WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (March 5) -- The Waynesburg University baseball team fell 5-4 to Albion in their third game of the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational at the Lake Myrtle Sports Complex Wednesday morning.

The Britons (4-2, 0-0 MIAA) notched a pair of runs of off Ethan Earhard (Greensburg, Pa. / Hempfield) in the top of the second to go up 2-0. The Yellow Jackets (4-1, 0-0 PAC) got on the board in the third as Mike Bell (Herminie, Pa. / Yough) drove in Gavin Pratt (Carmichaels, Pa. / Carmichaels) with an RBI double to make it 2-1.

Albion capitalized on a lead-off walk in the fourth and scored 2 more runs to make it 4-1. The Orange and Black, looking to move to 5-0 for the first time in over 20 years, responded in the bottom half of the inning as Todd Burner (Parkersburg, W.Va. / Parkersburg South) brought in Garrett Comer (St. Albans, W.Va. / St. Albans) with a run-scoring double to make it 4-3. Burner came around to score on a wild pitch later in the inning, making it 4-3. The Brits added a run in the fifth to make it 5-3.

Alec Engelmore had a lead-off double in the eight as the Jackets looked to notch another comeback win in the early 2024 season. He scored on a Burner ground to cut the deficit to 5-4. The Jackets had a pair of runners on in the ninth with two outs but were unable to bring home the tying run.

Erhard went five innings in his second start of the season, allowing eight hits, walking two and striking out five. Mike McCready (Greensburg, Pa. / Greensburg Central Catholic) added depth in relief with three shutout innings. 

Comer went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Burner, the reigning PAC Hitter of the Week, added a 1-for-4 effort with two RBIs and 1 run scored.

The Jackets return to action 9:30 a.m. Thursday when they take on Russel Sage at Northeast Regional Park 3.