University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Baseball Claims Two Wins In First Days Of Spring Trip
3/9/2000 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Baseball Claims Two Wins In First Days Of Spring Trip
3/9/2000
HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- The Pittsburgh baseball team began it's seven-game Homestead, Fla. stand with a close loss to Mount St. Mary's (3-1) on March 7, but quickly rebounded to defeat both Chicago State (11-9) and Sacred Heart (11-9) on March 8.
The Panthers got on the board in the first inning against the Mount. Junior Darrin Lenhart (Allentown, Pa./William Allen) hit a single that scored sophomore Stuart Rykaceski (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills). But that would be the only run for Pittsburgh as the Panthers were held to just two hits and were struck out eight times. Senior co-captain Jory Coughenour (Uniontown, Pa./Uniontown) started on the mound, pitching six innings with two earned runs and a season-high 10 strikeouts. Junior reliever Scott Schultz (Pittsburgh, Pa./Carrick) pitched one inning of the seven-inning game and struck out two more batters.
Pittsburgh jumped to a five-run lead in the first inning against Chicago State. With bases loaded, Lenhart hit a sacrifice fly that once again scored Rykaceski. Junior transfer Cory Joyce (Scranton, Pa./Lackawanna C.C.) followed that up with a sacrifice of his own to score junior Joe Lydic (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park). Junior shortstop Mike Pokrzywinski (Murraysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) hit a triple to clear the bases, before junior transfer Charis Britt (Penn Hills, Pa./Gulf Coast C.C.) cracked his first home run as a Panther to give Pittsburgh the 5-0 lead.
The Panthers extended their lead to 7-0 after three more innings with sophomore Brad Rea's (Gibsonia, Pa./North Allegheny) scoring single in the second and scoring double in the fourth. Chicago State began a gradual attempt at a comeback with two runs in the fifth, three in the sixth and two in the seventh. After adding another in the top of the eighth, the Cougars were within one with a 9-8 score. But Pittsburgh extended its lead in the eighth by adding two more insurance runs. Britt got his third RBI of the game with a double that scored Joyce. Senior Harry Ciavarella (Moscow, Pa./North Pocono) then hit a bunt single that scored Pokrzywinski. Chicago State scored one more in the ninth, but would eventually settle for the loss.
Junior right-hander Matt Irvin (Derry, Pa./Derry Area) was credited with his second win of the year after pitching six innings, giving up just three earned runs and striking out seven. Schultz made his second appearance in relief in as many days, pitching 1.1 innings and earning the save. The Panthers had 14 hits in the game and were led by Britt, who went 4-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored. Pokrzywinski was 2-for-5, including a triple and a double, with two RBI and two runs.
Sacred Heart jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, but that would be their only lead of the game. Pittsburgh responded with two runs in the second, scored on a double down the left field line by junior catcher Doug Caraway (Baltimore, MD./Chesapeake) and a double to right center by freshman second baseman Scott Folmar (Chambersburg, Pa./Chambersburg).
The Panthers took the lead for good with two runs in the fourth. Folmar got his second RBI of the day with a single to left center before redshirt freshman Andre Williams (Johnstown, Pa./Johnstown) knocked a triple down the left field line for his first RBI of the season. The teams traded one-run innings in the fifth, before Pittsburgh scored four more in the sixth. Williams had a double and Pokrzywinski, Lydic and Rea all had singles to put the Panthers up 9-3. Rea added his first home run of the year in the eighth, and Folmar got his third RBI of the game in the ninth inning for the final score.
Sophomore left-hander Eric Ackerman (Denver, Pa./Cocalico) pitched the complete nine-inning game, giving up just six hits, one earned run and one walk, while striking out six. Pittsburgh had 16 hits in the game led by Rea who went 3-for-5 with two RBI and one run scored batters. Folmar finished the game 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run.
The Panthers improve to 5-4 and will take on Buffalo tonight at 7 p.m., followed by a doubleheader with Hartford and Holy Cross on Friday.
