PITTSBURGH -- Felix Castillo flirted with a no-hitter, and Antonio Carrillo hit two home runs to power Point Park University to an 11-0 victory over visiting Ohio Christian University in the first game of a River States Conference baseball series on Friday.
The game was rain-soaked, but the Pioneers (28-15, 16-8 RSC) got in and out with a victory in seven innings on the 10-run rule. Castillo did his part taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning and racking up 12 strikeouts. Carrillo led the offense going 3 for 4 with a three-run homer, a two-run homer, a triple and five RBIs.
Point Park and Ohio Christian will conclude the series on Saturday with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. for Senior Day. The Pioneers will recognize their 10 seniors in between games.
Castillo, a senior right-hander from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, improved to 6-3 with his second shutout of the year. He retired OCU in order in four of the seven innings to make quick work of things.
With Point Park scoring five runs in the sixth inning for an 11-0 lead, the 10-run rule was in effect. With one out in the top of the seventh, OCU got its first hit, a dribbler that hugged the third-base line 60 feet from the plate. With no play a first, Kameron Sorensen legged it out for a base hit.
A clean single came two batters later as Castillo ended up with a two-hitter. He picked up his 12th strikeout to end the game. Castillo allowed just two walks, and OCU got just two base runners the first six innings.
Carrillo, a shortstop from San Diego, Calif., smashed a three-run homer to break the game open to 6-0 in the fourth. The former player at San Diego State University highlighted the five-run sixth with a two-run shot. On the day, he scored three runs and collected 11 total bases.
Point Park had 10 hits with Erik Montero and Jake Forgrave getting two apiece. Montero was 2 for 2 with a double, two walks and three runs. He was on base four times, including for Ed Pfluger's RBI double that made it 3-0 in the third.
After Carrillo's two-run bomb in the sixth, run-scoring hits followed from Luis Mujica, Alejandro Pelaez and Forgrave. Deonte Settles was on base all three times he came to bat, and he scored two runs.
Besides Saturday's doubleheader with OCU, the only other game left in the regular season for the Pioneers is a makeup game versus Asbury (Ky.). The Pioneers will makeup the third game of their RSC series versus Asbury on Tuesday, April 30. First pitch is 3 p.m. at the neutral site of the Cincinnati Red Youth Academy located at 2026 E Seymour Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45237
The Pioneers will be one of the six teams at the RSC Baseball Championship next week May 2-5 at VA Memorial Stadium in Chillicothe, Ohio. Point Park is currently in fourth place but can move up to second place by finishing 3-0.
