WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (Feb. 27) – The Waynesburg University baseball team opened the 2022 season on Sunday with its first game at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational. The Yellow Jackets faced Dubuque (Iowa) and fell 19-4.
 
Waynesburg's (0-1) first runs of the season came in the as a three-spot in the top of the fifth inning. Unfortunately, the Spartans had already built a 6-0 lead. The Spartans added five runs in the fifth and eight more in the sixth before locking down the win.
 
Sophomore third baseman Mike Bell (Herminie, Pa. / Yough) led the Jackets by going two-for-five with two RBIs. Freshman leftfielder Aidan Williams (Shaler, Pa. / Shaler) made a solid first impression on his collegiate teammates by posting a single, a double and a run scored.
 
Graduate student right fielder Brandon Durbin (Cresson, Pa. / Bishop Carroll), sophomore first baseman Justin Clevenger (McDonald, Pa. / South Fayette) and freshman center fielder Alec Engelmore (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Shaler) all doubled in the loss.
 
Senior Joe Sabolek (Lynnwood-Pricedale, Pa. / Belle Vernon) got the start on the mound and was the first of five Waynesburg pitchers to hit the field. Graduate student Zach Straub (Bethel Park, Pa. / Bethel Park) closed the day on a high note with two no-hit innings that included two strikeouts.
 
Waynesburg is back in action on Monday, Feb. 28, with a nine-inning game against Wartburg (Iowa). First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.