Pitt
Seton Hall
PITT BASEBALL RALLIES FOR 5-4 WIN OVER SETON HALL
5/17/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 17, 2007
Coach Jordano on the Win
Button Talks About His Homerun
PITTSBURGH - Senior first baseman Seth Button hit a three-run homer to tie the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the ninth as the Pitt baseball team (27-23, 15-9 Big East) rallied to defeat Seton Hall (23-25, 7-15) 5-4 in 11 innings Thursday night at Trees Field.
"This was a very good win for us tonight in being down by three runs going into the bottom of the ninth," Pitt Head Coach Joe Jordano said. "Seton Hall played a great game. They were able to generate three of their runs with two outs and their offensive performance was great.
"McDonald is one of the best arms in the Big East and being able to get three runs off him was very impressive. But, as always, tomorrow's another day. We have to come back ready for another game."
Button (SR/Elk Lake, Pa./Gloucester College) continued his hot streak hitting a team-best eighth homerun on the year and driving in three runs. Dan Williams (JR/Berwyn, Pa./Episcopal Academy) drove in the game-winning run on an RBI single to center field, bringing home Peter Parise (SR/Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Spellman) from second in the bottom of the 11th. Parise was 3 of 5 on the night with two runs scored. The senior needs just six hits to become the all-time hits leader at Pitt as he currently has 245 in his four seasons.
Pitt tallied 16 strikeouts on the night including starter Paul Nardozzi (SR/Victor, N.Y./Victor) striking out eight, Mike Wood (FR/Endicott, N.Y./Union Endicott) striking out six and winning pitcher Kyle Landis (SO/Hazelton, Pa./Hazelton) striking out two.
Seton Hall tallied the first run of the night in the third inning on a solo homerun to left field by Dan Lopez. The Panthers tied it up in the bottom of the inning, however, on a Sean Conley (JR/Chippewa, Pa./Blackhawk) RBI single down the left field line.
The Pirates added one run in the fifth and two more in the eighth to take a solid 4-1 lead. Pitt responded in the bottom of the ninth on the Button homerun with both Parise and Morgan Kielty (SO/Burlington, Ont./Burlington Central) on base, tying the game at 4-4.
Pitt left two runners on base in the bottom of the 10th, but the Panthers could not capitalize, sending the game into the 11th. Seton Hall's inning was short-lived as the first three batters were set down. Parise singled through the left side to start off the inning and with two outs, he advanced to second on an error caused in a run-down. Williams came to the plate and singled to deep center field, bringing home Parise for the 5-4 extra-inning victory.
The series is important for both teams as Pitt is fighting to move up in the standings, currently sitting in fourth, while the Pirates are vying for a spot in the Big East Championship.
The series continues Friday at 3 p.m. at Trees Field and will wrap up Saturday at noon.
