University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pittsburgh Vs. West Virginia Game Notes
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
PITTSBURGH vs. WEST VIRGINIA
April 1, 1998-5 p.m.
Hawley Field (1,500)
Morgantown, W.Va.
Last Meeting: The teams last met April 16, 1997, at Trees Field, and the Mountaineers captured a 14-11, 11-inning victory. The Panthers held a 5-1 advantage until the sixth inning when the Mountaineers scored five runs to take a 6-5 lead. Pittsburgh then scored six more, and WVU scored five in the ensuing innings, forcing extra innings. Finally, WVU drove in three at the top of the 11th and held Pittsburgh scoreless in the bottom of the inning to seal the victory.
The Panthers recorded two double plays, and Chad Meade stole his fourth base of the season. Senior first baseman Rob Garvey went 4-for-5 at the plate, including his seventh double of the season and an RBI. Steve Dickinson hit his ninth home run of the year in a 2-for-5 batting performance, drove in a game-high four runs and scored two.
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.
West Virginia Mountaineers: Greg Van Zant is in his fourth year as head coach at his alma mater (1984). In his initial three years there, Van Zant has compiled an 87-76-0 career record, including a 36-19 overall and 17-7 Big East finish in 1997.
Van Zant is assisted by Doug Little, Ron Moore and Bruce Cameron.
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 had six games cancelled due to inclement weather and unplayable fields (Ohio State, three games, March 13-14; Duquesne, March 18; and Villanova, doubleheader, March 21). 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.
Steady Improvement: The Panthers have almost steadily improved their batting average since it sank to a season-low .221 after a 14-7 loss to Chicago State March 7 in Homestead, Fla. Since the Duquesne contest March 31, in which Pittsburgh had a season-high 17 hits, the team batting average is .249.
Strike Zone: Pittsburgh's pitching staff was ranked second in the conference with a 4.45 ERA.
The pitchers have also edged out their opponents in strikeouts so far this season, 111-107.
Double Trouble: The Panthers have turned 20 double plays against their opponents compared to 19 for their competition.
Bag Burglers: Pittsburgh has gathered 24-of-31 stolen base attempts, and its opponents have recorded 28-38
The Panthers recorded eight stolen bases to Duquesne's one in their last meeting March 31, including a triple steal which allowed a Panther run to score.
Hitting Lefties: Pittsburgh's batting average against left-handed pitchers is .265 compared to a .244 average versus right-handed pitchers.
Home Run Status: Pittsburgh's opponents have recorded nine home runs this season, and the Panthers have only hit five. Last season at this time (April 1, 1997) the Panthers owned their opponents in home runs, 26-13. However, the 1997 squad had played seven more games than the 1998 team at this point in the season.
Just Hit It: Against Duquesne March 31, the Panthers put up their best performance at the plate of the season. Pittsburgh scored 15 runs on 17 hits, both season-highs.
D is for Defense: Pittsburgh's defense was impressive against Duquesne March 31. Five of the Dukes' six runs were solo home runs. The Panther defense only allowed two other hits while racking up 17 of their own.
Getting It DONE: Pittsburgh is doing its job on the mound, holding its competition to a .181 batting average with two outs and a .240 average with a runner in scoring position.
Meanwhile, when the Panthers are at the plate, they have recorded a .219 batting average on two outs and a .274 average with a runner in scoring position.
PLAYER NOTES
Top of the Order: Pittsburgh's leadoff hitter for most of the season, Kevin Foley, one of two Panthers not from Pennsylvania, has stepped up to the plate 49 times this season and has compiled a .265 batting average. Prior to the Rutgers series, Foley had earned a .324 batting average. As the leadoff hitter, Foley hits his best, averaging .571. Foley has recorded 13 hits, including a triple, two double and six RBI's. Foley also leads the squad with 11 walks and has succeeded on each of his four stolen base attempts, including a run scored when he stole home on a triple steal against Duquesne March 31. As the Panthers' center fielder, Foley has registered 25 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 .367 batting average ranks first on the team, and he is 11-for-30 with two doubles and seven RBI's in the past 10 games.
Slugging Sensation: Pittsburgh's designated hitter, Bill Brown, holds a team-best .582 slugging percentage and and is second on the squad with 19 hits, including two homers, two triples, three doubles and a team-high 13 RBI's. His .327 batting average ranks second on the squad. As the leadoff hitter, Brown has hit .545 and .533 with two outs.
What a Game: Among several impressive individual Panther performances against Duquesne March 31, Harry Ciavarella went 4-for-4 at the plate, including a triple, double and three RBI's. Ciavarella also scored two runs and had a perfect game at second base.
Short Stuff: Louis Melucci, the Panthers' starting shortstop, has recorded a team-best 20 hits, including three against Duquesne March 31, and has contributed two home runs, four doubles, a triple and nine RBI's. Meluuci's .313 batting average is fourth on the team. In the field, Melucci has recorded a team-high 61 putout assists and 25 putouts. He has also been involved in nine double plays.
A Tall Order: Standing 6-5, junior first baseman Steve Dickinson is the tallest Panther on the squad. Dickinson is second on the team with 103 putouts, has been involved in nine double-plays and holds a .965 fielding percentage.
Offensively, Dickinson, who holds the all-time season home run record with 13, is second with 12 RBI's, and has hit one homer and three doubles.
All Oliver: Junior Jason Oliver is third on the team with a .319 batting average, including three doubles and 11 RBI's. In the field, Oliver has registered 47 putouts, mostly from right field, for a .960 fielding percentage. For the past two games, however, Oliver has handled the left field assignment.
Help From Hoopes: As the Panthers' starting catcher, sophomore David Hoopes has posted a .983 fielding percentage so far this season with a team-best 105 putouts and 14 assists. He has also prevented a team-high eight baserunners from stealing.
Against Duquesne March 25, Hoopes recorded his first stolen base, had one hit, an RBI's and scored two runs.
A Harry Situation: At second base, Harry Ciavarella has assisted in a team-high 10 double plays. His 37 putout assists rank second on the squad. At the plate, Ciavarella has hit a triple, four doubles and nine RBI's.
Against Duquesne March 31, Ciavarella went a remarkable 4-for-4 with two doubles, a triple and three RBI's.
Strikeout Savvy: Chris Gallick leads the squad with 22 strikeouts this season, and John Schultz is second with 17. Gallick struck out eight batters in six innings against Duquesne March 31 and has pitched the most innings (26) in five appearances so far. Against Rutgers March 28, Schultz pitched his first and the team's second complete game of the season.
Going the Distance: Senior pitcher Bob Balazentis (0-1) leads Pittsburgh's pitching staff with a 0.90 ERA and is third with 14 strikeouts. 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.
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 WVU
For the Record: The Moutaineers are 15-6-1 overall and 2-1-0 in the Big East Conference.
WVU opened league play in a three-game series at St. John's March 28-29. In a doubleheader March 28, WVU won, 2-1, and lost, 9-1, in the second game. The Mountaineers captured the final series game, 4-3, March 29.
Ones to Watch: Joe McNameo holds a team-best .440 batting average, including 12 doubles, five home runs and 18 RBI's. McNameo's .800 slugging percentage and 12 walks also lead the squad. In the field, he has recorded 17 putouts and one assist for a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.
Jamie Hammond is also batting above .400, going 30-for-71 with three doubles and 11 RBI's for a .423 average. Hammond has also recorded seven stolen bases.
Garrett Zyskowski is 5-0 on the Mountaineers' pitching staff. Averaging 2.95 earned runs per nine innings, his 31 strikeouts rank second on the team.
