University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Baseball Defeats West Virginia
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 7, 1999
PITTSBURGH - The University of Pittsburgh baseball team defeated rival West Virginia in a Big East Conference matchup today at Trees Field, 3-2. The Panthers improved to 17-11 overall, 7-2 in the conference.
Pittsburgh designated hitter Brad Rea (Gibsonia, Pa./North Allegheny) provided the go-ahead run on a home run to center field in the bottome of the seventh inning. It was the freshman's fourth of the year.
Also key in the Panthers' victory was sophomore right-hander Matt Irvin (Derry, Pa./Derry), who pitched a complete game to earn his third win of the season. He struck out 13 batters and walked two with no earned runs. Heading into the contest, Irvin was ranked seventh nationally with an earned run average of 1.49. After today's performance, he improves his ERA to 1.19.
Pittsburgh jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning, sparked by a two-run home run by sophomore Joe Lydic (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park). It was his fifth homerun of the season. Freshman shortstop Mike Pokrzywinski (Murraysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) scored on the play after leading off with a single to right center.
The Panthers held the Mountaineers scoreless for four innings before giving up two unearned runs in the fifth, tying the score at 2-2.
The Panthers return to action tomorrow, April 8, when they travel to Akron. Pittsburgh then visits Big East for Notre Dame in a three-game series April 10 and 11.
