May 23, 2007
Coach Jordano on the Game and the Season |
Box Score
BROOKLYN, N.Y.--The Pitt baseball team dropped a 5-2 decision to Connecticut in an elimination game at the Big East Championship Wednesday afternoon at KeySpan Park. The loss ended the Panthers' (27-27) season, while the Huskies (31-26) advance to the third round of the tournament.
"Today was a frustrating loss," Pitt Head Coach Joe Jordano said. "The guys played hard, but being in an elimination game, you have to play clean baseball. We had the bases loaded in the ninth and couldn't string together any offense. This is a young team that has some searching to do."
The Panthers tallied 12 hits to Connecticut's eight but starting pitcher Rob Brant (JR/Mansfield, Pa./Mansfield) suffered the loss, giving up five runs on eight hits in 8.0 innings of work.
Connecticut scored its first run of the game on a single through the right side in the bottom of the first. The Huskies added two more in the third on a homerun shot to left field for the 3-0 lead. The Panthers put two on in the top of the fourth with two outs, but could not bring in the runs.
The Huskies brought in two more runs in the bottom of the fourth on a squeeze play and a throwing error by the Pitt pitcher, bringing the score to 5-0 in favor of Connecticut.
Pitt scored its first run on a Dan Williams (JR/Berwyn, Pa./Episcopal Academy) single to left field, scoring Peter Parise (SR/Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Spellman) from second. Parise reached on a single, adding to his career-leading hits mark of 252 in his final game with Pitt. The Panthers added another run on a Nick Mullins (JR/Brick, N.J./Brookdale CC) sacrifice fly to left field, bringing in Seth Button (SR/Elk Lake, Pa./Gloucester College) from third.
The Panthers loaded the bases in the top of the eighth with two outs, but Jordan Herr (SO/Lancaster, Pa./Delaware) lined out to the third baseman, leaving three on base for Pitt. In the game, the Panthers left 11 on base. Connecticut held Pitt scoreless in the ninth to advance to the next round.
Games will continue through Saturday at KeySpan Park. Notre Dame, who has won the past five Big East tournaments, was also eliminated in day two.
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