The Pioneers started off last week on Tuesday against West Virginia University Institute of Technology, gaining coach Torres his 200th home game win.
Point Park’s eight-game winning streak was going strong, beating WVU Tech 8-6 in the first game and 4-2 in the second.
Moving up two spots in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics poll (NAIA) to No. 23, the Pioneers had a slow start to the first game.
Starting off at 8-6, Stefan Mrkonja hit a single in the seventh inning to tie the game for the Pioneers at 6-6. This single RBI forced the game into extra innings.
Mrkonja had another hit in the ninth with Jordan Crowell following with an RBI to help the Pioneers to the winning score of 8-6.
With four saves and one victory, Jake Horew took the game after three innings on the mound. Horew struck out four and walked one.
WVU Tech’s Austin Southcott took to the mind for six innings, striking out eight of the Pioneers and walking none.
Taking energy from the first game, the Pioneers carried into game two starting off with four runs for the lead. Anthony Garofalo took the mound for the team, pitching into the sixth, having three strike outs and no walks.
WVU Tech added to the board on Point Park’s expense with errors allowing two runs in.
PPU is 14-0 against WVU Tech since 2011; they will meet again on April 21 in a home game for Point Park.
The winning streak for the Pioneers came to a halt in the first game against Alice Lloyd College on March 28.
Nate Sphon started off with some errors on the mound, allowing Alice Lloyd to get ahead in the end.
Alice Lloyd took game one with a 3-1 score, but what the Pioneers lacked in game one, they came back with in the nightcap.
Chris Hernandez had a two-run single in the fourth inning followed by Logan Linder with an RBI double for a 4-2 lead.
The Pioneers won game two with the 4-2 score.
PPU took on Alice Lloyd again the next day, coming back fully charged to win both games.
The Pioneers had a total of 28 runs and 29 hits on Sunday to dominate Alice Lloyd.
Multiple PPU players had RBIs in game one including Oscar Romero, Chaz Russo, Demetrius Moorer and Linder.
The closest Alice Lloyd came to Point Park was 9-7, but the Pioneers did not let them get any further, pumping out six more runs at the top of the seventh for the final score of 15-7.
The big hitting didn’t stop anytime soon with the Pioneers starting off game two with a 7-0 lead.
Shane Conley had two RBIs and two runs, along with Romero having four RBIs and three runs, Mrkonja followed with two RBIs and three runs. Horew tossed five shutout innings, which helped the Pioneers get to the 11-0 lead. PPU finished the game with the winning score of 13-1.
Senior pitcher Sphon and junior center fielder Moorer were named KIAC Baseball Pitcher of the Week and Player of the Week, respectively. They earned their titles for their performance during the March 16-22 games against PSU-Greater Allegheny and a four game series against Asbury.
“It is an honor being recognized as the player of the week in the conference,” Moorer said. “I am grateful for it, and it just gives me extra motivation to continue to play well.”
Point Park is currently 20-5 overall and 7-1 KIAC. Their next game is scheduled March 31 at Ohio Christian.
“This season has been going well,” Crowell said. “The biggest thing is we’re all on the same page, and we all are striving for the same goal. So ultimately through our adversity we come together as a team, adapt and overcome the situation. This is a great group of guys we have here.”
