UPJ Defeats Seton Hill University in 13 Innings

Pitt Johnstown lined up for the National Anthem.


Yesterday’s home 9-inning game was moved to Seton Hill University due to poor field conditions. UPJ defeated Seton Hill 7-4 in an over-time, 13-inning game Wednesday, April 18, 2007. Pitt Johnstown’s record improved to 14-16.

I went to school with three of the Seton Hill players, but was disappointed when I saw the roster and they weren’t scheduled to play. Doug Krivda, Eric Nese, and Craig Snopko sat the bench, cheering their team the whole way through the game. When I was a student athletic trainer for Penn Trafford’s baseball team, I used to calm Nese before he would bat by scratching his arms with my acrylic nails. At first Coach Evans thought we were flirting, but then realized it relaxed Nese enough to bomb out a hit almost every time.

Junior right-hander David Huey (Glen Campbell, Pa) pitched four innings, giving up two runs on two hits, and struck out five. Sophomore right-hander Eric Faint (Johnstown, Pa) pitched five scoreless innings in relief for Huey, improving his record to 1-2. Sophomore right-hander Chuck Boring (Dilltown, Pa) earned his first save, striking out all three batters in the bottom of the 13th.

In the eighth inning, the Mountain Cats scored two runs, tying the game 4-4. Three scoreless innings carried on, until junior shortstop Chris Turka (Natrona Heights) hit a two-run triple in the bottom of the 13th inning, claiming victory for the Cats. Sophomore outfielder Matt Hanley (Delmont, Pa) scored his fifth homerun of the year, while also driving in two other runs. Freshman outfielder Dan Mangini (Lower Burrell, Pa) also blasted a homerun, marking it his first collegiate homerun of his career. UPJ totaled 11 hits and seven RBI, while Seton Hill only had eight hits and four RBI.

Today’s game at Davis & Elkin’s College (West Virginia) is cancelled due to weather and will not be rescheduled. The Mountain Cats play their next two doubleheaders this weekend at Concord University (West Virginia). Saturday’s games start at 1:00 and Sunday’s start at noon.