LATROBE, Pa. (April 24) - Saint Vincent slugged three home runs and Samantha Emert earned two victories in the circle to help Saint Vincent sweep Waynesburg in a Presidents' Athletic Conference doubleheader. 

Saint Vincent claimed game one by an 8-1 score before earning a hard fought 2-1 decision in the nightcap for the sweep. 

The sweep helps SVC clinch a spot in the upcoming PAC Tournament for a third straight season. The reigning PAC Tournament Champion Bearcats improve to 11-5 in conference play and 18-12 overall. Meanwhile, the losses eliminated Waynesburg from playoff contention, who drops to 6-10 in PAC play and 13-22-1 overall. 

GAME ONE RECAP

Shelby Noel homered twice and Samantha Emert tossed a three-hitter to lead the Bearcats in the 8-1 game one win. The Bearcats took advantage of a Waynesburg error to plate five unearned runs in the bottom of the first. The big blast of the inning came from senior third baseman Kelsey Lineberger, who smashed a three-run home run to open the scoring. The home run was the 6th of the season for Lineberger. 

Saint Vincent would tack on two more runs in the first when junior shortstop Rachel Harenchar poked a two-run single down the right field line to plate Emily Duerr and Emert, making it 5-0. 

Harenchar added a bases loaded infield single to make it 6-0 in the third inning. An inning later, Noel would smack her 6th home run of the season to make it 7-0 Bearcats. 

Waynesburg got on the board in the sixth with an RBI groundout but Emert escaped further damage, as the Jackets left two runners in scoring position. Noel would add her 7th home run of the season with another solo shot in the bottom of the inning. 

Noel, the reigning PAC Hitter of the Week, went 3-for-4 in the opener with three runs scored and two RBI. Noel also surpassed 150 hits for her career in the game one win. Duerr went 4-for-4 in the opener with a pair of runs scored. Lineberger, Harenchar and Courtney Patterson collected two hits each. 

That was more than enough run support for Emert, who allowed just one unearned run on three hits, while striking out seven. 

GAME TWO RECAP

Game two was a pitcher's duel, as Emert and Waynesburg starter Courtney Messenger battled for seven innings. 

The game was scoreless until the bottom of the fourth. Emert helped herself with a two-out double and moved to third on an infield hit by Harenchar. With runners on the corners and two outs, Nicole Karr sent pinch hitter Breanne Wallace to the plate. In her final home game with the Bearcats, Wallace delivered an RBI double off the fence to score Emert and give SVC a 1-0 lead. 

Duerr gave SVC an insurance run in the 5th, plating Kelsey Hunter on an RBI single down the left field line, making it 2-0. 

Waynesburg put the first two runners on in the sixth and advanced them into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Alex Lawrence slapped an RBI single to right, cutting the Bearcats lead to 2-1 with just one out.

The Yellow Jackets looked poised to tie the game in the frame, with runners on the corners. However, a failed squeeze attempt caught a runner in a run-down and helped SVC get a second out. Emert was able to retire the third out and maintain a 2-1 lead into the 7th. 

Waynesburg again put the leadoff runner on base to start a rally attempt. However, Emert would retire the next two hitters with strikeouts. The Yellow Jackets would get a two-out hit to move the tying run to third. Waynesburg would get what appeared to be the game-tying base hit to right but Kelly Flaherty fired the ball to first in time and end the contest. 

Patterson and Duerr each tallied two hits in game two. Emert improved to 15-5 for the season in the circle, tossing 7.0 innings and allowing just one earned runs on six hits. Emert struck out seven and walked two in her final home game as a Bearcat.

Saint Vincent travels to Penn State Beaver for a non-conference doubleheader on Thursday, April 27. Start time is slated for 3 p.m.