Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
Nate Negri collected four hits and two RBI, and Ernesto Rizzitano added four hits in the doubleheader, but UNC-Pembroke swept the Mountain Cats, 6-1 and 13-7 in the season-opener for both schools, Saturday afternoon in Pembroke, NC.
 
In the opener, UNC-Pembroke broke open a one-run game with a pair of runs in the fourth inning and single runs in the fifth and eighth innings to secure the 6-1 victory.
 
Justin Datillo's two-run homerun in the bottom of the first off of Mountain Cat starter Luke Miller gave UNC-Pembroke a 2-0 lead, before Pitt-Johnstown answered with a run in the third on Negri's RBI double that plated Rizzitano.
 
However three Braves pitchers held the Mountain Cats scoreless the rest of the way.
 
Negri doubled and drove in a run, while Devon Walker, Luke Williams, Jake Stern, Mason Prickett, and Rizzitano accounted for the other five Pitt-Johnstown base hits.
 
Miller took the loss in his Mountain Cat debut after allowing four earned runs on six hits over the first four innings.  Brantley Rice pitched the final four innings and held the braves to just two runs on six hits, while striking out three and not allowing a walk.
 
Datillo went 4-for-4 with a two-run homer and three RBI to lead UNC-Pembroke.
 
Jesse Stinnett tossed the first five innings, holding Pitt-Johnstown to a fun on five hits to earn the win for the Braves.
 
In the nightcap, UNC-Pembroke opened-up a 12-2 lead after four innings.  Pitt-Johnstown cut it to five with two runs in the fifth and three in the sixth, but that was as close as it would get.
 
Stern's double in the top of the first scored Rizzitano and Negri to put Pitt-Johnstown up 2-0, before Stibel Aleman Saba's grand slam in highlighted a six-run second inning for the Braves.
 
UNC-Pembroke extended it to 12-2, but Williams had an RBI single and Dylan Kerstetter scored on a throwing in Pitt-Johnstown fifth to cut it to 12-4.
 
The Mountain Cats added three more in the sixth on Dylan Boyer and Negri RBI singles and another UNC-Pembroke error.
 
Christian Snider added a solo homer in the bottom of the eighth to set the final at 13-7.
 
Rizzitano was 3-for-4 with a double and two runs, while Negri added three hits, including a double and RBI to pace the Mountain Cats.  Stern had two hits and drove in a pair, and Williams added a pair of singles and an RBI for Pitt-Johnstown which finished with 16 hits.
 
Nate Bearer took the loss after giving up six runs on three hits in 1.2 innings.
 
Pitt-Johnstown concludes the three-game opening series at UNC-Pembroke with a single game on Sunday, before traveling to Shepherd (WV) University for three more non-conference games next weekend.