University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Baseball Captures Season Opener Against Rider, 9-6
2/25/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Baseball Captures Season Opener Against Rider, 9-6
2/25/2005
PITTSBURGH
In the first, Ben Copeland (Bradford, Pa./Bradford) led off with a single into left field. Copeland, who stole second and reached third on a passed ball, would go on to score on a Jim Negrych (Buffalo, N.Y./St. Francis) RBI.
In the top of the second, Rider came back and grabbed a 3-1 lead as Tom Letizia tripled, driving in both Jordan McCreedy and Charles Van Schiack. In the bottom of the third, Pittsburgh closed the gap to 3-2 as Copeland scored again after reaching on an error and then advancing to third on a single by Peter Parise (Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Spellman). Copeland eventually scored when Negrych grounded into a double play.
Pittsburgh took a 5-3 advantage in the bottom of the fifth after plating three runs. Parise singled and later scored on a Negrych run-scoring triple. Dan Ford (Boardman, Ohio/Boardman) then jacked a two-run homer, the first of his career.
Rider came back to take the lead, 6-5, by scoring once in the sixth and twice more in the eighth. However, the Rider lead did not last very long as the Panthers responded by scoring four in the bottom of the eighth. Jim Mayer (Somerset, Pa./Somerset) started off the inning with a bunt single and later advanced to second off a single by David Cline (Mercersburg, Pa./Mercersburg Academy). Mayer then scored thanks to an RBI-single by Copeland. Parise capped off the four-run eighth inning as he lined a three-run home run over the left field wall, giving the Panthers a 9-6 lead.
Pittsburgh?s Jeff Barnyak (Philipsburg, Pa./Philipsburg-Osceola) picked up the win in relief of Don Rhoten (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic). Barnyak tossed 4.1 innings and allowed three on five hits. Shaun Butler (Blackhawk, Pa./Blackhawk) registered his first career save by pitching the final inning and now allowing a run or hit.
Rider?s Will O?Connor suffered the loss on the mound.
Parise led the Panthers with four hits and and three RBIs. Copeland added two hits and scored three runs.
NOTES: Mayer and Jeff Stevens each collected two hits for Pittsburgh...each team committed three errors...Copeland stole his 55th career base...Pittsburgh left eight men on base.
