WAYNESBURG, Pa. (April 25) – The Waynesburg University baseball team was defeated by Geneva in both games of its final home Presidents' Athletic Conference doubleheader of the season at the Waynesburg University Baseball & Softball Complex on Friday afternoon.
The Golden Tornadoes (16-15, 6-12 PAC) hit game-tying home runs in the seventh and eighth innings and launched another two-run shot to pull away for an 11-5 win in game one. A complete game shutout effort by Geneva pitcher Dylan Rowe fueled a 5-0 win for the visitors in game two.
The Yellow Jackets (7-28, 3-15 PAC) celebrated their eight seniors prior to the first game.
Game 1 – Geneva 11, Waynesburg 5
Waynesburg built a 3-0 lead in the opening game as
Dalton Mount (Sykesville, Md. / Westminster) had an RBI double in the second,
Seth Burgdolt (Taylorstown, Pa. / McGuffey) brought home a run with a base hit in the third and the Golden Tornadoes walked in another run in the frame. Despite the Jackets' hot start, Waynesburg left seven runners on base over the first three innings.
Geneva chipped away and tied the game at three with a Zack Sackett solo home run in the seventh.
Marcos Mendez (Ponce, Puerto Rico / Westminster (Md.)) answered with a two-run homer in the bottom of the inning to give the Jackets a 5-3 edge.
Kirk Bearjar tied the game at five in the top of the eighth with a two-run shot of his own. Sackett launched his second home run of the ballgame as the Golden Tornadoes put up six runs in the eighth to go ahead 9-5. The visitors tacked on a two-run single in the ninth to bring the final margin to 11-5 Geneva.
Waynesburg recorded 11 hits and five walks in the ballgame. Four Jacket pitchers combined for 10 strikeouts on the day.
Mendez, Mount and
Vincent Turner (Bridgeport, W.Va. / Bridgeport) each had two hits on Senior Day. Mendez went deep and drove in two while Mount and Turner both doubled.
Trent Giraffa (Hanover, Pa. / Delone Catholic) went 2-for-4 and scored twice.
Matthew Corte-Gaskill (Wake Forest, N.C. / Knightdale) struck out five over six innings and allowed two earned runs on five hits. The Golden Tornadoes scored nine runs and knocked three home runs against the Jacket bullpen.
Game 2 – Geneva 5, Waynesburg 0
Rowe, Geneva's starting pitcher, retired the first 15 Waynesburg batters he faced. Hunter Maime (Eighty Four, Pa. / Ringgold) was the Jackets' first baserunner with a base hit through the left side to leadoff the sixth.
The Golden Tornadoes led 2-0 after tallying a run in both the second and third innings. A two-out triple brought home the game's first run. Geneva added another third and had runners on second and third with one away but
Gavin Pratt (Carmichaels, Pa. / Carmichaels Area) escaped without any more damage with back-to-back strikeouts.
Geneva added to its lead with back-to-back singles and a two-run double to begin the eighth and chase Pratt.
Zach Scibelli (Ravenna, Ohio / Ravenna) entered in relief and left the inherited runner stranded at second.
The Golden Tornadoes found another run in the top of the ninth. A swinging bunt settled right on the chalk of the third base line for a two-out single. The next batter sent the next ball off the left-field wall to give Geneva a 5-0 edge.
Mamie had two of Waynesburg's four hits in the ballgame.
Pratt allowed two earned runs through the first seven innings. He finished with four earned runs on seven hits with five strikeouts and four walks. Scibelli gave up one earned in two innings.
Waynesburg plays its final home game of the season on Sunday against Hiram. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.
