University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Baseball Defeats Boston College, 8-4
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 25, 1999
PITTSBURGH - The University of Pittsburgh baseball team defeated Big East opponent Boston College today, 8-4, at Trees Field in the final matchup of a three-game series. The Panthers split a doubleheader with the Eagles on Saturday as they won the first game, 8-5, and dropped the nightcap, 9-6.
Leading the way for Pittsburgh was freshman right fielder Mike Gonda (Ruffs Dale, Pa./Yough). Gonda went 4-for-5 on the afternoon, including a double, with three runs batted in and one run scored.
The Panthers got on the board first with one run in the first inning on a single RBI by senior Steve Dickinson (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk). Boston College responded with two runs in the second and extended its lead to 3-1 after the top of the third. But four runs in the bottom of the inning propelled Pittsburgh to a 5-3 lead. Gonda and freshmen Brad Rea (Gibsonia, Pa./North Allegheny) and Stuart Rykaceski (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills) each recorded doubles in the inning. Junior catcher Doug Caraway (Baltimore, Md./Chesapeake) added a single for two RBI, scoring Rykaceski and Mike Pokrzywinski (Murraysville, Pa./Franklin Regional).
Pittsburgh scored one run in the sixth on a single by Gonda that drove in senior Lou Melucci (Clarks Summit, Pa./Abington Heights). The Eagles scored their fourth and final run in the eighth before the Panthers added two insurance runs in the bottom of the inning.
Senior right-hander John Schultz (Pittsburgh, Pa./Carrick) pitched a complete game and closed out the ninth inning with bases loaded and one out. He gave up 13 hits with one earned run and eight strikeouts.
Pittsburgh moves to 22-21 overall and 10-10 in the conference. The Panthers return to Big East action when they travel to Seton Hall, May 2-3, for a three-game series.
