Point Park University

WASHINGTON, Pa. -- Chris Williams tallied six hits, including two grand slams and two doubles, to go with his 13 RBIs in a 22-11 win for Point Park baseball over Wheeling on Sunday. The Pioneers and Cardinals split their doubleheader at EQT Park on the day. Head Coach Loren Torres picked up his 600th win with Point Park on the day.

Game 1: 4-0 Wheeling, W: Carlson (6-2), L: Dimidjian (6-2)

Wheeling took game one 4-0 thanks to RBIs from Kalayo Shaw, Chris Alvarez and Griffin Pickhardt. Alvarez hit a home run in the top of the second, which began a three-run frame for the Cardinals. Nicholas Schulz scored on a passed ball and Pickhardt hit an RBI double in the inning. 

Carlos de la Vega's two hits led the team in game one, with Felix Rodriguez, Olindo Pezzone and Felix Gonzalez all recording hits. Camden Dimidjian, who was named MEC Pitcher of the Week and NCBWA Division II Atlantic Region Pitcher of the Week, fanned six batters over his 7.0 innings. Dom Carlson struck out five over his complete-game shutout for Wheeling.

Game 2: 22-11 Point Park, W: Parker (3-2), L: Rollyson (1-2)

Williams led game two, going 6-for-6 with 13 RBIs. Williams set new single-game highs for a Pioneer this season in hit and RBIs, topping Olindo Pezzone's five-hit, 11-RBI game against Saint Michael's on Mar. 7. Williams' two doubles are tied for the most by a Pioneer in a single game.

Eight Pioneers tallied hits in game two with Olindo Pezzone, Blake Ewing, Trevor Jones and Luis Gonzalez all recording two and Carlos de la Vega, Felix Gonzalez and JonAlan Richardson all tallying one each. Pezzone and Ewing both left the yard, and both Luis and Felix Gonzalez hit doubles. 

Pezzone, Ewing, Felix Gonzalez and Luis Gonzalez all recorded two RBIs each. de la Vega added an RBI of his own. The Pioneers' 22 team RBIs are a single-game high for the season.

Williams led off the game with a double to left field, setting the table for an opposite-field home run off Olindo Pezzone's bat to give PPU an early 2-0 lead. 

Wheeling responded with a run of its own in the bottom of the first. Carlos de la Vega worked a leadoff walk in the top of the second and advanced on a wild pitch. Williams hit a two-out single to left field to bring de la Vega in to score, giving Point Park a 3-1 lead. 

The Pioneers blew the game open with a seven-run third inning, which Olindo Pezzone started with a leadoff walk. Blake Ewing then belted his 13th home run of the season, extending Point Park's lead to 5-1. Trevor Jones and Luis Gonzalez then hit back-to-back doubles with Gonzalez driving Jones in to score. After walks from Felix Gonzalez and Sebastian Hernandez, Chris Williams hit a grand slam to left field for his third homer of the season. 

After the Cardinals scored five runs in the bottom of the third to force a 10-6 ballgame, Carlos de la Vega singled and Felix Gonzalez was hit by a pitch, and both runners advanced on a ground ball from Sebastian Hernandez. Williams then hit a single to center field on a full count, extending Point Park's lead to six runs. 

After WU scored a run in the fifth, Ewing, Jones and Luis Gonzalez all reached base before the Pioneers recorded an out. Carlos de la Vega then walked to make it 13-7 Pioneers. Felix Gonzalez then walked, tallying an RBI. After a double play, Chris Williams ripped his fourth hit of the day on a double to right field, sending Felix Gonzalez around the bases. 

In the top of the sixth, Pezzone and Ewing both singled, and Luis Gonzalez singled to center field to give PPU a 17-8 lead. Felix Rodriguez then doubled to make it an 18-8 ballgame. After Sebastian Hernandez was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Chris Williams hit his second grand slam of the game, forcing a 22-8 score in Point Park's favor.

Zane Griffaton pitched 2.0 innings in relief for the Pioneers and led the team with his four strikeouts. Griffaton allowed only one unearned run. Ethan Parker picked up the win for Point Park. Parker started the game and pitched 2.0 innings. Joey Tedesco pitched a team-high 2.1 innings. 

PLAYOFF PICTURE

With Point Park (27-17, 18-0 MEC) and Wheeling (33-13, 18-6) splitting the four-game series, the Pioneers remain two games back of the Cardinals in the MEC North Division. Point Park closed its regular-season MEC schedule on Sunday. 

TERRIFIC TORRES

Head Coach Loren Torres picked up his 600th career win at Point Park on Sunday. Torres won his 700th career game as a head coach on Apr. 9 in Point Park's 7-2 win over California (PA) at PNC Park. 

UP NEXT

Point Park returns to action on Tuesday when it visits Slippery Rock. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. from Slippery Rock, Pa. The Pioneers will take on Salem in a four-game series over the weekend to end the regular season.