Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 
After dropping a pair of games to open the year at UNC-Pembroke on Saturday, the Mountain Cats suffered 21-7 and 22-4 losses to the Braves to complete the four-game series on Sunday.
Nate Negri connected for a grand slam and a solo homer to lead Pitt-Johnstown.
In Sunday's opener, UNC-Pembroke jumped on Pitt-Johnstown starter
Ryan Socol for six first-inning runs and three more over the next two innings to build a 9-0 lead. The Braves then tacked on three in the sixth and four each in the seven and eighth innings, before Negri's grand slam in the ninth set the final at 21-7
The Mountain Cats answered for three runs in the fourth on RBI singles from
Sean Sleigh and
Jake Stern and a sacrifice fly from
Mason Prickett, but that was as close as it would get.
Negri hit a grand slam for Pitt-Johnstown, while
Sean Sleigh went 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI. The Mountain Cats also got two hits, including a double, and an RBI from
Jake Stern.
Mike Palkovitz and
Luke Williams each had a base hit for the Mountain Cats
Socol allowed nine runs on nine hits over the first three innings. He also struck out three and walked two.
Collins Cuthrell collected four hits, including a grand slam, and Chad Whitehead had three hits and drove in four the lead a 24-hit attack for the Braves.
It was more of the same for the Mountain Cats in the nightcap. UNC-Pembroke got a three-run homer from Cuthrell and a solo shot from Ben Schmucker to race out to an 12-1 lead after three innings and went on to the 22-4 win.
Negri singled and hit a solo homerun for Pitt-Johnstown, while
Ernesto Rizzitano drove in a run, and
Dillon Boyer and Palkovitz each had one hit.
Nate Pope took the loss after surrendering 12 runs (5 earned) on 10 hits over the first 2.2 innings.
Cody Trogdon and Cuthrell each homered and drove in four to help the Braves improve to 7-0.
The Mountain Cats travel to Williamston, N.C. on Saturday and Sunday to play a three-game non-conference series against 19th-ranked Millersville, before going to Concord (WV) University for a four-game series on February 21-22.
