PITT BASEBALL SHUTS OUT LEHIGH 9-0

Friday, March 9

Jack Russell Stadium/Clearwater, FL

3:00 PM

Pitt

Lehigh

PITT BASEBALL SHUTS OUT LEHIGH 9-0

3/11/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

March 11, 2007

Box Score

CLEARWATER, FLA.- The Pitt baseball team used eleven hits, including a three-run homer by Morgan Kielty, and a standout performance from starting pitcher Kyle Landis to defeat Lehigh 9-0 Friday as part of the Clearwater Invitational. Landis pitched a complete, seven-inning game, while giving up just three hits to help the Panthers improve to 4-8 on the season.

Pitt scored first in the bottom of the second to take an early 1-0 lead. Freshman Daniel Lopez (Queens, N.Y./Monsignor McClancy) ripped a one-out single to get things started and advanced to second on a sac-fly by redshirt sophomore Chris Warner (West Seneca, N.Y./University of South Carolina). Lopez moved to third and Nick Mullins (Brick, N.J./Brookdale Community College) earned a walk on a wild pitch thrown by Mountain Hawks' (2-5-1) starter Joe Hatteo. With runners at the corners, Mullins attempted to steal second and draw the attention of the Lehigh defense to allow Lopez to score. The offensive strategy paid off for the Panthers, with Lopez stealing home as Mullins was thrown out heading for second.

The score remained 1-0 in the Panthers' favor until Pitt added six runs to the board in the bottom of the fifth. Mullins got things started with a leadoff single. Jordan Herr (Lancaster, Pa./Latrobe Area) followed by reaching base on an error, while Mullins advanced to second. With two on and no outs, Mike Lepor (Rochester, Mi./Grand Rapids Community College) advanced both runners with a ground ball to the left side of the infield. For the second time in the game, Pitt capitalized on a wild pitch, as Mullins crossed the plate for the Panthers' second run and Herr advanced to third.

With a two-run lead, left fielder Sean Conley (Chippewa, Pa./Blackhawk) drew a walk and third baseman Gary Bucuren (Ambridge, Pa./Kentucky) followed with an RBI-single, scoring Herr for a 3-0 Panther advantage. With runners on first and second, Seth Button (Elk Lake, Pa./Gloucester College) tallied a single of his own, scoring Conley and moving Bucuren to second.

Designated hitter Kielty (Burlington, Ontario/Burlington Central) was not satisfied with a 4-0 lead, however, and ripped a three-run homer, moving the score to 7-0 in the Panthers' favor. Kielty went 2-2 on the day with a double and the homerun.

Pitt added two final runs in the sixth. Herr connected for a leadoff triple and scored the Panthers' eighth run when Lepor knocked an RBI-single through the infield. Bucuren followed with his second single of the day to move Lepor to second. Pinch-hitter Matt Litzinger (Pittsburgh, Pa./ Serra Catholic) notched a single of his own, scoring Lepor for the Panthers ninth and final run of the game.

Starting pitcher, Landis (Hazelton, Pa./Hazelton), and the Panther defense matched the team's offensive performance, giving up just three hits, while shutting out the Mountain Hawks. Landis threw just two walks and struck out six of the 24 batters he faced, while the Pitt defense played seven error-less innings.

Pitt will see Lehigh twice more while in Florida. The two teams will face-off later tonight and then again on Saturday. The Panthers will conclude their spring training in Clearwater on Sunday with their third match up against Sacred Heart at 10 a.m.

NOTES: The Panthers notched their second shut-out victory of the season after defeating St. Joseph's 6-0 earlier in the week. Gary Bucuren and Morgan Kielty each earned two hits in today's win to combine for four of the teams' seven RBIs.

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