Point Park beats WVU Tech 8-0 in game one, fall in game two for the split

KENNEDY TWP, Pa. – Just as they did yesterday against Rio Grande (Ohio), Point Park managed to pick up a split against another RSC East Division opponent. On St. Patrick's Day Point Park squared off against WVU Tech at Fairhaven Park. In game one Point Park piled on the runs as they scored eight runs to mercy rule the Golden Bears in six innings. Game two went in favor of WVU Tech though as they managed to shutout the Pioneers and walk away with a 5-0 win to split the doubleheader in Pittsburgh.

Game 1:

A great offensive effort paired with outstanding pitching in the circle was the key to the Pioneers success in game one.

Point Park started their offensive push immediately as they started the bottom of the first inning with back-to-back hits by Melanie Taylor and Mara Iagnemma.

On Iagnemma's single Taylor attempted to score but was ultimately thrown at the plate but smart base running by Iagnemma allowed her to reach third on the play. 

With one out and Iagnemma on third, Savannah Lee hit a groundball to the shortstop that could not be handled cleanly allowing Iagnemma to score on the error. This error was the first of four in the game for the Golden Bears.

Point Park tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the third inning to extend the lead to 3-0. Taylor reached base again on a fielder choice followed up with a walk by Lee. 

With two runners on and two outs, Gianna Welsh crushed a triple to the right field fence to score both Taylor and Lee.

The Pioneers offense did not stop there. In the bottom of the fourth, Mia Arndt got on base as she was hit by a pitch. Hayley O'Neil followed up with a single through the infield to move Arndt to third following a stolen base. 

Remi Koi stepped up to the plate with one out and drilled a double to the outfield allowing both Arndt and O'Neil to score extending the lead to 5-0 for the Pioneers.

Three batters later the Golden Bear's went to the bullpen and brought in Kaylie Lawrence to relieve WVU Tech's starter Meghan Gill. 

Point Park was not done yet though. The Pioneers had their biggest inning of the game during the sixth inning. Point Park scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to enact the mercy rule.

Koi started the inning off with a single. The next batter, Taylor, reached base on an error by the third basemen.

The Golden Bear's managed to get the next two Pioneers out but that was not enough. With Koi and Taylor still on base, Welsh drove both runners in with a single, her second hit of the game, to extend the lead to 7-0. 

The Pioneers then scored the game winning run on a Kristyna Mala single. With Mackenzie Moore Pinch running for Welsh, Mala hit a single to the outfield that allowed Moore to advance to third. As Moore was advancing to third, the Golden Bear's attempted to throw her out but the errant throw by the centerfield sailed into the Point Park dugout automatically giving Moore the next base and ending the game 8-0.

Jaylyn Mullenax pitched a complete game shutout for the Pioneers only allowing three hits and one walk while striking out six batters. With the win Mullenax moved to 3-6 on the year.

Game 2:

Game two was a different story for Point Park as they were shutout by the Golden Bears. Point Park had multiple opportunities to score but ultimately could not get any runners across as they left 12 runners on base throughout the game. 

WVU Tech's offense had no trouble quickly scoring out the gate. With one out Olivia Barnett turned on an inside pitch sending the ball over the fence for a solo homerun, the first run of the day for the Golden Bears.

No one scored again until the fourth inning. Following a groundout by Macy Wilkens, McKayla Bartley ripped a double followed up by a Haliea Skeens single. With Bartley and Skeens on base, Trista Marcum laid down a sacrifice bunt in which the Pioneers attempted to get Bartley out at home but were unsuccessful extending WVU Tech's lead to two.

The Golden Bears tacked another run in the fifth on a Wilkens sacrifice fly to right field to score Taylor Dickerson making the score 3-0.

WVU Tech tacked on their final two runs in the sixth inning. Kyliegh Jackson singled to score Dickerson and Abby Gates making the final score 5-0 as the Pioneers were unable to make anything happen in their remaining at bats.

Point Park managed to get eight hits on the day but were unable to capitalize with runners on as they had 12 runners left on base during the game.

Savannah Lee was tagged with the lost. Lee started in the circle for the Pioneers and pitched 5.1 innings before Kristyna Mala came in to relieve Lee for the last 1.2 innings. Lee gave up seven hits and five runs in which all were earned. She also picked up five strikeouts in the effort. In relief Mala only gave up one hit and issued two walks. She struck out two Golden Bears batters. 

Melanie Taylor and Sydnie Reese led the offense for the Pioneers as they each went 2 for 4. The other hits came from Mara Iagnemma, Bella Magliocco, Hayley O'Neil, and Remi Koi. 

With the split the Pioneers move to 7-9 overall and 3-5 in conference play while the Golden Bears move to 8-11 overall and 4-4 in conference play.

The Pioneers play again on Tuesday as they will travel to NCAA DII Malone University (Ohio) for a non-conference DH.