Midway ends baseball team’s perfect RSC record, takes 2 of 3

Junior+Felix+Castillo+earned+a+no-decision+in+Point+Park%E2%80%99s+10-9+loss+in+extra+innings+Saturday+against+Midway.+The+Eagles+handed+the+Pioneers+their+first+losses+of+the+season%2C+taking+two+of+the+three+games+in+the+series.+

Photo by Robert Berger | Point Park Athletics

Junior Felix Castillo earned a no-decision in Point Park’s 10-9 loss in extra innings Saturday against Midway. The Eagles handed the Pioneers their first losses of the season, taking two of the three games in the series.

Written By Robert Berger, Co-News Editor

The Pioneer baseball team dropped two games to conference opponent Midway University this past weekend ending an 18-game winning streak in conference play.

“It was a big blow,” head coach Loren Torres said. “Having to bounce back from actually losing a weekend is going to take some character.”

Tensions were high through the weekend as Point Park faced an ejection and the clearing of benches after a play at the plate Saturday.

Junior Nicholas Beardsley took the mound in game one and lasted five and one third innings. He gave up five hits and was charged with four earned runs, resulting in his second loss of the season. The first was a 1-0 loss in the season opener against Warner University in Florida.

Senior Addison Domingo was brought in to relieve Beardsley and only pitched one and one third innings after being ejected with no warning after throwing an inside pitch.

“There was a miscommunication between our catcher and one of their hitters and they got in an argument,” Torres said. “If he would have handed the warnings out things would have settled down and it would have been a lot smoother.

As a result of the ejection, Domingo now faces a four-game suspension. After sitting out both games Saturday, he still has two games to serve. Point Park originally was set to face Seton Hill University Tuesday, however, both games were canceled due to the weather.

“I wanted to set him up for the curveball and go up and inside to brush him back a little and throw the curveball on the next pitch. Unfortunately, it got away from me and it was close to his head,” Domingo said. “I pitched the game we lost last year to IU Southeast that ended our season so I’ve got a chip on my shoulder.”

Sophomore Daryl Pino and senior Keenan Smith pitched in relief following the ejection. Midway scored twice in the top half of the ninth with the runs charged to Pino.

On the offensive side, Point Park only totaled four hits on the day but managed to score three runs. Brandon Aoki of Midway took a perfect game into the sixth and a no hitter to the seventh.

“He had an outstanding day on the mound. He was pitching in and out and getting his off speed over and just pitched very well,” Torres said. “We could have swung the bats better based on the pitchers ability, but it didn’t happen.”

Senior Jake Horew broke scoring open in the sixth inning when he drove in Billy Kidd on a ground out. Senior Chris Hernandez also had an RBI single in the sixth inning, bringing Reynaldo Adames across the plate.

The final scoring efforts for Point Park came in the seventh inning off a sacrifice fly from Adames.

The final two games of the series were played Saturday and Felix Castillo started game one. While lasting six and one third innings, he gave up seven hits and allowed three runs.

The Point Park offense struck early notching three runs through the first three innings. Midway however answered back, scoring one run each in the third, fifth and seventh innings, eventually tying the game at 3-3. Point Park responded in the bottom half of the inning and scored on a single to left field off the bat of senior Stefan Mrkonja.

With junior Ryan Huber on the mound, Midway tallied four more runs in the top of the eighth inning.

In the bottom of the ninth, Point Park loaded the bases and tied the game when Hernandez was hit by a pitch. A double play followed and Point Park left the bases loaded.

Huber hit the lead off batter in the tenth and junior Anthony Savarino was brought in. Savarino gave up two hits and one run, giving Midway an 8-7 lead.

Point Park went three up three down in the bottom half of the inning to end the game.

The team totaled 15 hits through the contest and left 15 men on base.

“I think game two we should have one,” Torres said. “We just stranded a lot of runners… we just didn’t get the big hits.”

Junior Nick Bucci started the third game and Midway made quick work putting up three runs in the two first innings.

Point Park answered back in the first inning with one run and six more in the bottom of the third, Mrkonja led off the third with a solo home run and later senior Ben Herstine drove in three on a homer.

More runs came in the fourth and fifth as Richard Perez scored two on a double and Herstine hit a three-run homer in the fifth. Tensions rose again with the ending of the fourth inning as Richard Perez was tagged out at home forcefully. The tag resulted in a verbal altercation and the clearing of benches.

Bucci lasted three and two-thirds innings for Point Park and was relieved by sophomore Cole Horew who finished the game while not allowing a hit. Point Park won the final game 13-4. Offensively, the team tallied 16 hits.

Point Park will continue conference play this weekend against IU Southeast. Point Park is currently tied for first in the River States Conference with the team. 

“It’s the biggest regular season series of the year and we’re excited about it. I think pressure is a privilege… with pressure there is a huge opportunity in front of you,” Torres said.