AGUADILLA, PR: Pitt-Greensburg fell in the second game of the 2016 Clemente Cup, dropping a 9-6 decision to SUNY-Canton.
With the loss, UPG moves to 2-3 while the Kangaroos earn a victory in their season opener to begin the year at 1-0.
Following a two-run top of the first by Canton, the Bobcats answered with an RBi-single by senior Matt Germanoski (Ellwood City, PA, Ellwood City) that scored fellow senior Greg Lynn (Ellwood City, PA, Ellwood City). However, the Kangaroos extended their advantage, scoring six runs over the next three innings to take an 8-1 lead.
The Bobcats began to chip away by scoring three runs in an error plagued fifth inning by SUNY-Canton. Tyler Geary (Connellsville, PA, Connellsville), Lynn, and Matt Moyer (Greensburg, PA, Hempfield) would each score in the fifth to bring the score to 8-4.
A single-run in the sixth extended the Kangaroo lead to 9-4.
Pitt-Greensburg plated a pair of runs in eighth inning on RBI walks by Anthony Bozzuto (Greensburg, PA, Hempfield) and Ryan Dodson (Bethel Park, PA, Bethel Park), but the Bobcat rally would end here, resulting in the loss.
Lynn scored a team-high three runs for the Bobcats who were held to four hits in the setback.
Brandon Hoener (Pittsburgh, PA, Plum) earned the loss after allowing five runs, four earned in two innings of work. Dakota McWilliams (Connellsville, PA, Connellsville) would not fair much better, also lasting two innings and giving up three runs. Adam Dodson (Bethel Park, PA, Bethel Park) would do the bulk of the work on the mound, giving UPG 4.1 quality innings while allowing just one run. Mike Parlak (Connellsville, PA, Connellsville) stepped up in the eighth to finish out the game with an inning of shutout baseball that included two strikeouts.
Pitt-Greensburg continues the Clemente Cup tomorrow with a single game against Kean University at 4:00pm also in Aguadilla.
