WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Feb. 21) – The Waynesburg University baseball team hosted the Elmira Soaring Eagles for a non-Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) doubleheader on Saturday. The Yellow Jackets battled back from early deficits in both contests, but couldn't scratch out a victory in either game.
 
Elmira (2-0) opened the scoring with a run in the top of the first of game one. Waynesburg didn't wait long to even things up as junior Trent Giraffa (Hanover, Pa. / Delone Catholic) came through in the clutch with a two-out RBI single that scored senior Jordan Mosley (St. Albans, W.Va. / St. Albans) to tie the game at 1-1.
 
Unfortunately, the Eagles bounced back with a three-run double in the top of the second that provided the eventual game-winning scores.
 
After neither team scored in the third or fourth frames, Waynesburg got back on the scoreboard with a run in the bottom of the fifth thanks to a run-producing single by graduate student Gavin Pratt (Carmichaels, Pa. / Carmichaels) that brought home Mosley, who was hit by a pitch and stole second. The Jackets cut the deficit down to just one in the sixth when junior Hunter Mamie (Eighty Four, Pa. / Ringgold) doubled and then crossed home plate on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Kaden Flambard (Bethel Park, Pa. / Bethel Park).
 
The Jackets looked poised to complete their comeback and perhaps log a walk-off win in the bottom of the ninth after back-to-back walks put two runners on, a groundout moved them to second and third and Pratt was hit by a pitch to load the bases with two outs on the board. Unfortunately, Elmira was able to wriggle out of the jam to preserve the 4-3 victory.
 
Though it didn't lead to a win, the performance of Waynesburg's relief pitchers in game one was absolutely stellar. Sophomore Ryan Opfer (Houston, Pa. / Chartiers-Houston) came out of the bullpen in the second quarter to toss 6.2 innings of shutout baseball to keep his team's comeback hopes alive. He allowed just three hits and a walk while striking out three Eagles in his first appearance of the season.
 
Sophomore Nick Manko (Upper St. Clair, Pa. / Upper St. Clair) retired all three batters he faced in the ninth on two flyouts and a strikeout.
 
Freshman Austan Runtas (Slippery Rock, Pa. / Slippery Rock) suffered the loss after allowing four runs, three of which were earned, on three hits and two walks.
 
Mamie went 2-for-4 at the plate with two doubles to pace the Jacket offense. Mosley and Flambard drew two walks each and Mosley tied for the game lead with two runs scored.
 
Game two got off to a similar start as the opener, as the Soaring Eagles scored three runs in the first inning to take a big early advantage. Once again, the home team was ready with an answer, as it scored three times to tie things up heading into the second frame.
 
Freshman Luke Buckner (Charleston, W.Va. / St. Albans) made a great first impression on his teammates and the home crowd by doubling in Mosley and freshman Eli Boring (Latrobe, Pa. / Greater Latrobe) with two outs on the board. Senior Hunter Hamilton (Holbrook, Pa. / West Greene) did Buckner one base better with his first collegiate triple that tied the score at 3-3.
 
Pitching and defense took over for innings two through five, during which the score remained knotted at 3-3. The Jackets took their first lead of the day in the bottom of the sixth with their second three-spot of the afternoon.
 
After Flambard walked and stole second, he came into a score on a go-ahead single by Mosley. After Boring and freshman Mason Leonard (Latrobe, Pa. / Greater Latrobe) were both hit by pitches to load the bases, junior Ian Trott (Clairton, Pa. / Pittsburgh Central Catholic) came through with a two-run double that tripled his team's lead to 6-3 heading into the seventh-and-final inning.
 
Unfortunately, Elmira was also able to rediscover its own offensive rhythm in the top of the last frame. The Soaring Eagles combined four hits, a hit batsman and a walk to plate four runs and retake the lead by the eventual final score of 7-6.
 
Waynesburg went down in order in the bottom of the seventh.
 
Mosley went 3-for-4 at the dish with an RBI and two runs scored to lead the Jackets in the late contest. Buckner and Hamilton chipped in two knocks each during Waynesburg's season-high 10-hit performance.
 
Four different Jackets hit the mound in game two.
 
Waynesburg is scheduled to wrap up the opening month of its schedule on Wednesday, Feb. 25, with a doubleheader against Wilson. First pitch against the Phoenix is scheduled for 1 p.m.