LAKE WALES, Fla. -- Point Park University baseball split a pair of one-run games on Saturday for its season openers at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational. The Pioneers (1-1) lost at Warner (Fla.) University, 1-0, and then beat Edward Waters (Fla.) College, 2-1, in the split doubeheader played at Warner's home park of Royal Field.
WARNER 1, POINT PARK 0
Nicholas Beardsley (0-1) threw a strong game giving up just three hits in the opener, but the Pioneers were not able to put together any runs. Warner (8-4) starter Jaryd Clary (4-1), a lefty, threw a two-hitter to out-duel Beardsley.
The only run of the game came home in the bottom of the third when Warner's Cole Parks doubled, stole third and scored on a groundout. Beardsley ended up taking the loss with five strikeouts and no walks in his six-inning complete game.
Point Park's two hits in the ballgame were both snuffed out by double plays. The Pioneers had runners at first and third with one out in the top of the fourth, but a double play ended the inning. Point Park got the leadoff man on in the sixth, but a double play came next.
Clary finished with two strikeouts and no walks, and he went the distance for the two-hitter.
POINT PARK 2, EDWARD WATERS 1
Point Park was on the other side of a close game in the nightcap winning 2-1 over Edward Waters (Fla.) (5-7).
Felix Castillo (1-0) pitched five innings for the Pioneers to get the victory. He gave up five hits, did not walk a batter and struck out three. He blanked Edward Waters for the first four innings before yielding the single run in the bottom of the fifth when Tyler Rich doubled, stole third and scored on a groundout.
Castillo handed the 2-1 lead over Addison Domingo, who got the save in two innings of work. He struck out three, walked none and gave up one hit.
Point Park scored both its runs in the second inning for an early lead of 2-0. Richard Perez doubled and later came home on Andres Herrera's RBI single. Herrera then stole second and later scored when Billy Kidd reached on an error.
The Pioneers had seven hits from six different players. Stefan Mrkonja led the way going 2 for 3 with a walk. Perez was 1 for 3 with a double and a run while Herrera finished 1 for 3 with an RBI and a run.
Edward Waters starter Kamau Richardson (2-2) went six innings giving up six hits and two runs (1 earned). He walked four in taking the loss.
NEXT GAMES
Point Park continues its stay at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational playing Michigan-Dearborn in a doubleheader on Sunday at 10 a.m. The games will be played at Lake Myrtle Park's Main Field. The Pioneers are playing eight games in Florida from Saturday to Tuesday.
