Baseball Splits Double-Header with Mercyhurst North East
Pittsburgh, Pa- Junior first baseman Sam Weightman (Harrison City, PA/Penn-Trafford) went 2-3 and had three RBI's in a 6-2 win in game two, as the Greater Allegheny (15-13) baseball team salvaged a double-header split after losing game one to NJCAA foe, Mercyhurst North East, 8-4.
GA trailed 2-0 after the first inning and a half of game one, but were able to tie the game with two runs in the bottom of the second. Weightman led off with a walk and advanced to third on a double from senior outfielder Mike Visloski (McDonald, PA/West Allegheny) in the next at-bat. Senior second baseman Jason Paris (Houston, PA/Chartiers Houston) followed with an RBI single, before sophomore shortstop Aaron McGee (Harrison City, PA/Penn-Trafford) tied the game with a sacrifice fly.
Mercyhurst North East regained the lead with two runs in the third, but relinquished it yet again, in the fourth. Visloski led-off the inning with a solo home run to right field, his first of the season. A walk and a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt placed the tying run at second, allowing freshman outfielder Alente Johnson (Rochester, PA/Rochester) to even the score with his single to left center.
A run for the visitors in the fifth pushed them in front 5-4, before three more in the seventh allowed for their 8-4 victory.
Visloski went 3-3 with an RBI from his fourth inning homer, while Johnson went 2-4 with an RBI. Sophomore right-hander Matt Klena (Glenshaw, PA/Shaler) took the loss, as he surrendered five runs on seven hits over his five innings pitched. Klena (0-5) struck out four and walked five.
Greater Allegheny trailed 1-0 after three outs in game two, but quickly answered with a run of their own, as Weightman singled home Johnson. A clean slate in the top of the second for McGee allowed GA to take the lead in the bottom, when sophomore outfielder Zach Zeroski (Imperial, PA/West Allegheny) singled home a run.
The home Lions then opened up their lead with three runs in the fourth, as Zeroski, Weightman, and sophomore designated hitter Oliver Girman (Monroeville, PA/Serra Catholic) each recorded RBI's. McGee allowed a Mercyhurst North East run in the fifth, but an answer from GA in the sixth secured the 6-2 triumph.
Zeroski collected a hit and had two RBI's, while Girman went 3-4 with an RBI. McGee (2-1) earned the win for Greater Allegheny, as he gave up just two runs on five hits, while striking out four and walking two. Girman (2) cleaned up for his second save, giving up two hits and striking out one through his two innings.
GA returns to action Wednesday, April 10 against NAIA member, Point Park. First pitch is set for 1 PM.