University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Panthers Swept in Season Opener
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
February 22, 1999
ROCK HILL, S.C. - The Pittsburgh baseball team opened its season with a three-game road trip to Winthrop Feb 20-21 in Rock Hill, S.C. The Panthers were swept in the series with scores of 8-4, 6-1 and 8-5.
Senior co-captain Steve Dickinson (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk) set a new school record with 22 career homeruns when he hit two on the weekend. He was tied with Brian Lohman (1985-88) with 20 heading into this season. Dickinson hit his first for a three-run shot in the Panthers' debut outting. Sophomore transfer Joe Lydic (Bethel Park, Pa./Miami [OH]) and designated hitter Darrin Lenhart (Allentown, Pa./Allentown Allen) also scored on the play. Lydic also scored on a single homerun in the sixth inning. Senior right-hander John Schultz (Pittsburgh, Pa./Carrick) recorded the loss.
In Pittsburgh's 6-1 loss in game two of the doubleheader, Dickinson hit his 22nd career homerun to score the lone run for the Panthers. Freshman rightfielder Mike Gonda (Ruffs Dale, Pa./Yough) recorded two hits on two singles, while junior transfer Matt Shoemaker (Williamsport, Pa./Potomac State) received the loss.
Pittsburgh recorded the most hits in the final game of the series, showing an improvement from its first outting, The Panthers fell behind 6-0 after six innings when Winthrop capitalized on two costly errors. Pittsburgh rallied in the seventh, however, to score four runs and pull the game to within two. Winthrop's reliever Aaron Sundsmo walked Pittsburgh's Lou Melucci (Clarks Summit, Pa./Abington Heights) and junior Chris Happ (Rochester, N.Y./Sienna College) with the bases loaded for the Panthers' first two runs of the game. Freshman Stuart Rykaceski (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills) scored off a fielder's choice by Lydic, before Lenhart singled, scoring Melucci. The Eagles recorded two more runs in the eighth and Lydic scored his third run of the weekend to complete the scoring for Pittsburgh. Junior Jory Coughenour (Uniontown, Pa./Uniontown) recorded the loss while splitting the game with sophomore right-hander Matt Irvin (Derry, Pa./Derry Area), who struck out six batters in four innings.
