PITTSBURGH -- Point Park baseball will return to western Pennsylvania on Friday to open MEC play against West Virginia Wesleyan in a doubleheader at EQT Park in Washington, Pa. First pitch is scheduled for 10 a.m. for Game 1 and 12:30 p.m. for Game 2.
Point Park (5-5) is coming off a six-game stretch in the Russmatt Tournament in Florida, in which it went 2-4. The Pioneers dropped their last two games against Minnesota Crookston (13-3) and Concordia St. Paul (9-4).
Point Park brought home MEC honors from Florida, taking both the MEC Player and Pitcher of the Week awards. Olindo Pezzone was named MEC Player of the Week after his four-homer game against St. Michael's. Pezzone tallied 11 RBIs in the game, including a grand slam and a three-run home run. Pezzone's only non-home-run hit was an RBI double.
Ramon Rodriguez pitched a complete-game shutout for Point Park against Barry. Rodriguez allowed only two hits and zero walks while striking out 10 batters. Rodriguez dropped his ERA to 3.46 on the season after last Friday's effort.
Point Park is 2-0 against WV Wesleyan all-time, having swept the Bobcats in last year's season series. The Pioneers picked up 3-0 and 10-9 wins in the doubleheader.
STORYLINES
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Olindo Pezzone was named MEC Player of the Week on Monday. Pezzone leads the team with his 1.735 OPS and .412 batting average, which rank first and sixth in the MEC respectively. Pezzone's 12 RBIs lead the team and are sixth in the conference.
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Pezzone and Blake Ewing are tied for the team lead in home runs with four, which is good for the most in the MEC. Ewing boasts an OPS of 1.310.
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Felix Rodriguez is second on the team in RBIs with eight.
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Ramon Rodriguez was named MEC Pitcher of the Week on Monday after a complete-game shutout. Rodriguez leads the team with 13.0 innings pitched and 15 strikeouts. His strikeout tally is eighth-best in the MEC.
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Ethan Parker's ERA of 1.46 is best on the team. His WHIP is second on the Pioneers 1.46 over his 12.1 innings pitched.
UP NEXT
Point Park will continue its opening homestand on Sunday against Davis & Elkins. The games will be played at Mylan Park in Morgantown, W.Va. Game one is scheduled to begin at Noon, followed by game two at 2:30 p.m.
