GREENVILLE, Pa. (March 26) – The Waynesburg University softball team opened Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) play on Sunday by traveling to Thiel for a doubleheader. The Yellow Jackets combined a potent offense with outstanding pitching from sophomore Sydney Wilson (Pentress, W.Va. / Clay-Battelle) to sweep the host Tomcats.
 
Wilson tossed a complete game shutout in game one, as the Yellow Jackets (9-3, 2-0) rolled to a 7-0 win. Wilson came in to the circle in relief to help Waynesburg complete a come-from-behind 11-4 triumph.
 
The reigning PAC Pitcher of the Year allowed just three singles and four walks while striking out seven Thiel (3-9, 0-2) hitters in the opener. The Jackets provided plenty of support with two runs in the first, one in the second, two in fifth and two in the sixth.
 
The visitors outhit the hosts 14-3, with junior Ella Brookman (Washington, Pa. / Chartiers-Houston) decimating Thiel pitching to the tune of a four-for-four effort with two doubles, three RBIs, a run scored and a stolen base. Sophomore Dilyn Roberts (Sellersburg, Ind. / Henryville), sophomore Grace Higgins (Canonsburg, Pa. / Canon-McMillan), freshman Kassidy Trimble (Parkersburg, W.Va. / Parkersburg South) and freshman Jasmine Demaske (Waynesburg, Pa. / Jefferson-Morgan) collected two hits each.
 
Roberts and Higgins scored two runs each.
 
The Jackets combined their explosive offense and Wilson's stingy work in the circle with error-free defense in the win.
 
Waynesburg had to work quite a bit harder in game two, as Thiel looked determined to avoid a home sweep.
 
The Tomcats scored their first run of the day in the bottom of the first to take a 1-0 lead. Waynesburg tied the game in the top of the second when senior Reghan Benschoter (Newark, Ohio / Granville) scored on an error.
 
Thiel regained the lead with a run in the bottom of the third and grew its advantage to 4-1 with a two-spot in the fourth. However, Waynesburg was just about to collect the vast majority of its 14 hits during the latter innings of game two and lock down the sweep.
 
The visitors started their rally with a bang in the fifth when Demaske tripled in junior Kayla Gratton (Monroeville, Pa. / Gateway) to cut her team's deficit to 4-2. Two batters later, senior Brin Hunter (West Alexander, Pa. / McGuffey) smacked a two-run double that tied the score at 4-4. Brookman next stepped to the plate and continued her red hot hitting with an RBI single that proved to be the game-winning hit.
 
Trimble capped the six-run inning by plating Benschoter and Roberts to make the score 7-4.
 
After posting a shutout bottom of the fifth, Waynesburg kept the offensive momentum rolling with a four-run top of the sixth. Demaske connected on a second triple that brought Gratton across home plate and then sprinted home herself on a wild pitch. With Waynesburg already up 9-4, Benschoter put the finishing touches on her team's third-straight win by smacking a two-run double to centerfield.
 
After giving up a run in relief of freshman starter Autumn Stemple (Morgantown, W.Va. / University), Wilson settled in and posted three-straight shutout innings to close out her second victory of the day and her team-leading fifth of the season. The standout southpaw gave up the one run on three hits and a walk, while also recording strikeouts eight, nine and 10 of her day.
 
Demaske improved her season batting average to an even .500 by going four-for-five with two triples, two RBIs and two runs scored. Benschoter added a three-for-four effort with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored. Brookman's two-for-four showing actually dropped her PAC-leading batting average to .600.
 
Speaking of PAC leaders, Brookman and Demaske are ranked first or second in the league in slugging, on-base percentage and on-base plus slugging (OPS).
 
Five other Jackets collected one hit each in the late contest, while a handful of Waynesburg players scored two runs each.
 
Waynesburg played error-free defense for a second time on the day.
 
The Jackets head back outside of PAC play on Wednesday, March 29, when they host Pitt Greensburg for a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.