Williamstown catcher Wyatt Siley makes a catch in foul ground during the Yellowjackets' 4-1 victory versus Wahama on Wednesday at Bill Coiner Field. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

WILLIAMSTOWN — Jenner Burge pitched into the sixth, Parker Schramm recorded a five-out save and host Williamstown climbed back above the .500 plateau here Wednesday evening as the Yellowjackets of skipper Lexi Maxwell handed Wahama a 4-1 setback at Bill Coiner Field.

Catcher Wyatt Siley had two hits and joined third baseman Austin McDonald with a run-batted-in while center fielder Wyatt Powell had the big knock with a two-run double during a three-run fourth against losing pitcher Aden Young.

“I think that was just an overall very well played game by us. Burge pitched great,” admitted Maxwell, who watched his right-hander allow just five hits and retire the first 10 batters that included striking out the side in the third. “He threw them strikes and pumped the zone, getting contact and I think he struck out seven.

“‘We didn’t strike out any on our at-bats and that’s the first time all year. That goes to show our guys are putting the ball in play and fighting with two strikes. That was just a good quality win overall.”

Wahama, which slipped to 3-6 for head man Billy Zuspan and plays host at 5:30 p.m. Friday to Huntington St. Joe, only stranded three and went 1 for 5 with runners in scoring position.

Williamstown's Jenner Burge pitched into the sixth inning and had no walks with seven strikeouts during the Yellowjackets' 4-1 victory versus Wahama on Wednesday at Bill Coiner Field. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

“That’s a great team right there. Coach Maxwell always has a quality squad and we know that Williamstown is the top-ranked team in the state,” admitted Zuspan, whose team chased Burge in the sixth but bunted into an inning-ending 1-3-2 double play.

“I thought we played well tonight. The first time we faced them (18-4 loss on March 21), you know, it was errors all over the place. The wheels just came off, but we’ve been playing some good ball here recently. Just ain’t been able to put them in the win column.”

Blake Henry reached on an infield single to open the sixth and Parker Fields followed by taking one for the team. Henry moved to third when Hayden Lloyd flew out to Carson Hill in right and it was second and third for cleanup hitter Eli Rickard after a wild pitch. The senior first baseman delivered his second hit of the game, this time a run-scoring infield single to get the White Falcons on the board.

However, Young followed with a bunt down the line at first, but Schramm hustled to the ball, scooped it clean and fired to Burge at first, who then threw a dart to Siley as Fields was tagged out to kill the rally.

“The squeeze play I just thought we got a late break on it,” added Zuspan, who turned to the lefty Henry (2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 0 SO) in relief of Young (4 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO). “I thought we played it really well. We just got a late break. It was a good bunt.

Williamstown catcher Wyatt Siley singles during the Yellowjackets' 4-1 victory versus Wahama on Wednesday at Bill Coiner Field. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

“I thought we played really good defense. Our pitchers pitched well. I thought Aden gave us some good innings and I thought Blake came in and did a good job in relief. We just didn’t string enough hits together when we had the base runners. It’s a hitters game and they got them across and we didn’t.”

Schramm, who singled in the first, drew a four-pitch walk to open the fifth and made it 4-1 after moving up a base on Ty Ott’s single and then scoring on Siley’s knock to left.

Siley’s one-out single got the key fourth frame going as he was lifted for courtesy runner Jackson Fulton, who swiped second. Hill followed with an infield single and Powell had runners on second and third after Hill’s theft. He then delivered the two-run double down the left-field line, which was followed by McDonald’s sacrifice fly to right for a 3-0 cushion. No. 7 hitter and left fielder Tyler Keiser, who had a long running catch near the line in what was nearly no-man’s land for the 20th out, followed with a double, but Young got Jackson Melonas to pop out to end the threat.

Wahama’s final chance after Schramm fanned Seth Ohlinger to open the seventh came via No. 8 hitter and catcher Cyrus Rickard, but his shot into center was snared by Powell on one knee at the ‘Jackets improved to 4-3 with St. Marys set to invade at 5 p.m. Thursday with Linsly coming to town for a noon twinbill on Saturday.

“Having Schramm come in and make that double play, I mean that was huge,” coach Maxwell added of escaping the sixth-inning jam. “That was definitely very well executed. We work on that, but just to be able to look the runner back, freeze him, keep him from going, making a good throw, catching the ball, making another good throw and catching the ball. Overall, that was just probably the highlight defensive play of the day that really kind of put the nail in the coffin.”

Williamstown second baseman Noah Powell makes a throw to first during the Yellowjackets' 4-1 victory versus Wahama on Wednesday at Bill Coiner Field. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com