AUBURNDALE, Fla. (March 1) – The Waynesburg University baseball team faced Concordia (Minn.) for its third game of its trip to the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational. The Yellow Jackets logged their first victory of the spring by handling the Cobbers 10-1.
 
The win was also the first for new Waynesburg (1-2) head coach Perry Cunningham.
 
The Jackets scored all the runs they needed in the top of the first inning. After loading the bases with one out in the top of the frame, freshman left fielder Aidan Williams (Shaler, Pa. / Shaler) came through with the eventual game-winning hit, a two-run single that plated graduate student right fielder Brandon Durbin (Cresson, Pa. / Bishop Carroll) and sophomore second baseman Nolan Vertullo (Pittsburgh, Pa. / South Fayette).
 
Graduate student designated hitter Chris Lee (Bethel Park, Pa. / Bethel Park) followed with an RBI groundout that allowed sophomore third baseman Mike Bell (Herminie, Pa. / Yough) to score. Senior catcher Tyler Woodrow (Gibsonia, Pa. / Pine-Richland) closed out the scoring in the opening frame by plating Williams and making the score 4-0.
 
Neither team was able to light up the score board over the next four frames, but the Jackets rediscovered their spark at the plate in the top of the sixth when they pushed six runs across home plate. Durbin extended his team's lead to 5-0 with a sacrifice fly, before Williams produced an RBI single. Lee notched his second RBI of the morning when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
 
Two batter later, senior first baseman Cody Ray (St. Clairsville, Ohio / Union Local) stroked an RBI single that made the score 8-0. During the ensuing at-bat, Williams sprinted home on a passed ball. Waynesburg's final run of the game came when freshman centerfielder Alec Engelmore (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Shaler) reached base on an error.
 
Concordia (1-2) scored its only run in the bottom of the seventh inning.
 
The Jackets' biggest offensive output of the young season was more than enough support for senior Corey Fischer (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Bethel Park), who was outstanding in his first start of the season on the mound. Fischer allowed one run on just two hits and two walks, while striking out three.
 
Sophomore Justin Clevenger (McDonald, Pa. / South Fayette) and Williams combined for 2.2 innings of scoreless relief.
 
Waynesburg out-hit the Cobbers 10-4, three of which came off the bat of Woodrow. Durbin and Williams added two hits each in the winning effort. Vertullo, Bell and Williams scored two runs each.
 
The Jackets will be back after an off day tomorrow to face Calvin on Thursday, March 3. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.