University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pittsburgh Baseball Game Notes
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
PITTSBURGH vs. RUTGERS
March 28, 1998 Noon (Doubleheader)
March 29, 1998 1 p.m.
Class of '53 Complex (1,500)
New Brunswick, N.J.
Last Meeting: The teams last faced off in a doubleheader April 5, 1997, in New Brunswick, N.J. Rutgers won the first game, 6-5, but Pittsburgh bounced back in the second game with a ninth-inning scoring drive to overtake the Scarlet Knights, 6-4. The Panthers were trailing, 4-3, at the top of the ninth with two outs. Then, aided by a hit batsman and an error, Chris Delsignore hit a two-run double to give Pittsburgh a 5-4 advantage. John Schultz, who entered as a pinch runner, scored the game-winning run. Kevin Lazeski pitched three scoreless innings, earning his fourth career victory, and Rob Shaffer was credited with his first save of the season.
COACHES CORNER
Pittsburgh Panthers: Head coach Joe Jordano joins the Panthers this year from Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pa., where he became the school's all-time winningest coach with a 285-114-1 10-year record. His .713 winning percentage ranks seventh among active NCAA Division II coaches. Five of his teams have been ranked in the Top 25 and went on to the NCAA Tournament, and two captured the GLIAC Championship. In addition, Jordano has twice been named the league's Coach of the Year (1996 and 1997) and the Louisville Slugger Coach of the Year (1995). A 1985 graduate of Westminster College, Jordano received his master's degree from Slippery Rock in 1994. Jordano is assisted by Joel Dombkowski and Lou Schaper.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights: Fred Hill is in his 14th season at Rutgers, where he has accumulated a 430-278-5 overall record, including a 28-24 1997 record. Hill has 27 returning lettermen, including three All-Big East Rookie Team members. The 1957 Upsala graduate is 578-389-7 in his 20 years as a head coach. Hill is assisted by Tom Baxter, Glen Gardner and Jay Blackwell.
Success in Big East Premiere: First-year head coach Joe Jordano captured his first Big East conference victory with a 5-1 win against Georgetown March 22. In his previous coaching position, Jordano dominated the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Conference (GLIAC), guiding the Mercyhurst Lakers to the league championship each season since the Lakers became aligned with the conference (1996 and 1997).
Weather Woes: Since returning from near-perfect weather in Homestead, Fla., the Panthers have only played three games. Six of the past eight games (Ohio State, three games, March 13-14; Duquesne, March 18; and Villanova, doubleheader, March 21) were cancelled due to inclement weather and unplayable fields. A double-header against Ohio State is tentatively rescheduled for May 7.
Academics First: Eight members of the Pittsburgh Panther baseball team were honored March 19 when they were named Bell Atlantic Scholar-Athletes for achieving a 3.0 grade-point average or better. They are: Chris Guth, Ron Janicki, Richard Klick, Greg Paul, Eric Rosing, John Schultz, Jeff Sofran and Steve Varshine. In addition eight members of the 1997 squad who did not return this year were honored, including Kevin Knox, who achieved a 4.0 GPA last spring.
Hometown Proud: All but two players on the 1998 Panther squad are Pennsylvania natives, Kevin Foley, (Ontario, Canada) and Steve Varshine (Louisville, Ky.). Varshine, however, is originally from Pittsburgh. In addition, 14 of the 28 Pennsylvania natives are from Pittsburgh or a nearby suburb.
Strike Zone: Pittsburgh's pitching staff was ranked second in the conference with a 4.45 ERA. Since the 14-4 victory against Duquesne this past Wednesday, the pitching staff has improved to a 4.41 ERA. The pitchers have also edged out their opponents in strikeouts so far this season, 78-75.
Loaded Guns: The Panthers are hitting .400 with the bases loaded. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh's defense has held its opponents to a .250 batting average when the bases are loaded.
Double Trouble: The Panthers have turned 18 double plays against their opponents compared to only 12 for their competition.
Bag Burglers: Pittsburgh's opponents have gathered 21-of-30 stolen base attempts compared to the Panthers' 14-of-20. The Panthers recorded six stolen bases to the Dukes' two this past Wednesday. Lou Melucci, Jason Oliver and Chris Delsignore each stole their third base of the season. Steve Dickinson, David Hoopes and Charlie Stafford each recorded their first.
Hitting Lefties: Pittsburgh's batting average against left-handed pitchers is .261 compared to a .224 average versus right-handed pitchers.
Tied At the Plate: Pittsburgh and its opponents are tied with four home runs so far this season Brown (2), Dickinson, Melucci. Last season at this time (March 28, 1997) the Panthers owned their opponents in home runs, 25-12. However, the 1997 squad had played eight more games than the 1998 team at this point in the season.
Just Hit It: Against Duquesne this past Wednesday, the Panthers put up their best performance at the plate of the season. Pittsburgh scored 14 runs on 13 hits, both season-highs, including a home run by Bill Brown.
D is for Defense: Pittsburgh's defense was impressive against Duquesne this past Wednesday. The Dukes recorded eight hits, but the Panther defense only allowed four runs to score.
Getting It DONE: Pittsburgh is doing its job on the mound, holding its competition to a .173 batting average with two outs and a .232 average with a runner in scoring position. Meanwhile, when the Panthers are at the plate, they have recorded a .215 batting average on two outs and a .276 average with a runner in scoring position.
PLAYER NOTES
Top of the Order: Pittsburgh's leadoff hitter, Kevin Foley, one of two Panthers not from Pennsylvania, has stepped up to the plate 37 times this season and has compiled a .324 batting average, which ranks third on the team. Foley has recorded 12 hits, including a triple, two double and six RBI's. Foley also leads the squad with seven walks and has succeeded on each of his two stolen base attempts. As the leadoff hitter, Foley hits his best, averaging .571. As the Panthers' center fielder, Foley has registered 20 putouts and two assists for a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.
Cheers for Charlie: Charlie Stafford has entered the Panther lineup with a bang. His .412 batting average ranks first on the team, and he is 7-for-17 with a double and five RBI's in only the past six games.
Slugging Sensation: Pittsburgh's designated hitter, Bill Brown, holds a team-best .692 slugging percentage and 14 hits, including two homers, two triples, three doubles and a team-high 10 RBI's. His .359 batting average ranks second on the squad. As the leadoff hitter, Brown has hit .600 and .370 against right-handed pitchers.
What a Game: Among several impressive individual Panther performances against Duquesne this past Wednesday, Brown was a standout for Pittsburgh. At the plate, he went 4-for-5, including a two-run homer and a double. Brown also recorded a game-high five RBI's and scored two runs.
Short Stuff: Louis Melucci, the Panthers' starting shortstop, is second on the team with 13 hits, and has contributed one homer, two doubles and seven RBI's. In the field, Melucci has recorded a team-high 47 putout assists and 20 putouts. He has also been involved in seven double plays. A Tall Order: Standing 6-5, junior first baseman Steve Dickinson is the tallest Panther on the squad. Dickinson also leads the team with 79 putouts, has been involved in eight double-plays and holds a .965 fielding percentage. Offensively, Dickinson, who holds the all-time season home run record with 13, is tied for a team-high 10 RBI's, and has hit one homer and two doubles.
All Oliver: Junior Jason Oliver is fourth on the team with a .290 batting average, including a double and six RBI's. In the field, Oliver has registered 38 putouts, mostly from right field, for a .950 fielding percentage.
Help From Hoopes: As the Panthers' starting catcher, sophomore David Hoopes has posted a perfect .976 fielding percentage so far this season with 70 putouts (second on the team) and 13 assists. He has also prevented a team-high seven baserunners from stealing. Against Duquesne this past Wednesday, Hoopes recorded his first stolen base, had one hit, an RBI' and scored two runs.
A Harry Situation: At second base, Harry Ciavarella has assisted in a team-high nine double plays. His 28 putout assists rank second on the squad. At the plate, Ciavarella has hit two doubles and six RBI's.
Strikeout Savvy: Junior pitcher John Schultz leads the squad with 13 strikeouts this season. He is 1-1 so far this season after his first win against Georgetown March 22 and has started three of the four games in which he's appeared.
Going the Distance: Senior pitcher Bob Balazentis leads Pittsburgh's pitching staff with a 1.13 ERA. He also recorded the first complete game pitched for Pittsburgh this season against Eastern Michigan March 3. In the 4-3 loss, he gave up only four hits and one run, and struck out seven batters.
Lefty Lazeski: Sophomore Kevin Lazeski is 2-0 on the mound so far this season. In four appearances, he has given up only seven hits and three runs, and struck out 11 batters. Lazeski also holds the lowest opposing batting average (.135) for the Panthers. His 1.20 ERA ranks second on the squad.
CONFERENCE NOTES
Recently Ranked: Lazeski is ranked second in individual pitching (minimun 1.0 IP/Team game) in the Big East as of Monday, March 23. Boston College's Paul Bibbo is first with a 0.75 ERA.
Pittsburgh's pitching staff is ranked second in overall pitching as of Monday, March 23 with a 4.45 ERA. The Panthers have improved to a 4.41 ERA since their contest against Duquesne this past Wednesday. West Virginia leads the league with a 3.68 overall ERA.
Bill Brown is ranked sixth in the Big East with 0.18 triples per game (2 total) as of Monday, March 23.
SCOUTING RUTGERS For the Record: The Scarlet Knights are 5-9 overall. The three-game Pittsburgh series this weekend is their first Big East action of the season.
Recently Ranked: Rutgers is fifth in the Big East with a .312 batting average as of Monday, March 23. It has since improved to .329 since the Knights' 15-7 victory over St. Peter's College this past Wednesday.
The Knights are last in the conference in team pitching with an overall 8.43 ERA. Since their victory against St. Peter's College, it has improved to 8.04.
