(JOHNSTOWN, PA)-
Story by www.wviac.org--Justin Demek's two-run, ninth inning single snapped a 3-3 tie as Pitt Johnstown (36-17-1) went on to down Concord (35-14) 6-3 in a first round NCAA Division II North Atlantic Regional contest.
Concord got on the board with a single run in the bottom of the first. Donovan Huffer singled, swiped second, and came around on Tim Merolillo's RBI single.
Dan Delsignore tied the game at 1-all for UPJ with a booming leadoff homer over the Point Stadium left field screen.
The Mountain Cats added single tallies in the fifth and sixth innings to build a 3-1 edge. Josh Campanella led off the fifth with a single. Matt Petrowsky followed with a double to set up Adam Plummer's sacrifice fly. Demek blasted a leadoff four-bagger for the UPJ run in the sixth.
CU responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth to knot the game at 3-3. Tyler Webb started things with a bunt single, followed by Brooks Cullen's infield hit. Tim Merolillo's fielder's choice grounder scored Webb and Cullen came around on a Petrowsky throwing error attempting to turn a 4-6-3 twin killing.
The Mountain Lions jammed the sacks in the seventh following a pair of hit batsmen and a walk, but the rally was snuffed out when Cullen bounced into a 6-4-3 double play.
UPJ had a golden opportunity to grab the lead in the eighth. Demek was hit by pitch to lead off the frame and advanced to third following a sacrifice and an error, but was gunned down at the plate by Concord second baseman James Stehlin after a Campanella grounder.
Demek's ninth inning heroics were followed by Delsignore coaxing a bases-loaded walk for an insurance run to make it 6-3.
Eric Faint worked a scoreless ninth for UPJ to record his ninth save of the season.
Reliever Chuck Boring (4-3) earned the win after blanking the Mountain Lions for two innings. Drew Bailey (5-2) was tagged with the loss, giving up three hits and three runs in 3 1/3 innings.
Both starting pitchers posted solid outings. UPJ's David Huey gave up two earned runs in six innings. Concord's Donovan Huffer struck out six, while being touched up for three runs and seven hits in five innings.
Demek, Delsignore, and Campanella powered UPJ's ten-hit attack with two hits each. No Concord player had multiple hits as the Mountain Lions finished with six hits.
Concord needs a victory in Friday's 3:00 p.m. game versus West Chester to stay alive. Pitt Johnstown looks to follow up the first NCAA Tournament victory in school history when they collide with Shippensburg at 7:00 p.m.
NCAA Division II North Atlantic Regional
May 15-18
Johnstown, PA
Point Stadium
Thursday, 5/15
G1: #1 West Chester 5, #6 Kutztown 3
G2: #5 Shippensburg 10, #2 West Virginia State 2
G3: #4 Pitt Johnstown 6, #3 Concord 3
Friday, 5/16
G4: Kutztown vs. West Virginia State 11:00 a.m.
G5: West Chester vs. Concord 3:00 p.m.
G6: Shippensburg vs. Pitt Johnstown 7:00 p.m.
If four teams remain after game 6:
Saturday, 5/17
G7: Winner G5 vs. Winner G6 11:00 a.m.
G8: Winner G4 vs. Loser G6 3:00 p.m.
G9: Winner G8 vs. Loser G7 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, 5/18
G10: Winner G7 vs. Winner G9
G11: Second championship game (if necessary)
If five teams remain after game 6 and two after game 9
Saturday, 5/17
G7: Loser G5 vs. Loser G6 11:00 a.m.
G8: Winner G4 vs. Winner G5 3:00 p.m.
G9: Winner G6 vs. Winner G7 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, 5/18
G10: Winner G8 vs. Winner G9
G11: Second championship game (if necessary)
If five teams remain after game 6 and three after game 9
Saturday, 5/17
G7: Loser G5 vs. Loser G6 11:00 a.m.
G8: Winner G4 vs. Winner G5 3:00 p.m.
G9: Winner G6 vs. Winner G7 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, 5/18
G10: Winner G8 vs. Loser G9
G11: Winner G9 vs. Winner G10
