Point Park University

PITTSBURGH -- Point Park baseball swept its Friday doubleheader over Frostburg State thanks to a walk-off grand slam from Olindo Pezzone in game one and a strong outing for Harold Boyce in game two. The Pioneers hit five home runs over the two games, including a three-homer game one from Pezzone.

Point Park improved to 24-13 (15-7 MEC) with the sweep. The Pioneers sit one game back of Frostburg State (26-12, 16-6 MEC) in the MEC North Division.

Game 1: 7-4 Point Park, W: Parker (2-1), L: Serafin (4-1)

Pezzone's grand slam capped off his three-homer game in the series opener. He wasted no time in the game, hitting a solo shot to left field in the first inning off reigning MEC Pitcher of the Week, John Smith. Pezzone entered Friday tied with teammate Blake Ewing for the MEC's home-run lead at 11.

Frostburg State clawed its way back in front, scoring in the fourth inning on a sacrifice line drive from Jake Holler and making it 3-1 in the fifth, thanks to singles from Tanner Cunningham and Jackson Schalick. 

Felix Gonzalez responded for Point Park in the bottom of the fifth, launching a home run to left field on an 0-2 count. Pezzone tied the game in the sixth inning with his blast to left field, marking his second home run of the game. 

The Bobcats took a 4-3 lead in the top of the seventh thanks to a single from Drew Jourdan. Jourdan drove CJ Carmichael home after Carmichael walked and advanced to second on an errant pickoff attempt.

Down to their final three outs, the Pioneers' first two batters reached base with Carlos de la Vega singling and Felix Gonzalez doubling to put runners at second and third with no outs. Felix Rodriguez worked a two-out walk, coming back from down 1-2 in the count, to load the bases for Pezzone. Pezzone ripped his homer down the line in left field, hitting his 14th home run of the season and giving the Pioneers an important game-one win.

Ramon Rodriguez pitched 4.2 innings for Point Park, allowing three runs, only one of which was earned, and striking out five while allowing no walks. Ethan Parker picked up the win with his 2.1 innings pitched and only one unearned run allowed. Parker fanned three batters and allowed only a single hit.

Game 2: 6-3 Point Park, W: Boyce (6-3), L: Brown (0-2), S: Parker (7)

Point Park got off to a hot start in the second game with Trevor Jones, the reigning MEC Player of the Week, driving home Felix Rodriguez on a single down the line in right. Jones' single moved Blake Ewing to third, allowing him to score on a wild pitch thrown to Luis Gonzalez to give Point Park an early 2-0 lead.

In the second inning, Sebastian Hernandez singled to left, and Chris Williams was hit by a pitch before Felix Rodriguez walked, loading the bases. Olindo Pezzone then recorded his seventh RBI of the day on a sacrifice fly ball to right field, on which Williams also advanced to third. Williams would steal home in the next at bat to extend the Pioneers' lead to 4-0.

The Bobcats responded with a sacrifice fly from Ryan Bouma in the third inning and a solo home run from Jake Holler to cut the lead in half. Blake Ewing gave the Pioneers a run back in the bottom of the fourth, however, when he ripped his single to center field and brought Felix Rodriguez, who reached on a double, in to score. 

Frostburg State responded with a home run in the fifth thanks to Drew Jourdan, but Felix Rodriguez returned the favor with a no-doubter in the sixth. Rodriguez took advantage of a 2-1 pitch and launched a deep fly to right.

Harold "Shaggy" Boyce picked up his sixth win of the season on Friday, throwing 5.0 innings and striking out four. Boyce's six wins lead the team. Ethan Parker improved on his team-leading save total, adding his seventh of the year. Parker struck out two batters and allowed only one baserunner over his 2.0 innings. 

BISON BITES

• Pezzone led the Pioneers with seven RBIs over the two games. He tied with Felix Rodriguez and Trevor Jones for the team-leading three hits each. Rodriguez hit a double and a home run in the second game.

• Point Park totaled eight extra-base hits on Friday. Felix Rodirguez, Felix Gonzalez and Sebastian Hernandez all doubled with Rodriguez and Pezzone (3) hitting home runs.

• Trevor Jones stole three bases over the two games to go with his three hits. 

• Point Park played its first series at Point Park Field on Friday, which had been closed due to weather issues and field maintenance. The Pioneers played their second and third games in the Steel City on Friday, with the first game being played on Apr. 9 at PNC Park.

• Loren Torres picked up wins number 596 and 597 as Point Park's Head Coach on Friday. Torres won his 700th game as a head coach in Point Park's game at PNC Park.

UP NEXT

Point Park will finish its season series with Frostburg State tomorrow in a doubleheader. Game one is scheduled to begin at noon.