Box Score Pitt-Johnstown scratched out two runs in the seventh inning and
Derek Younker worked out of a bases loaded jam in the ninth to lead the Mountain Cats to a 2-1 victory over Bloomsburg in Thursday's First Round of the 2014 PSAC Baseball Championships at Kelly Automotive Stadium in Butler, Pa.
The Mountain Cats, 23-22 overall, advance to the tournament semifinals to take on the winner of the Seton Hill-Kutztown game on Friday at 3 p.m.
Pitt-Johnsotwn's
Derek Younker and Bloomsburg's Casey Cooperman were locked in a scoreless pitcher's dual through six innings until the Mountain Cats got to Cooperman for a pair of runs in the seventh.
Jake Warner doubled to right center to lead off the inning and moved to third on
Kyle Morrow's ground out. After
Jake Stern popped up to second,
Matt McGhee stepped in with two outs and doubled-home Warner to open the scoring.
Ernesto Rizzitano then lined a single to center that plated McGhee to make it 2-0.
The Huskies did not go away easily. Bloomsburg loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the ninth, but Younker was able to get out of the jam. Younker got Joey Casselberry to ground into a double play. In the process, Nick Mazza scored from third to cut it to 2-1. However, with Pete Edgar standing on third with two outs, Younker fanned Brad Smith to preserve the 2-1 victory.
Younker tossed the complete-game to improve to 8-4. Younker allowed just one run on eight hits, while striking five and walking none.
Warner went 3-for-4 with a double for Pitt-Johnstown, while McGhee and Rizzitano accounted for both Mountain Cat runs.
Cooperman took the loss for Bloomsburg and dropped to 6-5 after surrendering both runs in the complete-game effort.
Tim Ravel and Mazza each had two hits for the Huskies, which fell to 28-19.
Â
