WAYNESBURG, Pa. (February 24) – The Waynesburg University softball team began its 2025 season with a one-run victory and a run-rule triumph over Penn State Altoona at the Waynesburg University Baseball & Softball Complex on Monday.
A wild pitch in the bottom of the sixth inning scored the decisive run in a 3-2 Yellow Jacket win in the lid lifter. Waynesburg's bats came alive in the nightcap as the Jackets totaled 14 hits in a 14-0 five-inning win in game two.
Waynesburg rises to 2-0 on the year while Penn State Altoona begins 2025 at 0-2.
Game 1 – Waynesburg 3, Penn State Altoona 2
Kassidy Trimble (Parkersburg, W.Va. / Parkersburg South) scampered home on a wild pitch in the bottom of the sixth inning to score the go-ahead run as
Sydney Wilson (Pentress, W.Va. / Clay-Battelle) collected a complete game win in the circle for the Jackets.
Waynesburg led 2-0 after the first inning thanks to a pair of two-out RBI doubles by
Kaitlyn Jagielski (Imperial, Pa. / West Allegheny) and
Brynn Charnesky (Scottdale, Pa. / Southmoreland).
The Lions had their first three baserunners of the top of the second reach safely with two walks and an RBI double to trim the Waynesburg lead to 2-1. Wilson struck out the next three batters with the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position to escape.
Wilson retired the Lions in order in the third, fourth and fifth innings while Waynesburg stranded at least one runner in scoring position in each of those three frames.
Wilson sat down the first two batters she saw in the sixth, bringing her total to 14-straight retired. However, the Lions smacked three-consecutive base hits, the last of which tied the game at two. A groundout to Jagielski at first ended the threat.
The Jackets bunted their way on and around to set up the game's winning run in the bottom of the sixth. Trimble reached on a throwing error following a bunt to open the frame. After stealing second, she moved to third on a successful sacrifice bunt. A bunt single and a fielders choice loaded the bases with two outs. A wild pitch skipped around the Penn State Altoona catcher and allowed the Trimble to dash home and give the Jackets a 3-2 edge.
After a walk to open the top of the seventh, the Lions looked to bunt the tying run to second base. The bunt attempt was lined over to Jagielski at first, who snared it and tossed over to
Grace Higgins (Canonsburg, Pa. / Canon-McMillan), who was covering the bag for a double play. A groundout back to Wilson ended the ballgame.
Wilson allowed two earned runs on four hits across seven innings in a winning effort. Wilson walked four and struck out five in a 100-pitch day.
Bella DeMark (Carnegie, Pa. / Bishop Canevin) and
Breanna Rice (Morgantown, W.Va. / Morgantown) each had two hits. Jegielski and Charnesky each doubled and drove in a run. The Jackets stole five bases in the ballgame.
Game 2 – Waynesburg 14, Penn State Altoona 0
Eleven different Jackets had hits and 13 players scored in Waynesburg's 14-0 victory in game two.
Waynesburg scored nine runs on eight hits, all with two outs, in the bottom of the second inning.
Meysa Heitmann (Morgantown, W.Va. / University) cranked a home run over the left field fence for her first collegiate long ball. DeMark added a two-run single, Rice had an RBI double in the frame and
Tori Foust (Blairsville, Pa. / River Valley) knocked a run-scoring triple to center field.
The Jackets added another run in the third with Rice colleting an RBI with a base hit. Waynesburg pushed across four more runs in the fourth with
Sydney Petrowski (Uniontown, Pa. / Connellsville),
Emma Cervola (Hunker, Pa. / Hempfield) and
Rylee Rohbeck (Oakdale, Pa. / South Fayette) each smacking RBI singles.
Waynesburg pitcher
Autumn Stemple (Morgantown, W.Va. / University) tossed a two-hit five-inning shutout. She punched out five and walked none in the win.
The Yellow Jackets stole eight bases in the game. DeMark, Jagielski, Rice, Trimble and Heitmann each drove in two runs.
Dilyn Roberts (Sellersburg, Indiana / Henryville) was the only Jacket to score twice.
Waynesburg heads to Myrtle Beach for its spring break trip this weekend. The Jackets begin their South Carolina slate against Spartanburg Methodist on Sunday at 11 a.m.
