The Waynesburg University softball team (15-4, 2-2 PAC) swept the Allegheny College Gators (9-9, 2-2 PAC) in a double-header Presidents’ Athletic Conference battle on Wednesday in Waynesburg. 

The Jackets secured one of these wins in walk-off fashion and the other with a dominant performance from the bats. 

Freshman Meysa Heitmann said the team’s energy was well represented during the double-header. 

“Today, our team chemistry allowed us to pick each other up when mistakes were made and celebrate the little wins when they happened, whether that was getting the next out, going all out to make plays, getting on base, or hitting those runners in scoring position,” Heitmann said. “Playing for each other got us those wins today. Every little bit of the energy makes a difference.” 

Junior Autumn Stemple was in the circle to start game one for the Jackets. This first game was scoreless through four innings until Allegheny struck first with an RBI double, making the score 1-0. 

The Gators added to their lead in the top of the seventh on a two-out RBI double, putting the Jackets in a three-run hole with a half inning left.  

The Jackets began the seventh getting a runner on from an error, which set up the rest of the inning. Junior Bella DeMark singled into centerfield, advancing the runner, followed by senior Breanna Rice notching a single of her own, loading the bases. 

With bases loaded and no outs, the Jackets had a chance to tie this ball game. However, Allegheny produced a strike-out and an infield fly making it come to one more at bat for the Jackets. 

Freshman Camdyn Kowalczyk headed to the plate with bases loaded and two outs, all eyes on her. She answered with a base-clearing double, scoring three runs and tying the game in the bottom of the seventh 3-3. 

“When I stepped up to the plate, I focused on staying calm and sticking to my approach,” Kowalczyk said. “There was a bit of pressure because of the situation, but I knew my team had my back, no matter what the outcome was.” 

The game would go to extra innings, and Stemple would be pulled after seven innings pitched, allowing only four hits, three earned runs and tallied five strikeouts. She would be replaced by freshman Pressley Meadows, who put up a hitless and scoreless eighth. 

This led to the bottom of the eighth, where junior Alyssa Rager would start with a single, followed by a DeMark single, putting runners in the corners. Then senior Breanna Rice approached the plate and delivered the game winning single, making the final score 4-3. 

“I was really happy to get in there and be able to execute my job,” Rice said. “The team does a great job at motivating you to do your best.” 

Game two senior Sydney Wilson was on the rubber and delivered a complete shutout. 

Heitmann started the scoring with a solo inside-the-park home run in the third, and two innings later, another solo shot, over the wall this time making the score 2-0 all on her own. 

“I trust that the mechanics of my swing will work together as I have trained them to, and I am only worried and thinking about expecting a strike until I see it as a ball,” said Heitmann on her approach and success at the plate in the first half of the season. “Being ready to hit those strikes because I am expecting them makes a huge difference.” 

DeMark had an RBI single of her own in the fifth along with Rager having a two-RBI double, making the score 5-0, which was the final score of game two. 

Wilson finished allowing five hits, no earned runs, eight strikeouts and obtained her seventh win of the year. 

The Jackets play next today against the La Roche Redhawks in Pittsburgh. Game one starts at 3:30 p.m.