Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
For the second straight day, Pitt-Johnstown and Clarion split a PSAC Western Division doubleheader.  Clarion erased a five-run deficit to take the opener, 10-9, before Pitt-Johnstown secured the split with an 11-3 victory in game two.  The Mountain Cats are now 4-22 overall and 4-8 in the PSAC West.
 
In the opener, Clarion battled back from an 8-3 deficit with six runs in the sixth inning to earn the 10-9 victory.
 
Ernesto Rizzitano's double to left center drove in two, and Dillon Boyer chased home Rizzitano with a single to right to give Pitt-Johnstown a 3-0 lead after two innings.
 
The Mountain Cats added three more in the fourth on Nico Pecora's two-run homer over the left-center field wall and another RBI single from Boyer.
 
Clarion cut the deficit in half with three runs in the top of the fifth.  Tyler Falk drove in a pair with a single down the left field line, and Josh Ponsoll was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to make it 6-3.
 
Pitt-Johnstown got two of those run right back in the bottom of the frame on run-scoring base hits from Pecora and Lino Bravo.
 
The Golden Eagles sent 12 men to the plate and exploded for six runs in the sixth, highlighted by Derek Danver's grand slam to put Clarion in front 9-8.  The Golden Eagles added an insurance run in the seventh and went on to hold off the Mountain Cats.
 
Pecora went 2-for-4 with a homer and four RBI, and Boyer had three hits and drove in a pair to lead Pitt-Johnstown.  Sean Sleigh added three hits, while Bravo had two hit and two RBI, and Rizzitano drove in two.
 
Ryan Bills suffered the loss in relief of starter Ryan Socol.  Bills gave up the go ahead run in the sixth on the Danver grand slam and fell to 0-2.  Socol pitched the first five innings and allowed three runs on four hits.  Socol also fanned seven in the no-decision.
 
In the nightcap, Pitt-Johnstown struck for two runs in the first.  Mike Palkovitz singled and Ernesto Rizzitano came around from first on Joe Holmberg's fielding error, before Luke Williams drove home Palkovitz with a base hit to left.
 
Clarion answered with two unearned run in the top of the second, before Tyler Delval's solo homer in the Golden Eagles' next at-bat made it 3-2.
 
A triple by Boyer, followed by back-to-back doubles from Mike Palkovitz and Nate Negri gave the lead back to Pitt-Johnstown.  Jake Stern then added a sacrifice fly to put Pitt-Johnstown up 5-3 after three.
 
The Mountain Cats broke it open with six runs in the sixth and coasted to the 11-3 win.
 
Palkovitz was 3-for-four with double, three RBI and three runs scored, and Negri had two hits, including a double, and two RBI.  Sean Sleigh chipped-in two hits and drove in a run, while Boyer singled and tripled, and Stern knocked in two.
 
Andrew Keirn evened his record at 1-1 after surrendering three runs (1 earned) on seven hits in five innings of work.  Camden Hess tossed two scoreless to earn his first collegiate save.
 
With the split, the Golden Eagles are now 4-13 overall and 2-8 in conference-play.
 
The Mountain Cats host a PSAC West doubleheader against Mercyhurst on Friday at 1 p.m. at Point Stadium, before traveling to Erie on Saturday to wrap-up the series against the Lakers.