SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (March 22) – The Waynesburg University baseball team traveled to the Buckeye State on Wednesday to face off with Wittenberg for a non-Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) doubleheader against the Tigers. It was a rough road trip for the Yellow Jackets, who were swept by the final scores of 9-2 and 17-2.
The difference in game one proved to be walks, as Waynesburg (4-10) issued 10 free passes in the seven-inning contest, while Wittenberg (8-5) didn't walk a single Jacket hitter. The Tigers held just a 7-5 advantage in the opener. One of those base knocks for the Yellow Jackets was a two-run homer by sophomore
Seth Burgdolt (Taylorstown, Pa. / McGuffey) in the second innings that helped take some of the sting out of a four-run first inning by the home team.
Trailing 4-2 heading into the fourth inning, Waynesburg yielded a run in the fourth, two in the fifth and two more in the sixth to bring about the final score.
Junior
Nolan Vertullo (Pittsburgh, Pa. / South Fayette) collected a pair of hits in three at-bats for the Orange and Black.
Freshman
Gavin Pratt (Carmichaels, Pa. / Carmichaels) got the start on the mound and suffered the loss after giving up four runs on two hits and two walks over two innings.
Despite the final score, game two started as a closely contested affair. After Wittenberg opened the scoring in the bottom of the first, senior
Todd Burner (Parkersburg, W.Va. / Parkersburg South) tied things up with a one-run homer in the top of the second.
Unfortunately, the rest of the late contest belonged to the Tigers, as they scored one in the bottom of second, three in the fourth, five in the fifth and seven in the sixth to pull away for the victory.
The Jackets' only other run came home when Pratt scored on a Burgdolt groundout in the fifth.
Junior first baseman
Marcos Mendez (Ponce, Puerto Rico / Westminster (Md.)) led the Jackets at the plate with a two-for-three performance.
Freshman
Zach Scibelli (Ravenna, Ohio / Ravenna) got the start on the mound and suffered the loss after allowing three runs on five hits and a walk over three innings of work.
Waynesburg is scheduled to open PAC play on Saturday, March 25, with a home doubleheader against Saint Vincent. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.