PITTSBURGH, Pa. (April 23) – The Waynesburg University softball team traveled to Chatham for a Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) doubleheader on Friday night. The Yellow Jackets rolled to an 8-2 win in the opener and came up just short in a classic pitchers' duel by the final score of 1-0.
 
After falling behind 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning of game one, Waynesburg (12-18, 3-9) bounced back in a big way. The Jackets posted a three-spot in the top of the fourth to take a lead they never relinquished. Sophomore Lauren Lober (Houston, Pa. / Chartiers-Houston) tied the game at 1-1 with a sacrifice fly RBI. Freshman Shay Giesey (Barnesville, Ohio / Monroe Central) followed int eh next at-bat with an RBI single to make the score 2-1. Senior Hannah Batovsky (New Salem, Pa. / Brownsville) made it three-straight at-bats with at RBI thanks to a run-scoring single.
 
Chatham (8-16, 3-7) posted its final run of the game in the bottom of the fourth to make the score 3-2. However, the Jacket bats still had plenty of pop left for the remainder of the victory.
 
Freshman Sydney Senay (Canonsburg, Pa. / Canon-McMillan) provided the highlight of the night by teeing off on a two-out, three-run homer in the top of the fifth to make the score 6-2. Waynesburg closed out the scoring in the sixth thanks to RBI doubles courtesy of sophomore Reghan Benschoter (Newark, Ohio / Granville) and freshman Ella Brookman (Washington, Pa. / Chartiers-Houston).
 
Batovsky, senior Kayla Alderson (Houston, Pa. / Chartiers-Houston) and freshman Emma Bliss (Uniontown, Pa. / Laurel Highlands) all connected on two hits each for Waynesburg. All nine spots in the Jacket batting order produced at least one hit each in the win.
 
The glut of offensive support was more than enough for Brookman to pick up the win. She worked all seven innings and yielded just one earned run on three hits, two walks and one strikeout.
 
Speaking of pitching, Jacket senior Emma Kubalak (Spring Mills, Pa. / Penns Valley) matched her opponent in the circle pitch-for-pitch in a fast moving contest that lasted just over an hour.
 
Kubalak allowed just four hits and one walk over the complete-game effort, while striking out seven Cougars. Unfortunately, Chatham managed to push the game's only run across home plate in the bottom of the fifth inning.
 
Waynesburg plays its second doubleheader in as many days tomorrow, when it hosts Westminster for a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 11:30 a.m.