CLERMONT, Fla. (March 7) -- The Waynesburg University softball team dropped a pair of pitchers duels Thursday at The Spring Games to #1 Trine University, 3-2, in game one and Bethany Lutheran College, 2-0, in the afternoon clash.
Game One
Trinity Edge (Franklin, Pa. / Franklin) took the ball in game one as the Yellow Jackets (2-2, 0-0 PAC) faced the reigning Division III national champions. Edge worked around a trio of walks across the first two innings and kept the Thunder (7-1, 0-0 MIAA) off the board for the first three innings.
Trine took a 1-0 lead in the fourth, but Edge limited the damage to 1 as she forced a pair of fly outs with runners at second and third and one out.Â
The Jackets were held hitless through 4.1 innings until Edge smacked a single to left on an off-speed pitch. The Thunder added a pair of runs in the sixth to make it 3-0, but, again, Edge stranded runners at second and third with one out to limit the damage.
The Orange and Black mounted a comeback effort in the seventh as
Kassidy Trimble (Parkersburg, W.Va. / Parkersburg South) knocked a single into right center to start the inning.
Grace Higgins (Canonsburg, Pa. / Canon-McMillan) followed suite with a hard-hit single that deflected off the shortstops glove to put runners at first and second with nobody out.Â
Ella Brookman (Washington, Pa. / Chartiers-Houston) ripped a gap shot into the outfield that scored Trimble and Higgins, but Brookman was thrown out trying to advance to third for the first out of the inning. Trine retired the next two batters to seal the win.
In the biggest start of her young career, Edge allowed six hits and 3 runs (1 earned) while walking and striking out three. She has allowed 3 runs or less in all three of her starts this season.
Game Two
The Vikings (7-9, 0-0 UMAC) tested
Brynn Charnesky (Southmoreland, Pa. / Southmoreland) early as they had multiple base runners through the first two innings. The freshman righty, in her first varsity start, worked around the base runners to deliver a pair of clean innings.
The Yellow Jackets (2-3, 0-0 PAC) had runners at the corners with two outs in the first but were unable to capitalize.Â
Bethany Lutheran got on the board in the third with a run-scoring double to make it 1-0. They made it 2-0 in the fifth with another RBI double.
The Jackets had one hit through six innings until Higgins dropped down a bunt single to start the seventh. She stole second and advanced to third on a
Kaitlyn Jagielski (Imperial, Pa. / West Allegheny) single to left.
Jasmine Demaske pinch ran for Jagielski and was thrown out trying to steal second to end the game.
Charnesky went 6.2 innings, allowing six hits and 2 earned runs. She walked two and struck out three. Edge recorded the final out in the seventh.
The Jackets will conclude their spring break trip with a pair of JV games Friday evening before returning home to take on Carlow next Thursday, March 14, in a 3:30 p.m. non-conference doubleheader.
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