Pitt
Penn
Conley Launches Grand Slam As Baseball Downs Penn, 14-2
3/13/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 13, 2008
Pitt (4-7) plated three runs in the bottom of the first for an early advantage. It took just two Panther batters to score the team's first run as Conley (SR/Chippewa, Pa./Blackhawk) ripped a leadoff double to center field. Shortstop Danny Lopez (SO/Queens, N.Y./Monsignor McClancy) followed, recording his eighth RBI of the season with a single to right-center, bringing Conley home.
Two batters later, Leonard (FR/Dawson, Pa./Connellsville) recorded his first of four RBI on the day, driving Lopez home from second, as Pitt extended its lead to 2-0. The freshman third baseman went a career-best 4-5 on the day, tallying a team-high four runs-scored.
With one on and two out in the first, designated hitter Chris Warner (RS JR/Buffalo, N.Y./University of
Leonard extended Pitt's lead to 5-0, launching his first-career homerun over a deep center-field wall in the third. Dan Williams (SR/Berwyn, Pa./Episcopal Academy) drew a one-out walk from Quaker starter Andy Console, as Leonard followed, making the right-handers' mistake hurt.
The Quakers (1-5) responded in the top of the fourth, scoring their first run of the game, as Penn shortstop Dan Williams notched an RBI-single with two outs and runners at the corners. Pitt would get the run back in the bottom of the sixth as the Panthers' Williams singled to left-center, scoring Conley for Pitt's sixth run of the game.
Pitt starter Nate Reed (SO/Reading, Pa./Oley Valley) kept the Quaker offense silent until the top of the seventh when Penn posted another run, cutting the Panthers' lead to 6-2. Once again, Pitt responded to the Quakers with a run of its own in the bottom half of the inning as right fielder Matt Litzinger (JR/Pittsburgh, Pa./Serra Catholic) drove Leonard in for Pitt's seventh run of the game.
Reed pitched a solid seven innings for Pitt, picking up his second win of the season as he allowed just two runs on five hits. The Panther starter was replaced on the mound by David Kaye (FR/Oakmont, Pa./Riverview) in the eighth. Kaye retired the Quakers in order, as the score remained 7-2.
With a five-run lead, the Panther offense exploded in the bottom of the eighth, as Pitt doubled its run total. Leonard notched his fourth RBI of the day, while teammate Jordan Herr (RS SO/Lancaster, Pa./Delaware) ripped a two-RBI single, extending Pitt's lead to 10-2.
With two outs and the bases juiced, Conley ripped his first-career grand slam, sealing the game for the Panthers. The Quakers were unable to tally any runs in the bottom of the inning, as Pitt came away with the 14-2 victory. Conley posted a 2-4 day at the plate, with four RBI, three runs scored and a stolen base.
Next up in the Papa John's Challenge for the Panthers will be a 5 p.m. matchup with Bethune-Cookman on Saturday, followed by a doubleheader on Sunday with games against New Jersey Tech and Cornell.
-30-
