Pitt-Johnstown climbed back from a four-run deficit only to eventually suffer a gut-wrenching 9-7 setback in 11 innings to Gannon in game one. The Mountain Cats repaid the favor in a 3-2 walk-off victory in nine innings in the nightcap to split a doubleheader on Friday at Point Stadium.
The Mountain Cats sit at 11-13 overall with a 2-4 mark in the PSAC West. The Golden Knights present a 3-15 overall record and a 1-4 mark in the conference.
The first game featured 27 hits and 12 different pitchers between the two teams, while taking more than three and a half hours to complete. Gannon left fielder Carson Wible's two-RBI single with one out in the 11th broke up the 7-all tie and gave the Golden Knights their first conference win.
Zach Myers, who was the fourth and final pitcher used by the Mountain Cats, suffered the loss, but was admirable in scattering five hits and notching six strikeouts in four innings of relief. Rodney Shultz started and threw 5.1 innings, giving up six runs—five earned—on seven hits to go along with seven strikeouts and just one walk.
Pitt-Johnstown was placed in an unfavorable position after Gannon scored three runs apiece in the fifth and sixth innings to take a 7-3 advantage into the bottom of the seventh.
Devon Boyles began the last-gasp rally with a solo home run to left field that made it 7-4. After a one out single by Alex Ebeling, the rest of the damage was done with two outs. Brody Roberts walked and Alex Glumac's single cut the deficit to 7-5. Erik Rhodes walked and Josh Ulery was hit by a pitch to force home another run. Despite a pitching change, Justin Turcovski walked to bring home Glumac and send the game to extra innings.
Ebeling finished 3-for-6 with a run scored to pace the Mountain Cats. Glumac went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and was on base three times. Rhodes collected two hits, including an RBI triple in the fourth, and reached base safely four times. Aidan Steinbugl and Josh Reynolds each smacked a double.
It was a complete 180 degree turn in game two as neither team scratched the scoreboard after eight complete innings.
The Golden Knights posted a pair of runs on three hits and capitalized on a throwing error to put themselves in position for a sweep. However, the Mountain Cats refused to go down quietly. Boyles led off with a single, and Garrett Prosper followed with a walk to ignite the comeback. They both moved up on a wild pitch to set up Ebeling's clutch two-RBI base hit back up the middle that knotted the game at 2-all.
Ebeling moved to second on a passed ball and went to third on a sacrifice fly before Zachary Ramach became the hero with a single to right field to win it.
Sophomore starter Ben Tomb was dominant through seven innings of work, allowing just two hits with six strikeouts and three walks. Austin Hammerle was credited for the win in relief after giving up two runs—one earned—with five strikeouts in just two innings.
Due to the impending severe weather on Saturday, the Mountain Cats will now close out the four-game season series with the Golden Knights on Monday with a doubleheader from Erie beginning at 2 p.m.
