University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Panthers and Highlanders Meet in North Carolina
2/25/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 25, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format 
PITTSBURGH - The University of Pittsburgh baseball team travels to Gastonia, N.C. this weekend, Feb. 28 - March 1 for a three-game series with the New Jersey Insitute of Technology Highlanders. Pitt and NJIT will sqaure off in a doubleheader on Saturday, with first pitch in game one coming at Noon. Sunday's single game is also scheduled for a Noon start.
WEEKEND DUTY
The Panthers play a three-game series against a New Jersey Tech team who has yet to play a game in the 2009 season. Last year, the Highlanders dropped their seasonopener 8-3 to South Carolina Upstate. The last time NJIT won on opening day was in 2006 when they defeated Minnesota Deluth, 13-4.
SERIES HISTORY
In the only meeting between the Panthers and Highlanders, Pitt won 17-2 bcak on March 16, 2008 at the Papa John's Challenge. Ten different Panthers recorded at least one hit while four enjoyed multi-hit performances on the day. Three Panthers tallied three or more RBI with senior Sean Conley leading the way with four after a 4-for-4 day at the plate.
WHEN NINE ISN'T ENOUGH
Pitt opened up the 2009 season with an extra innings game against Bradley. The Panthers battled to put two up in the bottom of the ninth, but fell in the 10th as the Braves were able to manufacture the winning run while holding off Pitt for the 9-8 win.
The last time the Panthers opened the season with an extra innings game was 18 years ago in the 1991 opener, losing 7-6 in 13 innings to a Mercyhurst team led by current Pitt head coach Joe Jordano.
THE LONGEST WEEKEND
The Panthers' season continued to grow longer on day two of the Service Academies Spring Classic, when rain delayed Pitt's scheduled contest against Navy for nearly four hours before a postponement was called. Through one inning of play, the Panthers and Midshipmen were tied at 1-1.
DOUBLE TIME
With the rain delay hindering its scheduled game against Navy on Feb. 21, Pitt was forced to play a doubleheader in the opening weekend of a season for the third time in the past fi ve years. The Panthers beat Air Force, 10-9, while falling to Navy, 3-1, in the second game on Sunday, Feb. 22. The previous two opening weekend doubleheaders in 2005 and 2006 were also split.
90 FEET THIEVERY
Chris Sedon has sparked the Panthers' ground attack by successfully stealing a team-leading three bases on three attempts over the fi rst three games of the season. Sedon also leads the team in hits (5), runs (5) and is tied for home runs with one. Overall, the Panthers as a team have a balanced offense with fi ve players recording two or more RBI.
BACK IN THE SADDLE
Redshirt sophomore Kevan Smith saw his fi rst baseball action in three years as he recorded six putouts in a 3-1 loss to Navy on Feb. 22. Smith made the transition to baseball after spending his fi rst two years at Pitt as a quarterback with the football team.
BIG WIN FOR ROOK
Freshman lefty Matt Iannazzo picked up Pitt's fi rst win of the 2009 season over the weekend against the Air Force Academy. Iannazzo threw fi ve innings, giving up fi ve hits while recording six strikeouts in the 10-9 win over AFA on Feb. 22.
