Game 1: Pitt-Greensburg 5, Hilbert 1
Pitt-Greensburg opened its doubleheader against Hilbert with a strong all-around performance, using timely hitting and a dominant outing on the mound to secure a 5-1 victory at Sargent Stadium .
Hilbert struck first in the top of the opening inning, capitalizing on a walk and a two-out RBI single to take an early 1-0 lead. The Bobcats answered immediately in the bottom half, as Ben Aftanas reached base and eventually scored on a Tommy Smith RBI single to even the game at 1-1.
The Bobcats continued to build momentum in the third inning. Colby Rearick worked a walk and came around to score on a Josh Preston RBI single, giving Pitt-Greensburg its first lead of the day at 2-1. An inning later, Neo Miller sparked the offense with a leadoff double down the right field line and later scored on an RBI single from Aftanas to extend the advantage to 3-1.
On the mound, Conner Burkey delivered one of his strongest performances of the season. The right-hander worked around traffic throughout the game, scattering eight hits while allowing just one run over seven complete innings.
Pitt-Greensburg broke the game open in the sixth inning. Landon Snider singled to start the frame, and Aftanas and Rearick followed with base hits to load the bases. Smith came through once again, driving a two-run single up the middle to push the lead to 5-1.
Burkey closed things out in the seventh, stranding two runners to secure the complete-game victory.
Aftanas led the offense with three hits and two runs scored, while Smith drove in three runs. Snider added two hits as the Bobcats finished with 12 hits in the opener.
Game 2: Hilbert 12, Pitt-Greensburg 5
In the nightcap, Hilbert used a big early inning and capitalized on Bobcat miscues to earn a 12-5 win and split the doubleheader .
Hilbert jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning, using a triple and a wild pitch to plate the game's first runs. The Hawks then broke the game open in the third inning, scoring six runs on a combination of timely hitting and defensive errors to take an 8-0 advantage.
Pitt-Greensburg began to chip away in the fourth inning. Colby Rearick doubled to lead off the frame and later scored on an RBI single from Colin Solinski to get the Bobcats on the board. In the fifth, the Bobcats added another run when Neo Miller came around to score on a wild pitch, cutting the deficit to 8-2.
Hilbert maintained control, however, and added four more runs in the eighth inning, highlighted by a two-run home run from Patrick Evans that extended the lead to 12-2.
The Bobcats continued to battle late. In the eighth inning, Rearick reached base and Josh Preston drew a walk before Landon Snider delivered a two-run triple to center, making it 12-4. In the ninth, Hunter Gideons led off with a triple and later scored on a sacrifice fly from Aftanas to cap the scoring at 12-5.
Rearick led Pitt-Greensburg offensively with two hits and two runs scored, while Snider drove in two runs. The Bobcats showed resilience late, but the early deficit proved too much to overcome.
The Bobcats return to action tomorrow as they travel to Waynesburg for a DH with the Yellow Jackets.
