From March 11, 2022

It was a tale of two games for the Waynesburg University baseball team this past Friday afternoon.

The Yellow Jackets (2-5) played a doubleheader against Wilson College (8-2) in Chambersburg, Pa., falling 5-4 in game one and 14-0 in game two.

Both games were seven innings.

“There’s a difference between competing and executing,” Waynesburg head coach Perry Cunningham said. “Unfortunately, we didn’t execute.”

Waynesburg was only able to score in one out of 14 total innings, which came in the first matchup.

The first three innings were scoreless, but sophomore first baseman Brady Andre’s RBI triple into right-center got things going for the Phoenix in the bottom of the fourth. 

Sophomore center fielder Haden Hoff doubled in the bottom of the fifth to drive in Wilson’s second run to go up 2-0. 

The bats connected in the top of the sixth for the Yellow Jackets. Singles to the outfield by sophomore third baseman Mike Bell, senior second baseman Cody Ray, and sophomore center fielder Zach Boslet drove in four runs to take the two-run lead.

The sixth inning, however, also played out well for Wilson. The Phoenix were able to tie the game and eventually take the lead after a sacrifice fly from freshman designated hitter Doc Daniels, which ended up being the game-winning run.

Waynesburg left 10 runners on base for the first matchup. 

“We lost that game more than they won that game,” senior catcher Tyler Woodrow said. “I know that as the season goes on, we’re going to take advantage of these opportunities.”  

Woodrow went 2-of-4 from the batter’s box and scored the first Yellow Jacket run of the game.

Waynesburg freshman pitcher Aidan Williams went 5.1 innings pitched, allowing seven hits, five earned runs, and struck out five batters.

 “I feel a lot better about a 5-4 loss knowing that we competed,” Cunningham said. “Williams did a really good job of doing what we ask our pitchers to do, which is simply to keep us in games and giving us a chance to win baseball games.”

Game two was a different story, and it all started right out of the gate.

“It was like a whole different team was out there the second game,” Woodrow said.

A three-run first inning for the Phoenix put the Yellow Jackets in a deficit that they would never overcome. 

“The little things that take place in a baseball game generally dictate the result,” Cunningham said. “When those things happen early on, we can kind of get back on our heels a little bit, and that’s what happened.”

Wilson proceeded to score five runs in the fourth inning and six runs in the fifth inning.

Fifth-year shortstop KJ Curry led the way for the Phoenix with one hit, three runs scored, two RBIs, and three walks. 

Waynesburg freshman pitcher Alec Engelmore was credited with the loss, going 1 inning pitched and allowing three hits and two earned runs. 

“The positives still outweigh the negatives,” Cunningham said. “We’re not sounding the alarm yet.”

For the first time this 2022 baseball season, Waynesburg will play at home this upcoming Wednesday, Mar.16 against Penn State Behrend. First pitch is at 3 p.m.