University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt
Cincinnati
Baseball Loses Heartbreaker to Cincinnati, 8-7.
5/4/2000 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 3, 2000
CINCINNATI - The Pittsburgh baseball team traveled to Cincinnati on May 3 and lost a heartbreaker in the bottom of the ninth inning, 8-7. The Panthers move to 27-18 on the season.
All eight of the Bearcats' runs came on home runs, including a two-run shot in the final inning by Matt Singer to win the game.
Pittsburgh got a quick 4-0 lead in the first inning. After singles by both sophomore outfielder Stuart Rykaceski (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills) and rookie first baseman Brant Colamarino (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic), designated hitter Brad Rea (Gibsonia, Pa./North Allegheny) singled to score both runners. With two outs and Rea on first, freshman outfielder Joe Burger (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk) hit his first career home run to right field, giving the Panthers the four-run lead.
Another run in the second put Pittsburgh up by five. Junior third baseman Joe Lydic (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) knocked his 14th home run of the season, tying his own single-season school record set in 1999. It was the 28th of his two-year career at Pittsburgh.
The Bearcats scored three runs each in the second and sixth innings on two three-run home runs to give them a 6-5 lead. The Panthers tied the game with a run in the seventh when Colamarino hit a sacrifice fly to score junior shortstop Mike Pokrzywinski (Murraysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) from third base. Pittsburgh then took the lead back with a run in the eighth scored by junior outfielder Darrin Lenhart (Allentown, Pa./William Allen) when senior catcher Doug Caraway (Baltimore, Md./Chesapeake) grounded into a double play.
Pittsurgh led 7-6 heading into the bottom of the ninth, but with just one out, Singer hit the game-winning home run, the third of the game for Cincinnati.
Sophomore Jeremy Rossi (Ridgway, Pa./Ridgway) started on the mound for the Panthers and pitched five and two-thirds innings. He gave up six earned runs on just four hits while striking out four batters. Junior reliever Scott Schultz (Pittsburgh, Pa./Carrick) pitched two and two-thirds innings and received his first loss of the season.
The Panthers out-hit the Bearcats, 11-6. Rykaceski and Lydic each went 2-for-5 at the plate, while Caraway was 2-for-4. Rea and Burger had two RBI apiece.
Pittsburgh will host Youngstown State in their third matchup of the week on Thursday, May 4, at Trees Field. Game time is 7 p.m.
