Game One Game Two
GREENSBURG, PA – The Hilbert College baseball team traded site locations Saturday in order to get their first set of games in the book and boy did they open the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference portion of their schedule in an exciting way. The Hawks broke for a 14-run, 6th inning tear to claim the first game against Pitt-Greensburg (16-14) before dropping the night cap (12-4) March 30. Junior Joe Pernick finished the day with 4 hits while knocking in 3 runs and crossing home three times for the 1-12 Hawks. Senior Ryan Ilardi added two hits and 3 RBIs. Ilardi and senior Chris Hoak, and junior John Babosci connected for doubles while freshman Tyler Roth earned the win on the mound.
The Hawks found themselves in a 5-0 hole after the 3rd inning before Ilardi pushed Pernick home in the bottom of the 4th finally putting the Hawks on the board. Greensburg exploded for eight runs in the top of the 5th and surrendered another Hilbert run in the bottom of the inning setting a 13-2 score heading into the last part of the game.
Things got interesting in the bottom of the 6th when Babosci clipped his double which was followed by another Ilardi RBI that sent Pernick home. Justin Hulbert, Pernick, Ilardi (double), Paul Wujek, Hoak, and Cody Ashford all earned RBI’s in the rally to give Hilbert a 16-13 lead.
Tony Mara, Colby Parachoniak, and Roth carried the Hawks through the first six innings before Hoak took the mound in the top of the 7th. He faced five batters, earned the save and gave Hilbert their first win, and first AMCC victory of the season.
In the night cap, Greensburg (2-12, 1-3) put runs on the board in each of the first four innings and held a 11-4 advantage by the top of the 5th before they coasted to a 12-4 win. Senior Garrett Pauly took the loss, going three innings and striking out three for Hilbert. Hoak hit a double in the 3rd inning and Wujek, Pernick and Sean McGrath each earned RBIs in the loss.
Two road games sit on the Hawks schedule this week: Penn State Behrend on April 2 and Houghton College April 4th.