University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Baseball Sweeps Canisius in Doubleheader, 8-2, 5-3
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 31, 1999
Game 1 Boxscore
Game 2 Boxscore
PITTSBURGH - The University of Pittsburgh baseball team swept a doubleheader versus Canisius today with scores of 8-2 and 5-3, at Trees Field. The Panthers improve to 13-10 overall (3-1 Big East).
Freshman Mike Gonda (Ruffs Dale, Pa./Yough) led Pittsburgh in game one with two home runs for four runs batted in. The Panthers jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the second inning, where Gonda recorded his first three hits and an RBI when he doubled to right field, knocking in junior Erik Katchur (North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin) for the run.
In the bottom of the third, sophomore third baseman Joe Lydic (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) singled and freshman designated hitter Brad Rea (Gibsonia, Pa./North Allegheny) tripled, driving in two runs. Katchur then flied out to center for a sacrafice RBI, making the score 4-0.
Canisius put a run on the board in the top of the fourth but Pittsburgh continued to score in the next three innings. Gonda hit his first homerun in the fourth with senior Chris Delsignore (Johnstown, Pa./Westmont Hilltop) on base. Senior Steve Dickinson (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk), the school's career record-holder in homeruns and runs batted in, then knocked another one out of the park in the fifth. It was his tenth homerun of the season. Gonda wrapped up the scoring for the Panthers with his second homerun of the game in the sixth.
Pittsburgh righthander Greg Paul (Ellwood City, Pa./Riverside) recorded his second win of the season as he pitched a complete seven-inning game. He struck out five batters and gave up only four hits while walking three.
In game two, the Panthers once again gained an early advantage with a 3-0 lead heading into the fourth inning. Dickinson drove in the first run with a double to center field, before designated hitter Darrin Lenhart (Allentown, Pa./William Allen) recorded an RBI of his own on a base hit. Freshman Stuart Rykaceski (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills) knocked in junior catcher Dave Hoopes (Hershey, Pa./Lower Dauphin) on another single. Canisius scored its first run in the top of the fourth on a sacrafice fly by Carl Kossow. Pittsburgh added two insurance runs in the fifth after Hoopes walked with bases loaded and Lenhart scored on a wild pitch by Tim Smith. The Golden Griffins tried to rally in the last two innings, but fell short.
Freshman lefty Eric Ackerman (Denver, Pa./Cocalico) earned the win, while junior Josh Knauff (Union City, Pa./Union City) recorded his first save as a reliever.
The Panthers return to action Thursday, April 1, when they host Georgetown in a Big East doubleheader beginning at noon at Trees Field.
