Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
WESTERVILLE, Ohio (March 20) – The Waynesburg baseball team emphatically snapped a four-game losing streak by blowing out Otterbein in game two of a road doubleheader on Saturday.
The Cardinals took game one by the score of 6-1, before the Yellow Jacket bats exploded in a 21-6 victory. After the split, the Yellow Jackets’ record improved to 2-7. Otterbein’s record moved to 4-2.
Waynesburg put the game away early in their decisive win with a 10-run first inning that saw eight different Jackets score runs, including two who crossed the plate twice. In that same frame, six different Yellow Jackets drove in at least one run each. First baseman Bill Hanning drove in three in the offensive outburst, while catcher Brendan Scioscia and center fielder Brandon Myersbrought two runs home each.
After Otterbein cut the lead in half with five runs in the bottom of the first, Waynesburg got all five scores back in the top of the third and led 15-5. In that inning, designated hitter Mike Neckerman roped a two-run double.
After both teams added runs on their way to the final inning, the Jackets put an exclamation point on the day with five runs in the top of the seventh. Right fielder Nick Berdine got the big hit in the inning with a two-run double.
Sophomore righty Chris Dittmar picked up his second win of the year (2-0) on the mound. He worked all seven innings and gave up 12 hits and two walks, while allowing five earned runs. Dittmar picked up three strikeouts in the win.
A slew of Waynesburg hitters enjoyed fruitful efforts at the plate. Berdine went a perfect four-for-four at the dish with two doubles, three RBI and three runs scored. Third baseman Corey Goeggelman also picked up four hits (4-6) with two RBI and three runs scored.
Myers and senior second baseman Wes White Jr picked up three hits a piece. Myers doubled, drove in three and scored two, while White drove in two and scored three more.
Hanning, Scioscia, shortstop Anthony Defilippo and left fielder Kenny Grant picked up two hits a piece. As a team, Waynesburg out-hit Otterbein 23-12.
In the opener, Otterbein scored four runs in the bottom of the first and two in the bottom of the third to take an early 6-0 lead and the Cardinals rode a fine effort from starting pitcher John LaCorte to seal up the win. LaCorte allowed just two hits and walked three on his way to the win.
Waynesburg’s only run in the opener came courtesy of Hanning in the seventh. Goeggelman and Scioscia collected the Jackets’ only hits in the opener.
Jesse Gonzalez (0-1) suffered the loss for Waynesburg after working all six innings. He gave up six earned runs on eight hits and walked three, while picking up one strikeout.
Waynesburg will try to keep the hot hitting going on Friday, March 26, when they host Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) rival Thiel for a nine-inning game against the Tomcats. The contest will also be the first played at Waynesburg’s brand new home field.