Point Park University

WASHINGTON, Pa. -- Harold Boyce pitched a complete-game shutout on Friday as Point Park baseball split its doubleheader against Wheeling at EQT Park. Carlos de la Vega hit a two-run home run in the win. The Cardinals picked up a 5-4 win in game one before Point Park took game two 2-0.

Game 1: 5-4 Wheeling (9 innings), W: Wells (4-0), L: Parker (2-2)

Wheeling rallied in the bottom of the seventh of game one and won the game 5-4 in extra innings thanks to a single from Keaton Ference. 

Trevor Jones singled to open the top of the second for Point Park and advanced to second on a ground out from Carlos de la Vega. Felix Gonzalez then ripped a single to center field to give PPU an early 1-0 lead.

The Pioneers doubled their lead in the fifth inning when Sebastian Hernandez singled and advanced to second on a ground ball. Olindo Pezzone then tallied his 46th RBI of the season on a double to center field to make it 2-0 Point Park. 

Wheeling tied the game in the fifth inning when Chris Alvarez hit a two-run homer. The Cardinals took the lead in the sixth with Noah Gutierrez scoring on a wild pitch. 

Pezzone continued his stellar season in the seventh inning, when he drove home Chris Williams, who was hit by a pitch, on another RBI double. Pezzone's double was a rip to left center on the second pitch of the at bat. 

Alvarez led off the bottom of the ninth for the Cardinals with a walk, after the two teams failed to score in the eighth inning. Alvarez was bunted over to second and advanced to third on a walk, setting the table for Keaton Ference's walk-off single. 

Ramon Rodriguez pitched 5.0 innings, striking out four and allowing three runs. Ethan Parker struck out five batters over his 3.2 innings of relief. Sebastian Kahn pitched 6.1 innings for Wheeling before Ethan Wells picked up the win with his two strikeouts in the ninth. 

Game 2: 2-0 Point Park, W: Boyce (7-3), L: Fenwick (3-3)

Carlos de la Vega homered in the fifth inning, and Harold Boyce struck out seven batters over his complete-game shutout in game two, as Point Park picked up a 2-0 win. Boyce only allowed three hits and three walks. Boyce leads the team with his seven wins.

Luis Gonzalez led off the fifth inning with a double to left field on a 3-1 count. Carlos de la Vega then stepped up to the plate, and, with two strikes, put in a charge into a ball over the left field fence. De la Vega's home run was his second of the season. 

Boyce tallied four innings where he only faced three batters, including a stretch in which he recorded nine outs and faced nine batters from the second through the fourth inning. Boyce threw his third complete game of the season and his second one in which he didn't allow any runs.

UP NEXT

Point Park and Wheeling will close their four-game series with a doubleheader on Sunday. First pitch in game one is scheduled for 1 p.m. The Pioneers (26-16, 17-9 MEC) trail the Cardinals (32-12, 17-5 MEC) by two games in the MEC North Standings. Wheeling currently leads the division while Point Park sits in third place - good for the final playoff spot. Head Coach Loren Torres picked up his 599th win with the Pioneers on Saturday.