Box Score MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (March 4) – The Waynesburg University softball team opened the 2020 season on Wednesday at the Fast Pitch Dreams Spring Classic in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The Yellow Jackets opened their schedule against Otterbein and followed with a matchup against The College of St. Elizabeth.
 
The Jackets (0-1) dropped a 11-6 final score to Otterbein (5-2), a 2019 NCAA Division III national qualifier. Waynesburg's second game against St. Elizabeth (2-5) was called in the second inning because of inclement weather. The Yellow Jackets were up 3-0 at the time of the stoppage.
 
Waynesburg struck first against the Cardinals when junior Kayla Alderson (Houston, Pa. / Chartiers-Houston) singled home freshman Brin Hunter (West Alexander, Pa. / McGuffey) to give her team a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Unfortunately, the powerful Otterbein offense responded with a six-spot in the bottom of the frame.
 
An Otterbein error allowed the Jackets' second run to come home and cut the Cardinal lead to 6-2. After Otterbein regained a five-run lead in the bottom of the second, Waynesburg plated two scores in the top of the third. Sophomore Emily Schafer (Meyersdale, Pa. / Meyersdale) did the honors with a two-run single that plated Alderson and freshman Lauren Lober (Houston, Pa. / Chartiers-Houston).
 
The Jackets continued to cut into their deficit with a pair of scores in the fourth. Hunter posted her first collegiate RBI on a single that plated freshman Mackenzie Carpenter (Wind Ridge, Pa. / West Greene). Hunter later scored on a wild pitch that pulled Waynesburg to within a single run at 7-6.
 
Unfortunately, a four-run fourth allowed Otterbein to seal up the victory. After offense dominated the first half of the game, the final three frames saw neither team add to their respective run total.
 
Eight different Jackets picked up one hit each in the first game of the season, including six by new members of the squad.
 
Junior Emma Kubalak (Spring Mills, Pa. / Penns Valley) settled down in the circle after a rough start to the morning. She allowed 12 runs, only seven of which were earned. She walked one and struck out one more.
 
With more rain in the forecast, Waynesburg's schedule for the remainder of its spring trip is a bit up in the air. The Jackets are scheduled to play two games tomorrow, with the first coming at 1:30 p.m. against William Peace. The late contest is scheduled to come against Wesley at 3:30 p.m.