University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Baseball Ends St. John's Series with 11-3 Loss
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh Panther baseball team fell to Big East Conference-rival St. John's, 11-3, this afternoon at Trees Field, ending a three-game series in which the Red Storm captured each contest.
Louis Melucci (Clarks Summit, Pa./Abington Heights) drove in Harry Ciavarella (Moscow, Pa./North Pocono) on a sacrifice fly to right field early in the bottom of the first inning, tying the score at one run a piece. Senior Bob Balazentis (New Kensington, Pa./New Kensington) struck out three batters in the ensuing half inning, but the Panthers went down swinging with Charlie Stafford (Edinboro, Pa./General McLane) left in scoring position.
St. John's scored six more to Pittsburgh's two in the following three innings. Stafford fielder's choice scored Melucci, who reached on his sixth double of the season in the fourth, and Ciavarella scored after a Bill Brown (Deer Lakes, Pa./Deer Lakes) fly to center field in the sixth inning, shortening the Red Storm's advantage to 7-3. However, with only one out remaining at the top of the ninth, St. John's sent four runners across the plate on three hits and three errors, sealing the victory.
Balazentis (0-2) pitched four innings, giving up eight hits, three earned runs, one walk and striking out eight batters. Chris Gallick (Mt. Pleasant, Pa./Mt. Pleasant) came in relief at the top of the fifth and went four and two-thirds innings, giving up eight hits, two earned runs, two walks and striking out four batters. Matt Irvin (Derry, Pa./Derry Area) closed for the Panthers and gave up one hit in one-third of an inning.
Melucci went 1-for-3 at the plate with a double and an RBI and scored one run. Stafford and Chris Delsignore (Johnstown, Pa./Westmont Hilltop) each went 1-for-4, and Stafford added an RBI and his third stolen base this season.
Pittsburgh is 6-14-0 overall and 1-8-0 in the league. The Panthers travel to Youngstown State this Tuesday before hosting Cleveland State Wednesday, April 8 at 3 p.m. at Trees Field.
