Baseball Splits Doubleheader with Akron
4/14/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Baseball Splits Doubleheader with Akron
4/14/2004
AKRON, OHIO--The University of Pittsburgh baseball team split its doubleheader with Akron on Wednesday afternoon by winning the first game 11-0 before dropping the night cap 4-3.
Pittsburgh (20-9) used solid pitching performances from freshmen Paul Nardozzi and Mike Bassage to hold the Zips to only six hits in the game. The duo recorded their first career combined shutout and marked the fourth time this season the Panthers have kept the opposition from plating a run.
The Panthers' offense came to life as every starter recorded at least one hit in the game, while plating 11 runs in the contest.
Leading the way for Pittsburgh was shortstop Bryan Spamer who was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate, while catcher Mike Zambriczki added two hits and two RBIs.
Freshman rightfielder Peter Parise had a game-high three RBIs and three runs scored in addition to his 2-for-4 day from the plate.
In game two, Pittsburgh's offensive power continued in the first inning as freshman second baseman Jim Negrych belted his second homerun of the season to give the Panthers a quick 2-0 lead.
Akron would chip away at the Pittsburgh lead scoring in the bottom of the second to cut the deficit in half. In the fourth the Zips would tie the game at two on a solo homerun by Charlie Lenhard.
In the top of the seventh, Pittsburgh scored the go-ahead run when third baseman Mike Scanzano doubled home pinch runner David Cline.
In the bottom half of the inning, Akron battled back to plate two runs off relief pitcher Eli Friedman and earn the 4-3 win. The loss drops Friedman's record to 2-1 on the year.
The Panthers return to action on Saturday, April 17 at noon as they host a doubleheader against New York Tech.