University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Baseball Posts Two Wins
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 13, 1998
PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh Panther baseball team captured two victories this past week at Trees Field, including a 12-10 decision over BigEast Conference-rival Connecticut in the second game of a doubleheader Saturday April 11, and an 8-7 win against YoungstownTuesday, April 7.
After losing a close 3-2 battle in the opening contest against the Huskies, the Panthers took a 7-5 lead after three innings ofplay in game two when Jason Oliver (Coatsville, Pa./Coatsville Senior) hit a three-run homer out of right centerfieldwith two outs on the board. Connecticut scored two runs in each of its innings in the fifth and seventh for a 9-7 advantage, butPittsburgh shot right back with four of its own at the bottom of the seventh.
Lou Melucci (Clarks Summit, Pa./Abington Heights) and Steve Dickinson (Beaver Falls,Pa./Blackhawk),, advanced to scoring positions by a sacrifice bunt from Harry Ciavarella (Moscow, Pa./NorthPocono). Then, Darrin Lenhart (Allentown, Pa./William Allen) reached first after an error by the Huskies' shortstop,allowing Melucci to score. David Hoopes (Hershey, Pa./Lower Dauphin) belted the second three-run homer of the day,setting the stage for victory. Finally in the bottom of the eighth, Ciavarella sealed the win with a ground out to short, which scoredDelsignore who reached on an infield single.
Delsignore went a combined 4-for-8 against the Huskies, including three RBI's and his first triple of the season. Ciavarella hada combined 3-for-6 at the plate with a double in each contest and an RBI. Dickinson was also impressive, recording two hits onfour at-bats and scoring two runs in game two.
Jory Coughenour (Uniontown, Pa./Uniontown) recorded the win, going two and two-thirds innings while giving upsix hits, one run, one walk and striking out three batters, including Connecticut's final batter in the ninth. Bob Balazentis(West Mifflin, Pa./West Mifflin) went the distance in game one, pitching his second complete game of the season whilegiving up seven hits, three runs, two walks and striking out seven.
Against Youngstown State, Pittsburgh held a 4-2 advantage after six and a half innings, when Oliver hit his first home run ofthe season to start a four-run scoring drive, which secured the Panther victory. Melucci and Brown got on base by a walk and anintentional walk, respectively, then advanced on a double steal. Delsignore loaded the bases on Pittsburgh's fifth walk of thecontest. Each runner advanced on a wild pitch, bringing Melucci home. Lenhart drove in the Panthers' final two runs with his firsttriple of the season.
John Schultz (Pittsburgh, Pa./Carrick) picked up his second win of the season, pitching one and two-thirds innings,and giving up three hits, four runs and one walk. Scott Schultz (Pittsburgh, Pa./Carrick) recorded his first career save,closing the final one and two-thirds innings while giving up only two hits, two runs, no walks and striking out one batter.
In other Big East action Thursday, April 9, Pittsburgh lost a doubleheader to Providence, 7-6 and 10-3. Steady rains into theearly afternoon delayed the first game one hour and 15 minutes, but once the skies cleared, the Panthers took a 6-4 lead on eighthits and one error in the first three innings, including Ciavarella's three-run homer over the left field fence in the Panthers' thirdinning. However, the Friars responded with three runs on three hits, including a two-run homer, and one error in the ensuinginning, and Pittsburgh was not able to get them back.
Pittsburgh was down, 10-3, in the bottom of the eighth with runners on second and third, and only one out when the secondgame was called due to a soaking downpour.
The Panthers fell, 5-4, to Cleveland State Wednesday, April 8 in a game extended one half hour due to lightening after the topof the seventh inning. Pittsburgh opened with a two-run first inning that Melucci started off when he belted his second triple of theseason to score Delsignore. Brown drove in Melucci while grounding out to second base for the second Panther run.
In the second inning, Cleveland State got one run back, but Pittsburgh retaliated with another run when Hoopes doubled to scoreCiavarella, who reached on a single. However, that was the last time the Panthers would lead for the remainder of the contest.
The Vikings added two to their score on two hits and one error in the fifth and two more in two innings before the Panthersscored their fourth and final run in the bottom of the eighth. Brown lead off with a single, stole second and advanced to third onan error by the pitcher to put him in scoring position for Ciavarella who drove him in while grounding out to third base.
Greg Paul (Ellwood City, Pa./ Riverside) opened on the mound and went three innings while giving up three hits, threeruns only one of which was earned, one walk and striking out one batter. Coughenour came in relief and pitched four and two-thirds innings while giving up three hits, two runs, no walks and striking out two.
Hoopes went 2-for-2 at the plate, including a double and an RBI. Melucci and Delsignore each went 2-for-5, including Melucci'striple and RBI. Aaron Vicari (Butler, Pa./Butler Area) recorded his first career triple in two at-bats.
The Panthers host West Virginia and Kent State Wednesday, April 15 and Thursday, April 16, respectively at Three RiversStadium. Both games start at 1 p.m. Admission is free.
