After a tough 3-2 loss in Sunday's first game of a doubleheader at Charleston (WV), Pitt-Johnstown jumped out to a 4-0 first inning lead in the nightcap on its way to earning the split with a 10-3 victory.
Justin Turcovski collected four hits, including a homer and two doubles for the Mountain Cats, now 6-7.
In game one, Charleston got a two-out RBI double from Hector Carreon-Herrera in the bottom of the first to open the scoring, and Carter Rust's two-run homer to left in the second made it 3-0.
Turcovski connected for a two-run home run to right in the top of the fifth cut the Mountain Cat deficit to 3-2, but that was as close as Pitt-Johnstown could get.
Pitt-Johnstown threatened with runners on second and third with two outs in the seventh, but Charleston reliever Cody Godbold was able to get a fly out to end the game and preserve the 3-2 win for Golden Eagles.
Rodney Shultz suffered the loss for the Mountain Cats and slipped to 0-2 after giving up three runs on five hits over the first 5.2 innings. Shultz struck out a career-high 11 and walked a pair.
Turcovski went 2-for-3 with a homer and two RBI, while
Devon Boyles had two hits and
Alex Glumac,
Erik Rhodes, and
Alex Ebeling also had hits for Pitt-Johnstown.
In game two, Pitt-Johnstown got to Charleston starter Andrew Gormley for four runs in the top of the first. After Ebeling drew a bases loaded walk and Turcovski scored on a passed ball,
Cam Donaldson delivered a two-out, two-run single to center.
It stayed that way until the top of the fifth when Ebeling scored from third on a Golden Eagles' error that gave the Mountain Cats a 5-0 advantage.
Boyles' sacrifice fly plated
Aidan Steinbugl in the sixth made it 6-0, before Charleston got on the board in the bottom of the sixth on Ty Foree's solo home run.
The Mountain Cats added two more in the seventh on a bases loaded walk to Glumac and a
Josh Ulery RBI ground out, but the Golden Eagles' got those runs right back on Trace Hartman's two-run homer that made it 8-3.
A bases loaded wild pitch in the eight gave Pitt-Johnstown another round, and two more in the ninth pushed it out to 10-3.
Glumac went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs, Turcovski had two doubles, and Donaldson had a hit an drove in three for the Mountain Cats.
Rhodes picked up the win in relief of starter
Brandon Clifford after holding Charleston scoreless on one hit over two innings. Clifford tossed the first three innings and didn't allow a run on just one hit.
With the split, the Golden Eagles are now 10-4.
The Mountain Cats visit Kutztown for a four-game non-conference series on Friday and Saturday, before opening PSAC West-play at Slippery Rock on March 22. The Mountain Cats will make their 2024 home debut with a conference doubleheader against the Rock on March 23 at Point Stadium.
