets host Washington & Jefferson on Thursday for their final home games of the season. First pitch against the Presidents is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.