Brandywine Falls Short Against Waynesburg

AUBURNDALE, Fla. – Waynesburg University posted a doubleheader sweep of the Penn State Brandywine baseball team, winning game one by a score of 13-6 before rallying for a 3-2, extra-inning victory during the nightcap on Monday evening at the RussMatt Invitational.

In the opener, Brandywine was haunted by five errors in the field as the Lions fell behind 12-0 before scoring three runs in the fifth and three more two innings later.

Robert Spitaletta (Glen Ridge, N.J./Glen Ridge) and Brendan Ricciardi (Media, Pa./Strath Haven) both collected multi-hit efforts, combining for four of Brandywine's nine hits.

Spitaletta singled with one out in the fifth, moving Joey Buoni (Chester Heights, Pa./Salesianum) to get the Lions' rally started. Ricciardi followed with a base hit that scored Buoni with the first run. After a single from Matt Masi (West Chester, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara), Spitaletta came around to score on a wild pitch and Ricciardi crossed home with the Lions' third run when Andre Pendleton (Narberth, Pa./Harriton) grounded out.

Spitaletta and Ricciardi recorded back-to-back singles with one out in the seventh and trotted home as Chris Skahill (Media, Pa./Penncrest) blasted his second career home run over the left field fence. Both of Skahill's home runs have come during Brandywine's spring trips to Florida after connecting for a grand slam against Norwich University as a freshman.

Kevin Sessa (Broomall, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) was touched up for 12 runs, but only six were earned, in 5.0 innings on the mound, while Ty Kasper (Westville, N.J./Vineland) allowed one unearned run and struck out three over the final two innings.

Game two featured a pitchers' duel as the teams entered the fourth inning scoreless. Brandywine plated a pair of runs in the fourth to grab the lead.

Spitaletta worked a base on balls to leadoff and sped around to score on a Pendleton double. Pendleton moved to third when Masi singled and then scored via a wild pitch.

Matt Staiber (Drexel Hill, Pa./Monsignor Bonner) held the Yellow Jackets' offense in check until the sixth inning when Waynesburg tied the score at 2-2. Waynesburg needed only one hit to score its two runs, tying the game when Mitch Nordstrom was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

The score remained the same until the eighth inning when Justin Buberl delivered a bases-loaded, game-winning single through the drawn in Brandywine infield to help the Yellow Jackets walk off with the victory.

Staiber did not factor in the decision after striking out five and allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits in 5.2 innings on the hill. Tyler Michaels (Aston, Pa./Sun Valley) suffered his second loss as he surrendered one earned run on three hits during the final 1.1 innings.

Pendleton recorded two of Brandywine's five hits in game two.

Brandywine (2-5) meets Martin Luther College for a doubleheader Tuesday morning at 9:00 am at Chain of Lakes Field.