Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 
After suffering a 6-4 loss in Sunday's first game of a non-conference doubleheader at Fairmont State (WV) University, Pitt-Johnstown got five strong innings from starter
Ben Briggs and was able to get a split for the second straight day with an 8-7 victory in the nightcap. The Mountain Cats are now 4-4.
In game one, Fairmont State erased a one-run deficit with three runs in the bottom of the sixth to secure the 6-4 victory.
Zach Musgrove connected for two-run homer in the bottom of the first inning to give the Fighting Falcons an early lead.
Pitt-Johnstown answered with a pair of runs in the top of the third.
Owen McKeever tripled to right-center to lead off the inning and scored on a Fairmont State error, and
Jake Ansell scored from third on a wild pitch.
The Fighting Falcons regained the lead on Justin Brown's RBI single in the fourth off of Mountain Cat reliever
Giovanni Scott, but the Mountain Cats scored two in the top of the fifth. McKeever reached on a fielder's choice, stole second, and came around to score on
Mario Disso's double to right field. Ansell then drove home Disso with an RBI single to make it 4-3.
Fairmont State put runners on second and third in the bottom of the sixth.
Raymond Watt replaced Scott on the mound and gave up a two-run double to Chris Green. Tyler Haskins squeezed home Green and the Fighting Falcons took a 6-4 lead into the seventh.
Connor Cramer pitched a perfect seventh inning and Fairmont State held on for the win. Cramer tossed 2.2 scoreless innings in relief of starter Logan Smith.
Disso doubled and drove in one, Ansell had a hit and an RBI, and McKeever tripled for the Mountain Cats.
Scott suffered the loss and fell to 0-1. Scott surrendered three runs on six hits in two innings.
Brady Walker got the start for Pitt-Johnstown and allowed two runs on one hit, Musgrove's homer in the first inning. Walker struck out one and walked one.
In game two, the Mountain Cats built an 8-0 lead in the fifth inning, then held off the Fighting Scots, 8-7 to get the split.
Pitt-Johnstown loaded the bases in the top of the first and climbed out to a 3-0 lead.
Alex Glumac doubled to lead off and Ansell singled ahead of
Tyler Smith's two-run double.
Dylan Broderick was hit by a pitch and eventually scored on
Asher Corl's sacrifice fly.
Lucas McLain's ground out chassed home Corl from third in the top of the fourth to increase the Pitt-Johnstown lead to 4-0.
The Mountain Cats added four more runs in the fifth. Ansell and Broderick each drove in a run with base hits, and
Matt Reese singled home Smith and Corl.
Fairmont State scored three in the bottom of the fifth and four more in the seventh, including PJ Lanham's two-run home run, but Ansell was able to get the final two out to earn preserve the 8-7 win and earn his first save of the season.
Smith and Reese each drove in two for Pitt-Johnstown, while Ansell and Broderick both had two hits, and RBI and two runs scored. The Mountain Cats also got two RBI from Reese and a double and two runs from Glumac.
Ben Briggs picked up his first win of the season after limiting the Fighting Falcons to three runs on five hits over the first five innings. Briggs fanned 10 and allowed just one walk.
The Mountain Cats return home to host a non-conference doubleheader against Mount Aloysius on Sunday at Sargent's Stadium at the Point, before opening PSAC West play at home against Clarion on March 26 and 27.
