Baseball Knocks Off New Orleans 9-3
2/21/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Baseball Knocks Off New Orleans 9-3
2/21/2004
NEW ORLEANS?The University of Pittsburgh baseball team used a strong pitching performance from senior Nick Evagelista and two homeruns by senior P.J. Hiser to defeat the University of New Orleans 9-3 at Maestri Field Saturday afternoon.
Evangelista (Shoemakersville, PA/Louisburg College) tossed seven innings allowing only three hits and no runs. By striking out six Privateer hitters, Evangelista retired a string of 15 batters and kept the New Orleans offense in check. Hiser (Hagerstown, MD/Hagerstown CC), who pitched on Friday night, blasted two homeruns as the designated hitter. On the day, Hiser had a game-high three hits and three RBIs.
The Panthers? offense jumped on New Orleans? starting pitcher Michael Jones early as they plated three runs in the top of the first inning to give Pittsburgh a quick 3-0 lead. Panthers? leadoff hitter, Ben Copeland (Bradford, PA/Bradford) smashed Jones? second offering of the game to the gap in left centerfield as he registered his first of three hits on the day. Jones surrendered four runs (two earned) to the Panthers in a losing effort before exiting after four innings of work on the mound.
In the top of the fourth Hiser blasted his first of two homeruns, down the leftfield line to give Pittsburgh a 4-0 lead. That?s all the offense the Panthers would need as Evangelista was in complete control of the Privateers? offensive attack.
However, Pittsburgh (2-0) wasn?t done scoring as Hiser struck again in the top of the sixth, when he sent his second homerun over the leftfield wall scoring Tom Cashman (East Amherst, NY/Erie Comm. College) as well to give the Panthers a commanding 6-0 lead. Cashman, who registered two hits in the game, registered his second double of the season before Hiser plated him with his blast.
The Panthers added three runs in the top of the eighth to put the Privateers in a 9-0 hole. In the bottom half of the inning, New Orleans (3-5) would add a run off freshman pitcher Paul Nardozzi (Victor, NY/Victor) as Tony Gonzalez hit his fourth homerun of the season.
In the ninth, the Privateers would add two more runs off Nardozzi, but the game was already out of reach because of Pittsburgh?s season-high 12 hits and seven RBIs.
The Panthers return to action on Sunday at noon as they play the series? finale against New Orleans.
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