University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Baseball Downs Wright State, 7-4
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 4, 1999
PITTSBURGH - The University of Pittsburgh baseball team snapped a three-game losing streak as the Panthers defeated Wright State tonight, 7-4, at Trees Field. It was the second matchup between the two teams. Pittsburgh also defeated the Raiders, 8-1, on April 13.
Wright State jumped out to an early 1-0 lead after one inning, but the Panthers responded with a run of their own in the third. Senior second baseman Lou Melucci (Clarks Summit, Pa./Abington Heights) doubled to left field, scoring junior catcher Dave Hoopes (Hershey, Pa./Lower Dauphin).
The Raiders took a 3-1 lead in the top of the fifth, but Pittsburgh once again answered with four runs in the bottom of the inning. With freshman Stuart Rykaceski (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills) on first after a base hit, Hoopes hit a homerun, his second of the season, to tie the score. Melucci then singled to left field before sophomore third baseman Joe Lydic (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) smacked the second homerun of the inning, his 11th of the year, putting the Panthers in the lead, 5-3.
Wright State drew within one in the sixth but that is as close as the Raiders would come, as a single run batted in by freshman Mike Gonda (Ruffs Dale, Pa./Yough) in the seventh, and a homerun by senior Chris Delsignore (Johnstown, Pa./Westmont Hilltop) in the eighth, would help clinch the win for Pittsburgh.
Freshman left-handed pitcher Eric Ackermam (Denver, Pa./Cocalico) extended his undefeated record to 5-0 as the Panthers' starter. Sophomore Josh Knauff (Union City, Pa./Union City) stepped in as relief, pitching four innings and recording his third save of the season.
Pittsburgh's record moves to 23-24 (10-13 Big East). The Panthers travel to Ohio State tomorrow, May 5, before returning home to host Youngstown State on Thursday, May 6 (3 p.m.).
