Pitt-Johnstown suffered an 8-4 setback to open a doubleheader with Slippery Rock before a comeback effort fell short in a 3-2 loss in the second game to wrap up a four-game series on Saturday afternoon at Point Stadium.
The Mountain Cats dropped to 7-13 (0-4 PSAC).
Game One—Slippery Rock 8, Pitt-Johnstown 4
After Slippery Rock scored an unearned run to open the game, Brody Roberts went yard off Slippery Rock starter Joe Purcell in the first to knot the game at 1-all.
But the Rock went in front again with a run in the second and then four more on four hits in the third that left the Mountain Cats in a 6-1 deficit after three complete innings.
It was 8-1 before the Mountain Cats scored again in the fifth with the help of a two-out double from Justin Turcovski, who advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on a double from Devon Boyles that made it 8-2.
Boyles also recorded an RBI single in the seventh and Joey Maun later tacked on an RBI double with two outs, but it wasn't enough as the rally stalled one batter later.
Ben Tomb (2-2) took the loss on the mound after giving up six runs, five earned, on six hits with two strikeouts and three walks in two innings of work. Antonio Caporossi surrendered two runs on three hits across three innings of relief.
Roman Donis threw two scoreless innings in his second appearance of the season.
Game Two—Slippery Rock 3, Pitt-Johnstown 2
The Mountain Cats did not put a ball in play through two innings but were only down 1-0 heading into their half of the third.
Aidan Steinbugl reached on an infield single to lead off the third and moved to second on an error. Cam Donaldson laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Steinbugl 90 feet closer before he scored on a sacrifice fly from Roberts that tied it 1-1.
Karson Reffner's single in the fourth was the only hit for either team in the fourth and fifth innings. But Slippery Rock jumped in front for good with a pair of runs in the sixth on a two-RBI double from Cam Panyko Morris.
Alex Ebeling walked with one out in the sixth and moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. One batter later, Boyles cracked a double to bring home Ebeling and cut the deficit to 3-2.
Pitt-Johnstown could not break through in the seventh, going down in order against Slippery Rock closer Joey Vanzin to end the game.
Brian Pirone strung together a quality start, but was charged with the loss. He allowed three earned runs on five hits with five strikeouts compared to two walks across 5.1 innings. Erik Rhodes gave up just one hit with two strikeouts in 1.2 innings of relief work.
Ethan Edkins was credited with the win for Slippery Rock, which improved to 13-6 (4-0 PSAC).
Pitt-Johnstown will visit Frostburg State on Wednesday at 3 p.m. for a 9-inning non-conference matchup.
