KOKOMO, Ind. -- Point Park University baseball opened its River States Conference series at IU Kokomo with a 5-1 victory over the Cougars on Saturday afternoon. The Pioneers (9-1, 4-0 RSC) scored two in the sixth and three in the ninth and got great pitching from Marco Quintanar and Ryan Huber.
It was a pitcher's duel before Ed Pfluger's three-run homer with no outs in the top of the ninth put the game out of reach at 5-1. Point Park's Marco Quintanar and IU Kokomo's Owen Callaghan were locked in a battle of left-handed starting pitchers.
Quintanar (3-0) pitched into the eighth inning allowing just one run to get the victory. He dealt with base runners in six of the eight frames but kept the damage down with a total of nine strikeouts to get out of jams. He scattered six hits and allowed just one walk in his 7.0 innings.
Callaghan (2-2) did not allow a hit the first five innings, but Point Park pushed across two in the sixth. He struck out 10, walked two and allowed just four hits. But the Pioneers got five runs in his 8.0 innings. He came out after giving up the homer to Pfluger in the ninth.
Luis Hernandez broke up Callahan's no-hitter by spraying a base hit to left to put runners at first and second with one out. Then Antonio Carrillo found a hole on the right side for an RBI single to tie the score at 1-1. On Cole Horew's grounder near the bag a short, Carrillo beat out the force at second base to prevent the double play, which allowed the go-ahead run to come in, 2-1.
Quintanar took good care of the 2-1 lead. Including in the bottom of the seventh when he got a pair of strikeouts to get out a first-and-second jam with one out. He gave up a base hit to start the eighth, and Huber was called in from the bullpen.
With the tying run at second with one out, Huber got two strikeouts to end the inning and the threat. He got the save in 2.0 scoreless innings. Huber struck out three, walked none and did not allow a hit.
Point Park's ninth started with a walk to Carrillo and a base hit by Horew before Pfluger's blast to deep left.
Point Park and IU Kokomo (9-8, 3-1 RSC) play the second and third games of the series on Sunday with a doubleheader at 12:00 p.m. ET. Live video and stats will be provided by IUK athletics. Links to available live coverage throughout the season are located at PointParkSports.com/Live.
