(WAYNESBURG, Pa.) - The 19th-ranked Thomas More College baseball team split a Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) doubleheader with Waynesburg University today (Friday, April 1, 2011) at Waynesburg Field in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania. The Saints won game one, 17-7, but the Yellow Jackets won the nightcap, 6-5, in eight innings.
With the split, the Saints are now 12-2 overall and 3-1 in the PAC and the Yellow Jackets are 6-13 overall and 4-3 in the PAC.
In game one, the Saints scored two in the first, two in the fourth, three in the fifth, five in the sixth and five in the seventh, while the Yellow Jackets scored two in the first, one in the fourth and four in the sixth.
Six different Saints had multiple hits in the game led by sophomore shortstop David Kennett (Grove City, Ohio/Grove City), who was four-for-five with four runs scored. Joining him with multiple hits in the game was freshman second baseman Jason Handley (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills), who was three-for-four with his first career home run, three runs batted-in and three runs scored, sophomore right fielder Ryan Darner (Burlington, Ky./Covington Catholic), who was two-for-four with his first career home run, two RBI and two runs scored, senior third baseman Sam Schmeltzer (Aurora, Ind./South Dearborn), who was two-for-four with a home run, six RBI and two runs scored, junior first baseman Andrew Thole (Cincinnati, Ohio/McNicholas), who was two-for-four with a home run, three RBI and two runs scored and sophomore designated hitter Grant Lewis (Mason, Ohio/Mason), who was two-for-four with a RBI.
On the mound, junior Aaron Carmack (Miamisburg, Ohio/Miamisburg) earned the win as he went five and two-third innings giving up seven runs (all earned) on 12 hits and striking out two. Freshman Ryan Kelly (Columbus, Ohio/St. Francis DeSales) pitched one and one-third innings of relief and gave up only two hits.
In the nightcap, Waynesburg scored two in the third, three in the sixth and then scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth. Thomas More plated a run in the first, a run in the third adn three in the sixth.
Two Saints had multiple hits in the game as Darner was three-for-three with a run scored and sophomore centerfielder Brandon Nutini (Edgewood, Ky./Covington Catholic) was two-for-two with a RBI and a run scored.
Freshman Andy Roenker (Taylor Mill, Ky./Holy Cross) suffered the as he pitched two and two-third innings of relief and allowed one run (unearned) on two hits. Sophomore Mike Hager (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills) started and earned a no-decision as he pitched five and one-third innings and gave up five runs (all earned) on six hits, while striking out four.
The Saints and Yellow Jackets will close out the PAC three-game series tomorrow with a single nine-inning game starting at 12 noon at Waynesburg Field.