Pittsburgh Falls to Ohio, 5-4, at Falconi Field
5/11/2005
The Panthers will travel to Cleveland State Wednesday for another non-conference match-up.
Ohio Box Score (May 10)
WASHINGTON, PA - After a two hour rain delay, the Pittsburgh Panthers dropped a 5-4 decision to Ohio University Tuesday night at the second annual Falconi Field game, home of the Washington Wild Things. The Panthers overall record drops to 24-18 on the year.
Pittsburgh got on the board early, plating one run in the bottom of the first inning. Ben Copeland led off with a stand-up double to right field and advanced to third on a Jimmy Mayer sacrifice bunt. Copeland would then tag-up and score on a Jim Negrych fly out to right field. After Peter Parise reached base on a hit-by-pitch, Ohio University brought in Zeke Issacs to replace starter John Angelicchi on the mound.
The Bobcats quickly tied it up in the top of the second as Phil Sabatini lined a two out solo home run over the left field wall, making the score 1-1.
Pittsburgh got two more runs in the bottom of the second, leaving them with the 3-1 advantage. Jeff Stevens led off with a single up the middle and eventually scored as Justin Cicatello reached base on a throwing error by the shortstop. Copeland kept things alive as he tripled to left center, knocking in Cicatello.
The Panthers lead was short-lived as Ohio once again tied it up in the top of the fifth and plated two more runs in the seventh to take the 5-3 lead.
Despite their efforts, Pittsburgh picked up just one additional run in the bottom of the eighth as Mike Muzeka, who came in to pinch run for Daniel Ford, scored on a David Cline single to right field. The Bobcats went on to win it 5-4.
Pittsburgh?s Jeff Barnyak (2-1), who came in for relief of Paul Nardozzi, suffered the loss on the mound for the Panthers. Barnyak pitched five innings allowing eight hits and four runs.
Ohio?s Issacs picked up his second win of the season for the Bobcats and improved his record to 2-2.
The Panthers will continue non-conference play as they travel to Cleveland State on Wednesday for a game scheduled at 6:00 p.m.
NOTES: Pitt's Ben Copeland picked up his 15th double and 7th triple on the year...Sean Conley and Daniel Ford also doubled in the game for Pittsburgh...Panthers' hurlers Paul Nardozzi and Jeff Barnyak combined for 11 strikeouts in the loss...Pitt had two costly errors in the game while Ohio had just one.