PITTSBURGH - Point Park erupted for 16 runs in game one and capitalized on a late-game lineup mistake in game two to secure its first doubleheader sweep of the season, defeating Salem on Wednesday afternoon at Fairhaven Park.
GAME ONE: POINT PARK 16 – 5 SALEM (5 INNINGS)
W: Johnson (7-13), L: Alvaro (2-10)
With the postseason picture tightening, the Pioneers came out with urgency—and it showed immediately.
Mia Arndt set the tone with a leadoff walk and stolen base, and the floodgates opened from there. After advancing to third, Arndt scored alongside Cam Mann—who reached on an error and stole second—on a two-RBI single from Gianna Welsh. Shania Cope followed with a single, and despite a flyout that should have ended the inning, a costly Salem error extended the frame.
Emma Henry made the Tigers pay in a big way, launching a three-run homer to dead center to push the lead to 5-0. The inning continued to spiral for Salem as Gia LaBrie singled, Kaylee Fabiano doubled in a run, and Arndt drew her second walk of the inning. Ava Hubble capped the rally with a two-run infield single, giving Point Park an 8-0 lead after sending 12 batters to the plate.
Notably, only one of the eight runs in the inning was earned.
The eight-run outburst marked the Pioneers' highest-scoring inning since March 29, 2025 as they defeated West Virginia Wesleyan 9-0.Â
Salem responded with three runs across the next few innings, but Point Park never let the momentum slip. In the second, LaBrie delivered a two-RBI single to extend the lead to 10-2. The offense stayed relentless in the fourth, plating six more runs highlighted by RBI hits from Hubble, Mann, Welsh, Hess, and a two-run double from Henry—her fifth RBI of the game.
Salem added three runs in the fifth, but Julia Johnson induced a game-ending flyout to secure the run-rule victory.
The Pioneers tallied 16 hits, with every starter recording at two hits. Arndt was the lone one without a hit, but reached base twice via walks and scored both times.
Johnson earned her second straight win, continuing her strong stretch in the circle.
GAME TWO: POINT PARK 5 – 4 SALEM
W: Johnson (8-13), L: Lemley (10-10)
Game two presented a much tighter battle, with Salem striking first in the second inning. After a pair of baserunners reached, Kylie Zinn delivered an RBI single, and a sacrifice fly added another to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead.
Point Park chipped away in the third. Fabiano walked and later scored on a Salem throwing error following a Cope single, cutting the deficit in half.
The Pioneers took control in the fourth. LaBrie doubled and came home on a Fabiano groundout, and Arndt delivered a clutch triple to right-center to score Bella Moudy and give Point Park a 3-2 lead.
An insurance run came in the fifth when Cope scored on a sacrifice fly from Jana Hess after advancing on another Salem error, pushing the lead to 4-2.
But Salem refused to go quietly. In the sixth, Zinn struck again—this time with a two-run homer—to tie the game at four.
Point Park responded immediately in the bottom half. Fabiano singled, a pitch hit Arndt, and Johnson reached on a fielder's choice. Fabiano alertly broke for home on a failed double-play attempt, scoring what proved to be the game-winning run.
The seventh inning brought chaos and controversy.
Salem appeared to tie the game after a sequence of singles brought the tying run across the plate. However, after a lengthy discussion, umpires ruled that the runner, Addison King, was an illegal substitute due to batting order violations. The out was enforced, and because it was the third out of the inning, the run was wiped off the board—securing a dramatic 5-4 win for Point Park.
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
The bottom of the lineup powered the offensive surge across both games:
Johnson picked up both wins on the day, throwing 4.1 innings in relief in game two after contributing to the game one victory.
UP NEXT
Point Park hits the road for its final MEC South division weekend of the regular season, traveling to Glenville State on Sunday and Concord on Monday. First pitch for both doubleheaders is scheduled for 1:00 PM.
