No. 3 Point Park outlasted by No.1 Reinhardt 15-7; Pioneers fall to elimination bracket

WALESKA, Ga. – In a matchup between the winners of day one of the NAIA Baseball National Championship Opening Round in the Waleska Bracket, #1 Reinhardt University pounded out 15 runs on 16 hits to beat out #2 Point Park 15-7 in a battle of two of the top offenses in the NAIA.

A double by Carlos Martinez to left center followed up by a Carlos Burroughs single to right field gave the Pioneers the first run of the game as Martinez was able to safely reach home, giving Point Park a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third.

Point Park's leadoff hitter Omar Morillo then reached base on a fielder's choice and stole second to put himself in scoring position for the center fielder Jared Campbell. Campbell picked up the third hit of the inning for the Pioneers with a RBI single to left center to score Morillo from second giving Point Park a 2-0 lead going into the top of the fourth.

Reinhardt's Adrian Vargas got the Eagles a run back in the top of the fourth as he singled to right field to score Tucker Zdunich who had reached on a walk ten advanced on a infield groundout. Reinhardt trailed 2-1 and this was the last time they trailed the entire game as the Eagles exploded for six runs in the fifth inning.

In the top of the fifth inning the Eagles were able to pound of six runs on four hits one of which was a three-run home run by Dylan Lewis to give them the lead as they were now ahead of Point Park 7-2.

Point Park got a run back in the bottom of the sixth as Isaac Santana launched his 21^st home run of the year deep over the right field fence to give the Pioneers their 106^th home run of the season and bring the score to 7-3.

Reinhardt quickly changed the momentum away from the Pioneers as they added five more runs in the top of the seventh to extend their lead to nine as they now led 12-3. The top half of the inning for the Eagles featured five hits including another three-run home run this time by Zdunich as well as a double to left center by Jamel Rookard to plate two.

Point Park attempted to mount a rally in the bottom of the seventh as Jordon Campbell led the inning off with a solo home run, his 10^th of the season, to bring the score to 12-4. Point Park then got a walk, single, and walk before Michali Brito hit a bases loaded single to centerfield to plate Omar Morillo and Burroughs.

The Pioneers were able to plate two more runs as Eddie Javier Jr. doubled to left center to score Jared Campbell and bring the score to 12-7 but Reinhardt pitcher Brett Allen was able to get out of the inning with a fly out to centerfield to end the comeback.

The Eagles sealed the win as they were able to plate three more runs in the top of the eighth which included a two-run home run by Nash Crowell to make the score 15-7 while holding the Pioneers scoreless over the last two innings.

Ethan Parker was tagged with the loss for the Pioneers going 4.0 innings while allowing three runs on five hits while picking up three strikeouts. Point Park went to the bullpen and had five other pitchers throw in relief. Jose Moreno threw 0.1 innings allowing two runs on one hit. Joathan River then threw 1.2 innings of relief allowing four runs on three hits. Javier Cardoso entered the game throwing 1.0 innings while allowing five runs on six hits. Kenneth Rolon also saw the mound as he threw 1.0 innings allowing one run on one hit. Ethan Van Scoy closed the game out for the Pioneers as he threw 1.0 inning of shutout relief for Point Park.

Point Park's offense was able to produce 10 hits with eight different Pioneers registering a hit in the contest. Isaac Santana led Point Park going 2 for 5 with one RBI and one run on his solo home run. The other Pioneers to pick up a hit included Morillo, Jared Campbell, Brito, Javier Jr., Chris Williams, Jordan Campbell, Martinez, and Burroughs. Jordon Campbell had the other home run for Point Park.

With the loss #3 Point Park now falls to the elimination bracket where they will face off with #4 Keizer (Fla.) tomorrow May 15^th at 2:00 pm ET. Please be aware due to uncertainty with the weather game times may be changed, updates will be provided as they come in.

The winner of #3 Point Park vs. #4 Keiser will advance to face off with #1 Reinhardt where the winner must take two over Reinhardt to advance to the World Series while Reinhardt needs only one win to advance.