PEMBROKE – The 16th-ranked UNC Pembroke baseball team put together five multi-run frames behind a solid start from right-hander Logan Cook to key a 15-0 victory over Pitt-Johnstown in the front end of a series-opening doubleheader on Sunday afternoon at Sammy Cox Field.

The Braves (4-0) improved to 14-0 in home openers under head coach Paul O'Neil with the victory, while also stretching their win streak against non-conference opponents out to nine games. It was the first outing of the season for Pitt-Johnstown (0-1).

Zade Denton (3-for-3) doubled twice and drove in four runs to pace a lethal offensive attack for the hosts who utilized multi-hit outings from five different players to fuel the rout. Max Gagnon homered and plated a trio of runs on a 2-for-5 hitting line, while Victor Zecca scored twice on a 3-for-4 day at the plate.

Nate Negri singled twice on four trips to the plate to pace the Mountain Cats.

Cook (2-0) sat down the first 10 batters of the game, struck out six and yielded just two hits across seven superb innings to grab the win for the Braves, while Aaron Spano finished off the shutout by striking out one and allowing just one hit in the eighth and ninth frames. John Fees (0-1) took the loss for UPJ after allowing 10 earned runs on seven hits and five walks in 2-1/3 innings from the mound.

Ben Schmucker's two-run double down the left field line highlighted a 3-run first inning for the Braves who led 12-0 by the end of the fourth inning. The hosts would utilize three hits, as well as a costly error by the visitors, to cap the scoring with three more runs in the eighth.