WAYNESBURG, Pa. (March 6) – The Waynesburg University baseball team wrapped up its week-long stay at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational by facing Anderson on Friday. The Yellow Jackets got out to an early lead, but the Ravens bounced back to defeat Waynesburg 8-4.
 
Waynesburg (7-5) jumped out to a 3-0 advantage in the top of the second inning by playing a little small ball. Freshman Weston Winchester (Tuckasegee, N.C. / Smoky Mountain) scored the game's first run when he came home on a fielder's choice. Two batters later, junior Hunter Mamie (Eighty Four, Pa. / Ringgold) sprinted home on an RBI groundout by senior Noah Gabriel (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Shaler). Finally, an error allowed junior Ian Trott (Clairton, Pa. / Pittsburgh Central Catholic) to score the final run of the frame.
 
Unfortunately, Waynesburg was unable to add its run total in innings three through seven. During that same timeframe, Anderson (5-4-1) scored two runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth to go up 5-3.
 
The Jackets scored their final run of the spring break trip in the top of the eighth when freshman Brody McMillan (Griffin, Ga. / North Henderson) came home on an error to cut his team's deficit down to 5-4.
 
The Ravens put the game out of reach with a bases loaded double in the bottom of the eighth that brought about the final score.
 
Five different Waynesburg players tallied one hit each in the loss, including Gabriel, who doubled.
 
Senior Ethan Erhard (Greensburg, Pa. / Hempfield) got the start on the mound for Waynesburg and gave up four runs over 4.2 innings on five hits and a walk. Erhard tallied four strikeouts on the day. He was the first of four pitchers to toe the rubber for the Jackets.
 
Waynesburg is back in action on Tuesday, March 17, when it hosts Stevenson for a non-Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) contest. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.