Brian Pirone tossed 5.1 strong innings,
Devon Boyles drove in three, and
Logan Ferguson added three hits to lead Pitt-Johnstown to a 5-2 victory over Malone in Sunday's first game of a non-conference doubleheader in Canton, Ohio. The Pioneers took the nightcap, 2-0. The Mountain Cats are now 2-7.
In game one, the Mountain Cats built a 4-0 lead in the fourth inning, and Pirone dominated with 5.1 perfect innings to start in the 5-2 win.
Pitt-Johnstown jumped on Malone starter Finn Schmitt for three runs in the top of the first. Boyles' single to center drove home
Aidan Steinbugl and
Justin Turcovski, before Boyles scored on a
Karson Reffner sacrifice fly.
After
Zac LeGars' ground out in the fourth chased home
Cam Donaldson to make it 4-0, Malone broke up
Brian Pirone's perfect game bid with a pair of hits and a run on Anthony Bartiromo's RBI single in the bottom of the fifth.
The Mountain Cats got that run right back when Boyles' single-home LeGars in the top of the sixth, and went on the toe victory.
Pirone evened his record at 1-1 after limiting the Pioneers to just one run on four hits over the first 5.2 innings. The junior right-hander fanned 10 and didn't allow a walk.
Erik Rhodes pitched the final 1.1 innings to pick up the save. Rhodes gave up one earned run on two hits, while striking out a pair and walking one.
Ferguson went 3-for-4 and Boyles had two hits and drove in three for the Mountain Cats.
Nathan Helms and Turcovski also had hits for Pitt-Johnstown.
In game two, Malone took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third on RBI singles from Allen Diaz and Reilly Tyna, and Jacob Rollyson held the Mountain Cat bats at bay by striking out eight in the five-hit complete-game shutout.
LeGars and Ferguson each had two hits for Pitt-Johnstown, and Turcovski doubled.
Ben Tomb got the start and took the tough loss to fall to 0-1 after surrendering two runs on four hits over the first 2.2 innings. Tomb fanned four and walked one.
Seth Shuey pitched the final 3.1 innings and held the Pioneers scoreless on just two hits.
With the split, Malone is now 4-4.
The Mountain Cats visit the University of Charleston (WV) for a 3-game series next weekend, before making their 2025 home debut on March 15 with a doubleheader against Bloomsburg at Point Stadium.
