Ohio Christian wins Game 1 of weekend series over (RV) Point Park, 3-1

CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio -- Ohio Christian University won the opening game of the River States Conference weekend series over (RV) Point Park University, 3-1, on Friday afternoon. The Trailblazers had just one earned run and made the most of their four hits with two of them accounting for the three runs. 

Point Park (21-10, 12-4 RSC) had a couple of key errors with Ohio Christian (11-20, 8-8 RSC) getting a couple of key hits in its two scoring innings. 

Pioneers starting pitcher Ramon Rodriguez was saddled with the loss giving up just one earned run while pitching into the sixth inning. Rodriguez (6-2) gave up three hits and three runs in 5.1 innings. 

Ohio Christian took a 1-0 lead in the second on an unearned run. Karson Runk delivered an RBI single with two outs. An infield error with two outs and the bases empty kept the inning going for that later hit. 

The Trailblazers stretched the lead to 3-0 in the fourth with Trey Henry driving in two with a base hit. An error, a single and a walk setup the opportunity. 

Point Park had its chances leaving runners on base in the last seven innings. The Pioneers left 11 runners on in total. 

The Pioneers had a couple aboard in the fifth but could not get the key hit to push across any runs. 

Point Park reliever Jose Moreno got out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the sixth with two strikeouts. That kept the score at 3-0. 

The Pioneers finally got on the board in the top of the seventh when a two-out error allowed a run to come in. The Pioneers loaded the bases on the next batter but again could not get the key hit as they left three stranded. 

Ethan Parker held Ohio Christian scoreless in the seventh and eighth innings during his 2.0 innings of relief. 

Point Park got the tying run to the plate with no outs in the eighth and one out in the ninth but could not cut into the lead. 

Ohio Christian used five pitchers to cover the 9.0 innings. Tyler House got the win in 5.1 innings holding the Pioneers scoreless on two hits. Ridge Clark earned the save pitching the ninth inning. 

The RSC series continues on Saturday with a doubleheader scheduled for 12:00 p.m.