NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. (May 2) – The Waynesburg University softball team posted a pair of one-run victories to advance to tomorrow's winner's bracket final at the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Tournament at Westminster on Thursday.
Entering the six team tournament as the sixth seed, the Jackets knocked off No. 3 seed Geneva 7-6 and No. 2 Allegheny 5-4. Waynesburg moves to 21-16 on the season. With the Jackets' victory over Geneva, Waynesburg notched its third 20-win season in program history. As defending two-time PAC champions, the Jackets have won eight-straight PAC Tournament games dating back to 2022.
Game 1 – No. 6 Waynesburg 7, No. 3 Geneva 6
A four-run fourth inning gave the Jackets a lead they never relinquished in a one-run victory over Geneva.
The Golden Tornadoes used three-straight hits to plate a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning.
Alyssa Rager (Washington, Pa. / Trinity) tied the game at two with a two-run double in the top of the second.
Geneva scored twice more in the home half of the second inning. An error allowed two runs to score as Geneva built a 4-2 edge.
Waynesburg tied the game with a pair of unearned runs scored on an error in the fourth.
Trinity Edge (Franklin, Pa. / Franklin) gave the Jackets a 6-4 lead with an RBI double that brought home
Grace Higgins (Canonsburg, Pa. / Canon-McMillan) and
Sydney Waryanka (Greensburg, Pa. / Hempfield).
Higgins launched a solo home run in the sixth to make it a 7-4 ballgame.
Geneva narrowed the margin to 7-6 with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. A hit batter was followed by a single and two-base error to score the first run with a base hit bringing home the second. With two runners on,
Sydney Wilson (Pentress, W.Va. / Clay-Battelle) struck out the Golden Tornadoes' No. 3 batter to close the frame.
Geneva opened the bottom of the seventh with a single to put the tying run on base. The Golden Tornadoes attempted a delayed steal and Wilson threw out the runner at second base for the inning's first out. A strikeout and groundout sealed the win for the Jackets.
Higgins had there hits on the day, including her home run in the sixth. She scored twice and drove in a run. Rager went 2-for-3 with a double, two RBI and a run scored. Edge drove in a pair with her double.
Wilson struck out six and allowed four earned runs in a complete game win.
With the win, Waynesburg moved on to face second-seeded Allegheny in the final contest of the day.
Game 2 – No. 6 Waynesburg 5, No. 2 Allegheny 4
The Jackets scored five runs in the opening two innings and held off the second-seeded Gators to advance to tomorrow's winner's bracket final.
Kassidy Trimble's (Parkersburg, W.Va. / Parkersburg South) two-run double highlighted a four-run first inning for the Jackets. Waynesburg tacked on two more runs with one scoring on a fielders' choice and another coming home on an error.
The lead grew to 5-0 in the second inning with an unearned run scoring on a force out at third base.
Jacket starter
Autumn Stemple (Morgantown, W.Va. / University) left the bases loaded with no runs allowed in the second inning. The Gators took advantage of three Waynesburg errors in the third to narrow the margin to 5-3.
Stemple saw down Allegheny in order in the fourth and fifth innings. With runners on the corners and one out in the sixth, Waynesburg called upon Wilson out of the bullpen. The Gators scored one run and had the bases loaded with one out but Wilson used a strikeout and groundout to preserve the Jackets' 5-4 lead.
Allegheny put the tying and winning runs on base with one out in the seventh. Wilson answered the call once again with a pop out and a strikeout to close the ballgame.
Higgins went 3-4 with a run scored. Edge and Trimble each drove in two.
Stemple earned the victory after allowing two earned runs in 5.1 innings of work. Wilson notched her third save of the year with a scoreless 1.2 innings.
The Jackets take on top-seeded Westminster tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. Waynesburg defeated the Titans in the PAC title game in each of the last two seasons.
