Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Pitt-Johnstown got strong pitching from
Ryan Bills in a 2-1 PSAC Western Division victory over California University (PA) in game one of Tuesday's doubleheader at Consol Energy field in Washington, Pa. The Vulcans came back to earn the split with a 16-5 win in game two. The Mountain Cats are now 10-15 overall and 5-5 in the PSAC West.
In game one, California (PA) opened the scoring with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning, but Pitt-Johnstown came right back in its next at-bat.
Ernesto Rizzitano's base hit through the left side chased home
Brett Marabito and
Matt McGhee to put the Mountain Cats in front, 2-1.
That's all Bills would need, as he held the Vulcans to just one run on three hits in six innings of work. He also walked two and struck out four to even his record at 1-1.
Ryan Socol pitched a perfect bottom of the seventh to record his fifth save of the year.
Along with Rizzitano,
Kyle Morrow,
Matt McMillen, McGhee, and Marabito also had this for Pitt-Johnstown.
In the nightcap, California (PA) jumped on Pitt-Johnstown starter
Brantley Rice for six first inning runs, before the Mountain Cats got back in it with three runs of their own in the second. However, the Vulcans exploded for eight runs in the sixth to break it open in the 16-5 win.
Jake Warner had two doubles and drove in a run, while Morrow belted a solo homerun to lead the Mountain Cats. McGhee had two hits, including a double and an RBI, while
Dillon Boyer singled and doubled for Pitt-Johnstown.
Rice took the loss for the Mountain Cats and fell to 1-1 after surrendering six earned runs on seven hits in just 2/3 of an inning.
Justin Taylor and Joe Yourgal each hit homers and drove in four for the Vulcans, now 14-12 overall and 3-7 in the PSAC West.
Pitt-Johnstown travels to Mercyhurst University for a PSAC doubleheader on Friday, before wrapping up the four-game conference series against the Lakers with a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Point Stadium.
