Point Park baseball split their weekend series against River States Conference rival Ohio Christian University (10-20, RSC 7-7) after a flurry of rescheduled dates due to weather issues. The Pioneers defeated the Trailblazers 17-0 and fell 5-3 in the double header on March 2, with game three having no results as of date of publication. The Pioneers continue to have a strong grasp on first place in the RSC and continue to receive votes to be ranked in the NAIA Top 25, but still sit at No.  28.

Game one was an offensive explosion for the Pioneers, as the bats brought home at least one run per inning in the blowout. Sophomore outfielder Jared Campbell started the game in the bottom of the first with an RBI single to jump out to an early 1-0 lead. Junior infielder Eddie Javier Jr. scored in the following inning off of a wild pitch, followed by sophomore infielder Carlos Martinez scoring senior outfielder Justin Oakley on a fielding error at short by the Trailblazers. With a 3-0 entering the third, Martinez struck again; this time scoring two off a line drive to left to jump out to a 5-0 lead. 

The bottom of the fourth saw the Campbell brothers smacking solo homers; Jared Campbell roped one to deep left and sophomore catcher Jordon Campbell followed up with one in an almost identical spot. The fifth saw the runs pile on, with Martinez scoring on a wild pitch to start followed up by a double down the left field line from junior catcher Michali Brito that scored two. Sophomore infielder J.M. Fay capped off the fifth with a sacrifice fly to center to make it an 11-0 game. The offense capped off the domination with a six run sixth inning, started off by sophomore infielder Cole Wajda scoring on a passed ball. Jordan Campbell then singled to left to score a run followed up by a bases loaded walk to Brito and another sac fly by Fay to make it an 15-0 game. Freshman utility player Luis Gonzalez singled to left to score another run, and the final run of the game came from Martinez once again after he scored a run on a bases loaded walk to jump out to a 17-0 lead. Point Park pitching kept the Trailblazers offense down the rest of the way to end the game at seven innings. 

Martinez led the way in scoring for the Pioneers as he picked up four RBIs while going one-for-three with two walks. Brito collected three RBI’s while also going one-for-three and a duo of walks. Jordan Campbell went two-for-four with two runs and two RBIs while his brother Jared Campbell went two-for-three with two RBIs as well, but scored three times. Sophomore infielder Omar Morillo scored three times and went one-for-three with two walks. Senior starting pitcher Easton Klien went six innings and only allowed three hits, striking out six en route to his fourth win of the season. Junior reliever Kenneth Rolon went an inning in relief to close out the game and gave up a lead off single before settling in and getting the next three batters retired. 

Game two saw all the offense drained from the Pioneers, as Ohio Christian found a spark in the third inning. In the top of the third, the Trailblazers were able to string together five straight runs thanks to a duo of singles, an error, and a hit-by-pitch, before a ground out and strike out finally ended the bleeding but Point Park was down 5-0. The Pioneers were able to respond in the bottom of the fourth, but only with a single run, thanks to a bases loaded hit-by-pitch on Martinez to score junior infielder Issac Santana. Jared Campbell continued to stay hot at the plate, with a two run shot to left to score his brother Jordon Campbell, and made it 5-3.  Point Park’s offense attempted to mount the comeback in the bottom of the seventh, putting a runner in scoring position with only one out, but weren’t able to capitalize, ending the game through seven innings at 5-3 in defeat. 

Jared Campbell led the Pioneers offense once again, going two-for-four with two RBI’s and a run. Brito went two-for-four as well, with Santana and junior outfielder Carlos Burroughs collecting the other two Pioneer hits that only saw six hits; half of what was seen in game one. Junior starting pitcher Joathan Rivera didn’t have his usual stuff in the outing, only going three innings while allowing five hits, five runs (four earned), and striking out two before being lifted, receiving the loss. Senior reliever Sebastion Rodriguez, the usual closer for the Pioneers, came into the game in fourth inning in relief, and pitched the rest of the way. Rodriguez hurled four innings in relief, giving up three hits and striking out three. 

As of publication, the Pioneers are set to take on Washington & Jefferson College on March 4 for a road doubleheader against the Presidents. Point Park will then host Indiana University Southeast on March 7 and March 8 in a three game series in an RSC rivalry match up. All home games will be streamable through the Point Park Athletics website, as well as any future schedule updates.