Sacred Heart
1-4
East Tennessee State
5-1
The Pioneers battled against ETSU, but dropped both games of the doubleheader
2/21/2026 6:56:00 PM | Baseball
The Pioneers battled against ETSU but dropped both games, keeping Game 2 of the doubleheader close.
Johnston City, Tenn. – The Pioneers battled against ETSU but dropped both games, keeping Game 2 of the doubleheader close.
Game 1
The Pioneers struggled to keep pace in a 26-3 loss to the Buccaneers.
Despite the lopsided score, Kyle Cincinnati provided a highlight for the team, hitting a three-RBI homer to right-center in the seventh inning. His effort gave the Pioneers a brief spark, but they were unable to mount a serious comeback.
Game 2
The Pioneers stayed close with ETSU in Game 2 of the doubleheader, getting home runs from Will Cook and Peter Link.
Cook opened the scoring in the top of the second with a solo shot, giving the Pioneers early momentum.
Ronan Donohue tied the game at 2-2 in the third with a single up the middle that scored Will Rudolph.
Sacred Heart struck again in the fourth for the third straight inning when Link homered over the left-field wall.
The offense broke through in the fifth. Ryan Rey singled to the right side to score Rudolph, Cook doubled home JW Fitzgerald, and Gavin Donohue brought in Rey and Cook on a fielder's choice. Nathan Bowes capped the five-run inning with a single to center that scored Ronan Donohue.
Top Performers
Kyle Cincinnati: 1-2, HR, R, 3 RBI
Will Cook: 2-7, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI
JW Fitzgerald: 3-8, 2 R
Peter Link: 1-8, R, HR, RBI
Will Rudolph: 1-6, 2 R
Mitch Hawkins: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 SO
Jon Peterson: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 4 ER, 2 SO
Up Next
The Pioneers head to Raleigh, North Carolina, for a series against NC State at Doak Field at Dail Park. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 27, 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 28, and 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 1.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Michael Harpster (1-0)
L: Katsaros, George (0-1)
Batting:
HR: Cincinnati, Kyle 1
RBI: Cincinnati, Kyle 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Fitzgerald, JW 1 ; Nolan, CJ 1 ; Cincinnati, Kyle 1
HBP: Nolan, CJ 1
Batting:
2B: Axel Melendez 1 ; Tyler Fetterman 1 ; Henry Ferguson 1
HR: Nate Conner 2 ; Axel Melendez 1 ; Henry Ferguson 1
RBI: Nate Conner 4 ; Jamie Palmese 1 ; Axel Melendez 5 ; Tyler Fetterman 5 ; Ian Guanzon 2 ; Griffin Sorrow 2 ; Henry Ferguson 3 ; Mason Ault 1 ; Gabe Juarez 1 ; Luke Matlock 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Nate Conner 5 ; Jamie Palmese 1 ; Andrew Palmer 3 ; Axel Melendez 4 ; Tristan Curless 3 ; Tyler Fetterman 2 ; Ian Guanzon 1 ; Henry Ferguson 3 ; Mason Ault 2 ; Luke Matlock 2
HBP: Tristan Curless 2 ; Henry Ferguson 2 ; Gabe Juarez 1
