WAYNESBURG, Pa. (April 18) – The Waynesburg University softball team played to a Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) split against Grove City on Thursday afternoon at the Waynesburg University Baseball & Softball Complex.
The Jackets took a 1-0 win in game one before a four-run first inning powered Grove City to a 5-2 triumph in game two.
Waynesburg moves to 17-12 overall and 8-6 in PAC play. Grove City now stands at 16-14, 8-8 PAC.
Game 1 – Waynesburg 1, Grove City 0
Starting pitchers
Sydney Wilson (Pentress, W.Va. / Clay-Battelle) and Abigail Meadors went toe-to-toe in a 1-0 pitchers' dual. The two squads were limited to four hits for the entire ballgame.
Ella Brookman (Washington, Pa. / Chartiers-Houston) set Waynesburg's all-time hits record (153) with an RBI double in the fifth to bring home
Grace Higgins (Canonsburg, Pa. / Canon-McMillan) for the game's only run.
Wilson pitched into the sixth inning without allowing a hit. The Wolverines finally broke through with a one-out single in the sixth. The Jackets erased the runner and ended the inning with Higgins turning an unassisted double play by snatching a line drive out of the air and stepping on first base.
Wilson sat down Grove City in order in the seventh to secure the complete game one-hit shutout. With five strikeouts in the ballgame, Wilson moved up to No. 2 in WU's career strikeout leaderboard with 325 Ks, surpassing Autumn Minor ('09).
Game 2 – Grove City 5, Waynesburg 2
The Jackets fell into an early 4-0 hole as the Wolverines smacked three doubles and took advantage of three Waynesburg errors to put up a four-spot in the first inning.
Grove City tacked on a run to extend its lead to 5-0 in the fifth. The Jackets were limited to just two hits over the first innings.
Waynesburg opened the sixth with a walk and base hit before
Kayla Gratton (Monroeville, Pa. / Gateway) knocked an RBI single. With runners on the corners, a fly ball dropped in the outfield but Grove City was able to secure a force out on second base while Waynesburg trimmed the deficit to 5-2.
In the seventh, the Jackets worked a leadoff walk but could not bring the tying run to the plate as the Wolverines held on for the 5-2 win.
Autumn Stemple (Morgantown, W.Va. / University) settled in after the four-run first inning. She allowed just one run the rest of the way in a complete game effort. Gratton had two of Waynesburg's four hits and an RBI.
The Jackets welcome Saint Vincent on Sunday for Senior Day and Alumni Day in the Waynesburg's regular season home finale.
