Baseball Drops Season Opener to Virginia Tech, 7-3

Saturday, February 23

Conway, S.C.

11:00 AM

Pitt

Virginia Tech

Freshman third baseman Joe Leonard ripped an RBI-double in his first collegiate at bat against the Hokies.

Baseball Drops Season Opener to Virginia Tech, 7-3

2/23/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Feb. 23, 2008

Box Score

CONWAY, S.C.-The Pitt baseball team opened its 2008 campaign with a 7-3 loss to Virginia Tech Saturday afternoon in the first game of the IMICHotel INN-vitational in Conway, S.C. Last season, Pitt fell to the Hokies by the same mark when the two teams faced each other in the same invitational.

The Panthers (0-1) notched an early lead in the bottom of the first when third baseman Joe Leonard (FR/Dawson, Pa./Connellsville) drove in two runs in his first collegiate at bat. Left fielder Sean Conley (SR/Chippewa, Pa./Blackhawk) got things rolling for Pitt with a leadoff double to left center and advanced to third on a sac-fly by first baseman Morgan Kielty (JR/Burlington, Ontario/Burlington Central).

With two outs, clean-up hitter Dan Williams (SR/Berwyn, Pa./Episcopal Academy) drew a walk, putting runners at the corners for Pitt. Leonard followed, ripping a double to right-center field as Conley and Williams both scored, putting the Panthers up 2-0.

Pitt starter Nate Reed (SO/Reading, Pa./Oley Valley) faced just six Hokie batters through the first two innings, keeping Virginia Tech (1-0) scoreless until the third when Steve Bumbry blasted a two-run homer to right-center field, tying the game at 2-2.

The scored remained unchanged until the top of the sixth when Virginia Tech tallied four runs off four hits, including a solo homerun by Matt Hacker, to take a 6-2 lead. The Hokies never looked back, adding a final run in the seventh inning to extend their lead to 7-2.

Pitt continued to battle at the plate, but was unable to muster much offense until the bottom of the eighth inning when Williams drove-in teammate Danny Lopez (SO/Queens, N.Y./Monsignor McClancy) with a double to right-center field. Lopez crossed the plate for the game's eventual final score of 7-3.

Reed picked up the loss for the Panthers striking out four Hokie batters in eight innings. Right-handed pitcher Josh Wymer earned the win for Virginia Tech as he threw seven innings with two strikeouts, while giving up just two earned runs off five hits.

Closer David Kaye (FR/Oakmont, Pa./Riverview) made his collegiate debut, replacing Reed on the mound in the ninth inning. Kaye made a strong first impression, striking out two of the four batters he faced.

The Panthers will continue play in the IMICHotel INN-vitational later today with a 6 p.m. matchup against Maryland.

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