Box Score
WASHINGTON, Pa. (May 7) – Waynesburg set several team records for offense in a game, but Washington & Jefferson blasted a team-record eight homeruns as they came back to down the Yellow Jackets 22-18 in a wild nine-inning Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) contest on Friday.
With the loss, the Yellow Jackets dropped to 6-10 in PAC play as they battle with Westminster and Bethany for the final spot in the four-team conference tournament. Waynesburg is now 15-20 on the season .The win improved W&J’s overall record to 28-8 and the conference-leading Presidents are now 14-2 in PAC action.
The Jackets’ 50 at-bats, 38 total bases and 26 hits are the highest such totals for the team since at least 2001. Unfortunately, Waynesburg’s 15 runners left on base also set a new record and played a big role in the visiting team’s demise.
Waynesburg jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the top of the second inning was in the books and looked to be in good shape. However, W&J rebounded with a run in the bottom of the second and four scores in the bottom of the third to take a 5-3 lead.
The Yellow Jacket bats had an answer for their opponents as they exploded for nine runs on nine hits in the top of fourth. Sophomore shortstop Anthony DeFilippo and sophomore catcher Brendan Scioscia drove in two runs each during the big frame, and were part of a group of seven Jackets with at least one RBI in the inning. After the dust finally settled, Waynesburg found itself with a seven-run lead (12-5).
Unfortunately, W&J refused to go away and scored the next 15 runs over the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to go ahead 20-12. Waynesburg bounced back with six runs in the top of the seventh. Senior second baseman Wes White Jr blasted a three-run homerun, which was his team-leading fourth of the season, while right fielder Nick Berdine added a two-run triple to the inning.
After seeing their lead cut to just two runs (20-18), W&J posted two more runs in the bottom of the seventh to go up 22-18. The Jackets loaded the bases with two outs on the board in the top of the ninth, but the home team induced the final out of the game to hold on for the victory.
Though it came in defeat, White had a monster day at the plate. He went five-for-six with five RBI and three runs scored. He also came a triple shy of hitting for the cycle and stole two bases. Senior designated hitter Bryan Leones added a four-for-six effort at the dish with a double, three runs scored and an RBI. Every Waynesburg starter had at least one hit, while seven of them scored at least two runs each and six Jackets drove in at least two runs a piece. The Jackets out-hit the Presidents 26-22.
W&J’s Jim Pasquine set a new school record with three homeruns hit in one game.
Waynesburg needs at least one win to stay alive for the postseason, and they’ll try to find a winning formula on Saturday, May 8, when they host W&J for a seven-inning doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.