University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt
Youngstown St
Baseball Takes Two from Youngstown State.
5/3/2000 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 2, 2000
YOUNGSTOWN - Head Coach Joe Jordano earned his 350th career win in game one of a doubleheader sweep at Youngsotwn State on May 2. The Panthers won the first game, 3-2 in eight innings, and game two, 8-3.
Jordano compiled a record of 285-114-1 in ten seasons at Mercyhurst. His overall career record currently stands at 351-185-2. He is 66-71-1 at Pittsburgh.
Game one remained scoreless for three and a half innings before the Penguins got on the board with a run in the bottom of the fourth. Pittsburgh took the lead with two runs in the sixth when junior Darrin Lenhart (Allentown, Pa./William Allen) hit his fourth home run of the season to score sophomore Stuart Rykaceski (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills), who had singled to lead off the inning.
Youngstown State came back to tie the score at 2-2 in the bottom of the seventh, which was scheduled to be the last inning of the game. But the Panthers took the lead back in the top of the eighth and held the Penguins off in the bottom of the inning to clinch the win. With two outs, junior third baseman Joe Lydic (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) tripled to right-center field. Junior designated hitter Brad Rea (Gibsonia, Pa./North Allegheny) then singled to right field, driving in Lydic for the winning run.
Lenhart led Pittsburgh's offense as he went 3-for-4, including his home run, two RBI and one run scored. Rykaceski was 2-for-4 with a run scored.
Senior Jory Coughenour (Uniontown, Pa./Uniontown) pitched seven complete innings as Pittsburgh's starter. He gave up six hits and just one walk while striking out four batters. Junior reliever Scott Schultz (Pittsburgh, Pa./Carrick) continues to lead the team in saves after recording his fourth of the year in one inning of work.
The Panthers jumped to a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning of game two when, with two men on base, Rea singled to drive in both runners. Youngstown State responded with two runs of the their own in the bottom of the inning before Pittsburgh took the lead for good with a four-run second inning effort. Freshman second baseman Scott Folmar (Chambersburg, Pa./Chambersburg) led off the inning with a double down the right field line. He then scored when Penguin pitcher Mike Bethany committed an error on Mike Pokrzywinski's (Murraysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) sacrifice bunt attempt. Pokrzywinski scored a run of his own when Lydic singled to left field. Lydic advanced to third on a single by freshman Brant Colamarino (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) before Rea flied out to center field, scoring Lydic on the sacrifice fly. Colamarino later advanced to third and scored on two seperate wild pitches by Bethany.
In the third inning, Rykaceski scored junior catcher Charis Britt (Penn Hills, Pa./Gulf Coast C.C.) on a ground-out to second base. Colamarino then hit a solo home run in the fifth to give Pittsburgh the 8-2 lead. The Penguins scored one run in the sixth but could not overcome the deficit.
Colamarino led the Panthers at the plate with a 2-for-4 effort, three runs scored and one RBI. Folmar batted 2-for-3, including a double, and one run scored.
Junior Matt Irvin (Derry, Pa./Derry Area) started on the mound for Pittsburgh and pitched four complete innings while allowing just two hits. He earned his team-leading sixth victory of the season. Senior Steve Vickroy (Johnstown, Pa./Westmont Hilltop) and Lou Kammermeier (Dormont, Pa./Keystone Oaks) both saw innings in relief.
The Panthers return to action in Ohio on Wednesday, when they visit Cincinnati.
