University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pittsburgh Vs. Duquesne Game Notes
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 25, 1998
PITTSBURGH vs. DUQUESNE
Wednesday, March 25, 1998 2 p.m.
Duquesne Field (1,500)
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Last Meeting: The teams' first meeting of this season, originally scheduled for March 17, was cancelled due to weather and poor field conditions.
The last time they met, Pittsburgh captured a 19-18 victory in an 11-inning contest at Trees Field April 29. Rob Garvey, Mike Issac and Jason Workman combined for half of the Panthers' 24 hits, recording four each. Garvey and Issac totaled nine RBI's with five and four, respectively. Kevin Lazeski pitched 2.2 innings to record his fifth win of the season, giving up two hits and two runs, and walking two batters and striking out four.
The Pittsburgh pitching staff recorded 11 strikeouts compared to Duquesne's six.
COACHES CORNER
Joe Jordano: Head coach Joe Jordano joins the Panthers this year from Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pa., where he became the school's all-time most 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.
Mike Wilson: Mike Wilson is in his fifth year with the Duquesne Dukes where he has compiled a 66-132 overall record. Last season, Wilson guided the Dukes to a 17-32 overall and 12-9 Atlantic 10 conference finish. Wilson is a graduate of Chadron State and is assisted by Jay Stoner and Norm Frey.
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, 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 two 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 tentativley 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.
Loaded Guns: The Panthers are hitting .375 with the bases loaded. Meanwhile, the pitching staff has held its opponents to a .267 batting average when the bases are loaded.
Double Trouble: The Panthers have turned 17 double plays against their opponents compared to only 10 for their competition.
Strike Zone: The Panther pitching staff has only allowed one triple so far this season, meanwhile Pittsburgh's offense has recorded three (Bill Brown, 2; Kevin Foley, 1).
Bag Burglers: Pittsburgh's opponents have gathered 19-of-24 stolen base attempts compared to the Panthers' 8-of-14.
Hitting Lefties: Pittsburgh's batting average against left-handed pitchers is .232 compared to a .220 average versus right-handed pitchers.
Tied At the Plate: Pittsburgh and its opponents are tied with three home runs so far this season (Brown, Dickinson, Melucci). Last season at this time (March 24, 1997) the Panthers owned their opponents in home runs, 17-11. However, the 1997 squad had played six more games than the 1998 team at this point in the season.
PLAYER NOTES
Top of the Order: Pittsburgh's lead-off hitter, Kevin Foley, one of two Panthers not from Pennsylvania, has stepped up to the plate 33 times this season and has compiled a .303 batting average. He has 10 hits, including a triple, a double and five RBI's. Foley also leads the squad with seven walks and has succeeded on each of his two stolen base attempts. As the Panthers' center fielder, Foley has registered 18 putouts and two assists, and holds a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage. As the leadoff hitter, Foley hits his best, averaging .538.
Cheers for Charlie: Charlie Stafford has entered the Panther lineup with a bang. His .429 batting average ranks first on the team, and he is 6-for-14 with a double and two RBI's in only the past five games.
Short Stuff: Louis Melucci, the Panthers' starting shortstop, leads the team with 11 hits, and has contributed one homer, two doubles and four RBI's. In the field, Melucci has recorded a team-high 41 putout assists.
A Tall Order: Standing 6-5, junior first baseman Steve Dickinson is the tallest Panther on the squad. Dickinson also leads the team with 69 putouts, has been involved in seven double-plays and has a .961 fielding percentage. Offensively, Dickinson, who holds the all-time season home run record with 13, is only 5-for-40, but he has batted in a team-high nine runs, hit one homer and two doubles.
All Oliver: Junior Jason Oliver is 8-for-26 at the plate for a .308 batting average, which ranks second on the team. Oliver is batting 1.000 with the bases loaded. He also holds an impressive .441 on-base percentage. Included in that is a double and six RBI's. In the field, Oliver has registered 35 putouts, mostly from right field, for a .946 fielding percentage.
Slugging Sensation: Pittsburgh's designated hitter, Bill Brown, holds a team-best .559 slugging percentage and is tied with Foley with 10 hits, including two triples, two doubles and triples, one home run, and five RBI's. His .294 batting average ranks fourth on the squad. As the leadoff hitter, Brown has hit .556 and .333 against left-handed pitchers.
Help From Hoopes: As the Panthers' starting catcher, sophomore David Hoopes has posted a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage so far this season with 63 putouts (second on the team) and 11 assists. He also prevented a team-high six baserunners from stealing.
A Harry Situation: At second base, Harry Ciavarella has assisted in a team-high eight double plays. His 24 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 1-2 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 recorded the first complete game pitched for the Pittsburgh pitching staff 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 1-0 on the mound so far this season. In three appearances, he has given up only three hits and two runs, and struck out seven batters. He also holds the lowest opposing batting average (.135) for the Panthers.
