Baseball Splits Doubleheader with Niagara

3/24/2004

The Panthers won the first game 9-8, but dropped the second by a score of 4-3.

PITTSBURGH?The University of Pittsburgh baseball team split its doubleheader with Niagara University Wednesday afternoon at Trees Field. The Panthers won the first game 9-8 over the Purple Eagles, while Niagara took the second game 4-3.

Pittsburgh (11-4) erased an 8-1 deficit in the first game to earn its sixth consecutive win. Sophomore centerfielder Ben Copeland (Bradford, Pa./Bradford) was three-for-four from the plate including a double and his first homerun of the season. Copeland extended his hitting streak to 14 games and finished with a game-high four RBIs.

Freshman relief pitcher Mike Bassage (Hornell, N.Y./Hornell) picked up his first collegiate victory by tossing four innings of two hit baseball and striking out four Purple Eagles batters.

In the night cap, the Panthers would jump out to a 3-0 lead only to have the Purple Eagles rally for four runs to earn their third win this season. Freshman pitcher Paul Nardozzi (Victor, N.Y./ Victor) took the loss and dropped his season record to 1-1. Senior leftfielder P.J. Hiser (Hagerstown, Md./Hagerstown CC) hit his seventh homerun of the season and finished with a game-high two RBIs.

Sophomore shortstop Jimmy Mayer (Somerset, Pa./Somerset) was three-for-three at the plate with a double and a stolen base. Copeland had his 14-game hit streak snapped as he would go hitless in two plate appearances in a game for the first time this season.

The Panthers return to action Saturday, March 27 when they begin Big East play against Virginia Tech. Game time for the first game of the doubleheader is set for noon.

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Baseball Splits Doubleheader with Niagara

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