WASHINGTON, Pa. – Point Park earned a series split with a walk-off win in game one, but a slow day at the plate in game two prevented the Pioneers from completing a sweep of Charleston on Friday afternoon at EQT Park.
GAME 1: Point Park 1, Charleston 0 (8 innings)
W: R. Rodriguez (4-0) L: Peterson (0-1)
In a true pitcher's duel, the game featured just six total hits, 12 strikeouts, and a single run.
Charleston recorded its only two hits of the game in the top of the second inning. Drew Lucy singled to left with two outs, followed by Ashton Cochran's single to right-center, but Ramon Rodriguez stranded both runners to keep the game scoreless.
The Golden Eagles had their best opportunity in the third. Zachary Syvertson reached on a fielding error and advanced to second on a failed pickoff attempt. He later stole third with two outs, bringing Collin Kemp to the plate. Kemp hit a sharp comebacker that deflected off Ramon Rodriguez's glove, but Josh Zambito made a quick reaction play, fielding the ball and throwing to first to end the inning and preserve the shutout.
Offense was limited on both sides, and the game moved quickly, lasting just 1 hour and 57 minutes. Point Park finally broke through in the bottom of the eighth inning.
After seven dominant innings from Breven Deckrosh, Charleston turned to Jaeden Peterson in relief. Chris Williams led off with a walk and advanced to third on a failed pickoff attempt that rolled down the right field line. After a groundout, Olindo Pezzone was intentionally walked to set up a potential double play.
Blake Ewing followed with a hard-hit comebacker that Deckrosh could not handle cleanly, loading the bases with one out. Luis Gonzalez then worked the count full before being hit by a pitch, forcing in the winning run and giving Point Park a 1–0 walk-off victory.
R. Rodriguez was outstanding, throwing a complete-game shutout. He allowed just two hits, struck out seven, and did not issue a walk. After the second inning, he retired the Golden Eagles in order five consecutive times and did not allow another baserunner.
Deckrosh was equally impressive for Charleston, tossing seven scoreless innings while allowing three hits and striking out five. Peterson took the loss, recording just one out while allowing a hit, walking two, and hitting the game-winning batter.
GAME 2: Charleston 3, Point Park 1
W: Sheets (2-0) L: Boyce (2-3) SV: Shultz (2)
Charleston came out aggressive in game two after being shut out in the opener.
Andrew Kobryn led off with a double to left, and after a flyout moved him to third, Collin Kemp drove him in with a groundout to give the Golden Eagles a 1–0 lead in the first inning.
The score remained unchanged until the fifth, when Charleston extended its lead. After getting ahead 0–2, Harold Boyce left a pitch over the plate to Maxwell Layne, who hit his second home run of the season. Damian Whitty followed with a double, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Syvertson, and scored on an RBI single by Kemp to make it 3–0.
Point Park responded in the bottom of the fifth. Joshua Cardoso led off with a single, stole second, and later scored on an RBI single from Pezzone to cut the deficit to 3–1.
The Pioneers threatened in the sixth, loading the bases with two outs after walks by Felix Gonzalez and Cardoso, but Sam Sheets escaped the jam with a groundout.
Point Park had another opportunity in the seventh. Pezzone singled, Ewing reached on a fielder's choice, and L. Gonzalez drew a walk to bring the tying run to the plate. However, Charleston closed the door as Jones flew out in foul territory to end the game.
Landon Ingram started for Charleston, pitching three innings and allowing just one hit while striking out three. Sheets earned the win in relief, throwing 2.2 innings and allowing one run on two hits. JP Shultz recorded his second save, pitching 1.1 innings and allowing just one hit.
Boyce would be charged with the loss. He went five innings, giving up seven hits, was charged for all three runs while striking out three. He is now 2-3 on the season. Ethan Parker came in to stop the damage. He went two innings, giving up no hits and no runs.
With the split, Point Park moves to 13–9 overall and 6–4 in MEC play. Charleston improves to 8–19 overall and 5–5 in conference action.
UP NEXT
Point Park continues its homestand on Sunday as it hosts West Virginia State at Pullman Park in Butler, Pa.
The Pioneers will then travel to Indiana (Pa.) on Wednesday for a non-conference matchup before returning home on Easter weekend to host Fairmont State.
