University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt
Cleveland State
Baseball Rebounds With 11-8 Win at Cleveland State
5/3/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 3, 2006
EAST CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Panthers' offense has been putting the team in position to win games and Pitt did just that on Wednesday evening, downing host Cleveland State by a score of 11-8. The win improves the Panthers' record to 18-22, while the Vikings dropped to 8-31.
It was the third consecutive game in which Pitt scored at least 11 runs, plating 11 in a win over USF on April 23 and 14 in a loss at Kent State yesterday. The Panthers broke open a 4-3 game with three runs in the seventh and four more in the eighth before holding on for the victory.
Shortstop Jimmy Mayer (Somerset, Pa./Somerset) had a career-best-tying four hits, while outfielders David Cline (Mercersburg, Pa./Mercersburg Academy) and Sean Conley (Chippewa, Pa./Blackhawk) had three hits apiece and combined to score five runs and drive in four.
With one out in the top of the first, Mayer singled through the left side and advanced to third on an error by Vasili Pahoulis. After Jim Negrych (Buffalo, N.Y./St. Francis) was hit by a pitch, designated hitter Rob Lawler (Rochester, N.Y./Greece Olympia) doubled in Mayer with the game's first run.
Cleveland State was able to tie it at 1-1 with an unearned run in the bottom of the third off of Pitt starter Chad Baker (Canfield, Ohio/Canfield). Baker worked three innings, allowing three hits and the unearned run with four strikeouts before giving way to Mike Bassage (Hornell, N.Y./Hornell).
Pitt broke the tie in the top of the fifth inning with three runs. Third baseman Dan Williams (Berwyn, Pa./Episcopal Academy) walked on four pitches to open the frame, moved to second on a wild pitch with one out and then stole third base for his ninth theft on the year. Conley then got hold of a 3-1 pitch for his first home run of the season to right-center field and a 3-1 lead. Cline followed with a single and Mayer reached on a bunt single. Cline, however, was caught trying to steal third, but Mayer moved up to second on the play and scored on a Negrych single up the middle.
Bassage allowed two runs in the bottom of the fifth on two hits as Cleveland State climbed back into the game to make it 4-3. The score remained that way until the top of the seventh inning.
Catcher Jeff Stevens (Danville, Va./Dan River/Louisburg College) doubled down the left-field line to begin the inning and was quickly brought in on a double by Conley for his third RBI of the game. Cline followed suit with a single through the right side that moved Conley to third and then the Panthers' center fielder stole his 18th base of the year to put runners on second and third. Negrych was walked to load the bases and Kielty reached on an infield single with one out to drive in Conley with the Panthers' sixth run. Another infield single, this time by Peter Parise (Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Spellman) plated Cline to make it 7-3 in favor of Pitt.
Stevens led off the eighth inning, too, but this time with a walk. Conley laced his third hit of the game into center field for a single and a ground-rule double by Cline pushed the lead to 8-3. Mayer then drove in both Conley and Cline with a single to make it 10-3, and Negrych finished things off with an RBI ground out after Mayer advanced to third on another error.
Cleveland State scored three times in the bottom of the eighth with unearned runs off of Anthony Rossi (Peters Township, Pa./Peters Township). The Vikings closed the gap to three runs with a two-spot in the ninth off to finish the scoring.
The Panthers return to action on Saturday with a doubleheader at Big East rival Rutgers, beginning at noon. The three-game series with the Scarlet Knights concludes with a sinlge game on Sunday at noon.
NOTES: The five Pitt pitchers combined for 12 strikeouts on the evening, including three in two innings by freshman Ryan Dunford (Buffalo, N.Y./Bishop Timon)...Negrych improved his team-leading RBI total to 45 with his two on the night.
