Pitt
Connecticut
Panther Baseball One Win Away From Big East Tourney
5/18/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 18, 2002
PITTSBURGH-On the brink of being ousted from the Big East Conference tournament, the University of Pittsburgh fought back in both ends of the doubleheader on Saturday to take a crucial two-game sweep over visiting Connecticut, 12-11 and 7-4, at Trees Field. With the help of Notre Dame sweeping Boston College in their three-game set this weekend, the Panthers (36-15-1, 14-10 Big East) just need to win the final game of their series with the Huskies tomorrow, which is slated to begin at noon, to qualify for the tourney.
Pittsburgh, who was picked 10th out of 11 teams in the Big East Conference preseason poll, found itself in an eight-run hole in the second inning of the first contest as the Huskies lit up Panther starter P.J. Hiser (Hagerstown, Md./Hagerstown) for four runs in each of th first two innings. Pittsburgh cut the lead to 8-4 after two innings as Bryan Spamer (Harrisburg, Pa./Redlands) roped one of his four hits in the game that plated two runs and Brant Colamarino (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) followed up with a two-run triple.
Connecticut scored one run in each of the next two innings to grab a 10-5 lead, but Pittsburgh responded with four more runs in the fifth inning to pull within one run, 10-9. After the Huskies added another run in the sixth inning, the Panthers knotted the score at 11-11 in the bottom of the inning as Spamer delivered another clutch run-scoring single.
After one out in the last half of the seventh inning, Pittsburgh put together four straight singles, climaxed by the game-winner off the bat of Mike Zambriczki (Newton, Pa./Council Rock), scoring Rolando Bello (Miami, Fla./Nova Southeastern) from third base.
Spamer led the Panthers' 20-hit attack by going 4 for 5 with five RBIs and one run scored. Zambriczki added three hits while six other Pittsburgh sluggers totaled two hits apiece. Jimmy Blue (Washington, Pa./Trinity) picked up the win working the final three innings in relief of Hiser. Blue (4-1) scattered four hits and struck out four Huskies while giving up one run.
In the nightcap, Pittsburgh took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning as Colamarino and Stuart Rykaceski (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills) each pounded out RBI-doubles. The Panthers allowed Connecticut to plate one run in the fourth inning and two more in the sixth inning to take a 3-2 advantage. Cy Hess provided the Huskies with a two-run shot to take the lead.
Pittsburgh responded once again, though, scoring twice in the sixth inning and three more times in the seventh inning to complete the sweep. Rykaceski and Bello each tallied RBIs in the sixth inning while Brad Rea (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) came up with a clutch two-run double to highlight the seventh inning.
Rykaceski finished the second game with three hits in three at-bats. Colamarino, who pushed his team-leading batting average to .387 on the year, added two hits for Pittsburgh.
Adam Luckette (Syracuse, N.Y./Solvay) came on to pitch the final 2.1 innings to register his second win of the year.
Pittsburgh and Connecticut wrap up their series with the noon start on Sunday.
