Pitt-Johnstown built a sizable lead early on to secure an 8-5 win in the opener before suffering a 5-0 loss in the second game against California (PA) in the final PSAC West doubleheader of the season on Friday afternoon at EQT Park in Washington.
The Mountain Cats wrapped up their season at 15-33 (6-22 PSAC).
Game One—Pitt-Johnstown 8, California 5
Redshirt junior Justin Turcovski went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored to power Pitt-Johnstown in game one. His two-run homer that cleared the left-center field wall capped a scoring barrage in the second and gave him 100 RBIs for his career.
The Mountain Cats piled up 11 hits, with five of those coming during a six-run second that put them firmly in control.
Erik Rhodes and Logan Ferguson led off with singles, and Alex Ebeling walked to load the bases with one out. Zac LeGars then lined an RBI single and Brody Roberts reached on a fielder's choice to make it 2-0.Â
Aidan Steinbugl stroked an RBI single and a throwing error by California allowed Roberts to score and extend it to 4-0. That set up Turcovski, who launched a two-run shot to afford the Mountain Cats a 6-0 start that never faded away.
That lead grew in the fourth when LeGars and Roberts started the inning with infield singles. Turcovski belted an RBI single and Devon Boyles recorded an RBI groundout to push the lead to 8-0.
Ben Tomb picked up the win on the mound, allowing just two earned runs on four hits with five strikeouts and three walks in 5 2/3 innings. Antonio Caporossi gave up three earned runs in relief before Zyler Freedman eventually got the final two outs to close out the Vulcans.
Nathan Holmes was the losing pitcher for California, which had already secured a berth in the upcoming PSAC Tournament.
Game Two—California 5, Pitt-Johnstown 0
Pitt-Johnstown had an opportunity to take a lead in the first when Roberts and Steinbugl led off the inning with singles, but both were ultimately left stranded.
The tables turned in the nightcap when California got out to a 1-0 lead in the second inning. The Vulcans then picked up a run apiece in the third and fourth to go up 3-0.
Joey Maun doubled in the fifth with one out, but was left on third. Turcovski singled to open the sixth and was also stranded at third.
California tacked on two more runs in the sixth to set the final.
Jimmy Kunst suffered the loss for the Mountain Cats, surrendering two runs on three hits with three strikeouts and a walk in three innings. Cole Sansom, Zach Myers and Roman Donis all threw in relief.
Roman Gill was the winning pitcher for the Vulcans, who finished the day at 34-11 (19-8 PSAC).
