Softball opens season with two tough losses at Waynesburg

WAYNESBURG, Pa. --- Carlow University softball opened the 2026 season with a doubleheader at Waynesburg University Friday afternoon.

The Yellow Jackets (3-1) run-ruled the Celtics in both games.

Game 1: L, 8-0 (5 inn.)

Waynesburg two-hit Carlow to secure a run-rule win in the first game of the day.

The Celtics had runners on second and third in the first, but Waynesburg escaped the inning with a strikeout. The Yellow Jackets put an unearned run on the board in the bottom half of the frame with a one-out single and an error, and a ground out to the pitcher that scored the run.

Waynesburg retired the Celtics in order in the top of the second and added two more runs in the bottom of the inning, starting off with a solo home run off the bat of Meysa Heitmann.

The Yellow Jackets added another unearned run with a bases-loaded error to put them ahead, 3-0.

The Celtics went down in order in the top of the third, and Waynesburg scored four runs on four hits in the bottom of the inning.

Two walks and a one-out single loaded the bases for the Yellow Jackets in the bottom of the fifth, and a single down the left field line drove in the walk-off run.

Gianna Ferrieri (South Park, Pa./Seton LaSalle Catholic HS) was saddled with the loss in her first collegiate career start in the circle after allowing five earned runs on eight hits with a walk and two strikeouts in four innings of work.

Cailyn Lucas (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills HS) allowed one earned run on two hits with two walks in one third inning.

Kassidy Trimble went 2 for 2 with a double and two RBI. Madie Cicero hit 2 for 3 with an RBI, and Jamie Kelly went 2 for 4 with an RBI to help lead the Yellow Jackets. Autumn Stemple earned the win with six strikeouts and two hits in four innings. Emily Pratt pitched the final inning with one strikeout.

Game 2: L, 13-5 (6 inn.)

The Celtics managed to put a few runs on the board, but a big second inning afforded Waynesburg another run-rule win in the nightcap.

A walk and a sacrifice bunt put a runner on second for the Celtics in the top of the first. Mackenzie Egley (Shelocta, Pa./Armstrong HS) hit an infield single to bring her home, and a single from Erica Keeley (Munhall, Pa./Steel Valley HS) in the next at-bat put runners on the corners. Ferrieri reached on a fielder's choice to bring Egley in and put Carlow up, 2-0.

Waynesburg quickly tied the game in the bottom half of the frame with a two-run home run.

Taylor Egley (Shelocta, Pa./Armstrong HS) hit an RBI single to right field in the next inning to give the Celtics a 3-2 advantage, but the lead was short-lived.

The Yellow Jackets strung together six hits, including a two-run single, a three-run home run and a two-run double to go ahead, 9-3, before the Celtics made it out of the inning.

Carrah Scardina (Natrona Heights, Pa./Highlands HS) hit an RBI double in the third and a single from Taylor Egley with a subsequent error brought in an unearned run in the fourth to see the Celtics trailing, 9-5.

Two hits and two untimely errors tacked on three runs for the Yellow Jackets in the bottom of the fourth, and both teams left a run stranded through a scoreless fifth.

Waynesburg prevented Carlow from scoring in the top of the sixth, and a single, a walk and a single up the middle brought in the walk-off run for the Yellow Jackets.

Taylor Egley went 2 for 2 with an RBI and Mackenzie Egley hit 2 for 4 with an RBI.

Lucas suffered the loss after allowing nine runs (six earned) on seven hits with a walk in 1.1 innings. Tatum Wiggs (Boron, Calif./Boron HS) pitched 3.2 innings with four runs (one earned) on four hits with four walks and two strikeouts.

Braylee Corbin hit 2 for 3 with two home runs and five RBI. Lorryn Sepe went 2 for 4 with a double and two RBI.

Morgan Walt earned the win for the Yellow Jackets, allowing four earned runs on five hits with four walks in three innings of work. Pratt and Willow Eckles combined to throw the final three innings.

The Celtics host Penn State Beaver for a 6 p.m. doubleheader at West Mifflin Area High School March 3.