WASHINGTON, Pa. (May 9) – Everything was going exactly to plan for the Waynesburg University baseball team during its showdown with Grove City in the first round of the 2019 Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) baseball tournament on Thursday. The third-seeded Yellow Jackets had built a comfortable lead for junior ace pitcher Mason Miller (Bethel Park, Pa. / Bethel Park) heading into the bottom of the seventh inning. Then everything came apart for Waynesburg, which dropped a 15-11 final score to the Wolverines.
 
With the loss, Waynesburg (21-18) faces an elimination game tomorrow at Washington & Jefferson's Ross Memorial Park against fourth-seeded Bethany. The Wolverines (27-13) move on to face the host Presidents in the winner's bracket.
 
What was expected to be a dual of two of the top pitchers in the league never materialized as the Jackets jumped on GCC senior standout John Bini in the top of the second inning for five runs which came home on four RBI singles and a sacrifice fly. Bini lasted just 2.2 innings, which was his second-shortest outing of the season. He was pulled from the start after senior shortstop Alec Fantaskey (Williamsport, Pa. / Williamsport) drove in freshman designated hitter Tyler Woodrow (Gibsonia, Pa. / Pine-Richland) to make the score 6-0.
 
Waynesburg's advantage expanded to 7-0 after a failed pickoff attempt allowed sophomore right fielder Tyler Srbinovich (Warren, Ohio / Niles McKinley) to sprint home in the fifth.
 
While the Jackets were building their lead, Miller was keeping GCC off balance, giving up just one hit, but walking or hitting four through the first four innings. He issued four more free passes in the sixth to give Grove City its first run of the game. A second run came in on a fielder's choice RBI to run the game's tally to 7-2.
 
Waynesburg quickly got those two runs back in the top of the sixth when Woodrow ripped a two-run double down the right field line. Leading 9-2, the Jackets seemed all but assured of a matchup with W&J tomorrow. However, the decision was made in the seventh to pull Miller after his control issues led to a pair of walks to lead off the frame. Miller handed the ball off to senior Colton Uzzell (Fairfax, Va. / Bishop O'Connell) after yielding nine walks and hitting two more opposing batters.
 
Things started well for Uzzell, who struck out the first batter he faced and collecting a second out on a fielder's choice. The game completely changed from that point forward, as nine-straight GCC hitters reached base resulting in 10 Wolverine runs.
 
Waynesburg was unable to respond in the top of the eighth, while GCC tacked on a three spot in the bottom of the frame to make the score 15-9. The Jackets attempted a rally in the ninth and managed to pick up a pair of runs on a run-scoring single by Fantaskey and an RBI double by junior second baseman Justin Buberl (Westminster, Md. / Westminster). Unfortunately, that's as close as the Orange and Black came to reversing its fortunes.
 
The Jackets took the loss despite outhitting Grove City 15-to-11.However, the Red and White got a big assist from 12 walks and four hit batsmen. Woodrow was outstanding at the dish in his PAC tournament debut, going four-for-five with a double, two RBI and two runs scored. Fantaskey and senior centerfielder Mitch Nordstrom (Bethel Park, Pa. / Bethel Park) collected three hits each in the loss. They combined to drive in four runs and score four more on the afternoon.
 
Miller took his first no-decision of the season after allowing four runs, all earned, on one hit, nine walks and two hit batsmen. He compiled a game-high five strikeouts.
 
Senior Nate Gearhart (Huntingdon, Pa. / Huntingdon), who was the third Waynesburg pitcher of the day, suffered the loss on the mound after allowing three runs, all earned, without collecting an out.
 
Waynesburg will have very little time to put one of the most disappointing losses in recent program history in the rearview mirror. The Jackets tangle with the Bison tomorrow at 3 p.m.