University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Baseball Loses in Championship Game
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 13, 1999
PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh baseball team competed in the Homestead Challenge Cup tournament while on its annual spring trip to Homestead, Fla., (March 6-13) and came in second after dropping the championship game to Bowling Green on March 12.
In the first matchup of the tournament, the Panthers defeated Wagner, 12-3. Senior co- captain Lou Melucci (Clarks Summit, Pa.Abington Heights) became Pittsburgh's all-time leader in career at-bats when he appeared at the plate six times on the day. He now holds the record with 495 and has 63 so far this season. The previous record was held by Jason Conti with 472 (1994-96).
The Panthers recorded 20 hits as a team with Melucci leading the way as he recorded four base hits and knocked in three runs. Freshman designated hitter Brad Rea (Gibsonia, Pa./North Allegheny) hit his first collegiate homerun for two more runs batted in. Left fielder Stuart Rykaceski (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills) sacrificed twice on a fly-out and bunt, and recorded a single and a double for four RBI. Freshman lefty Eric Ackerman (Denver, Pa./Cocalico) made his first start of the year and recorded the win.
Pittsburgh shutout St. Francis (N.Y.), 8-0, in the second game of the tournament on March 11. Third baseman Joe Lydic (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) hit a triple for two RBI, while Melucci and Rea both recorded an RBI on sacrifice flies. Sophomore right-hander Matt Irvin (Derry, Pa./Derry Area) pitched the first complete game of his career while striking out eight batters for the victory.
In a regularly scheduled contest with Maine on March 12, the Panthers defeated the Black Bears, 16-7 and extended their winning streak to six straight games. Senior co-captain Chris Delsignore (Johnstown, Pa./Westmont Hilltop) had his best day of the season as he hit 4-4, including two singles, a double and a triple on his way to scoring four runs. Fellow senior co- captain Steve Dickinson (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk) was 4-5 with three singles and a homerun. Senior righty John Schultz (Pittsburgh, Pa./Carrick) pitched six innings while recording his first win of the year.
In game two of a doubleheader on March 12, Pittsburgh fell to Bowling Green, 12-8, for the second time during the trip in the championship game of the Challenge Cup. The Panthers had an early 5-0 lead after one inning, but the Falcons took over in the fifth and Pittsburgh couldn't recover. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Delsignore hit his first homerun since the 1997 season, capping off a hitting "cycle" on the doubleheader (2-1B, 2B, 3B, HR).
Pittsburgh faced Bucknell in the last game of the trip and won a close contest, 5-4. The Panthers held a 3-0 lead with Dickinson hitting his seventh homerun for two RBI, before the Bison took over with four runs in the sixth. Junior pitcher Steve Vickroy (Johnstown, Pa./Westmont Hilltop) came in as relief for sophomore Greg Paul (Ellwood City, Pa./Riverside), and closed out the inning. Then in the bottom of the seventh with two men on base, sophomore shortstop Mike Pokrzywinski (Murraysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) singled to center field as junior Erik Katchur (North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin) scored the tying run. Melucci then followed with another base hit to center, driving in Delsignore for a 5-4 Pittsburgh lead. The Panthers held on as Vickroy recorded his first win of the season.
Pittsburgh completed its spring trip with a record of 8-2 (8-7 overall). The Panthers are currently led by Rea who holds a .436 batting average. Dickinson leads the team in RBIs with 21. Irvin (1-1) is Pittsburgh's top pitcher with a 1.25 earned run average and 23 strike outs in 21.2 innings pitched.
