University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Panthers Prep for Five Games in Seven Days
4/27/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 27, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format 
PITTSBURGH - Fresh off its fourth Big East Conference series win of the season, the University of Pittsburgh baseball team prepares for a grueling week, playing five games over the next seven days, including four on the road.
The Panthers will host Penn State on Tuesday before traveling to Cleveland, Ohio on Wednesday for a non-conference game against the Cleveland State Vikings.
SCOUTING THE NITTANY LIONS
Penn State enters Tuesday night’s game with a 21-19 overall record. The Nittany Lions have lost five straight, including being swept by Illinois over the weekend in Big Ten Conference action in University Park.
NITTANY LIONS vs. BIG EAST
The Nittany Lions have played their fair share of Big East games this season, currently holding a 3-3 mark against the conference. PSU lost to St. John’s 15-6 at the inaugural Big East/Big Ten Challenge while defeating Seton Hall, 6-1. Penn State and Rutgers split a four-game series played March 13-15, in Boca Raton, Fla.
PENN STATE SERIES HISTORY
The Panthers and Nittany Lions will be meeting for the 83rd time in series history and just the second time at Trees Field since 1980. Penn State has won the last four and holds the overall series lead at 59-22-1.
THIRD TIME’S THE CHARM
Pitt’s first scheduled game against the Nittany Lions at Penn State was postponed due to weather conditions. The non-conference contest with PSU was rescheduled for April 14th in University Park, Pa., but a monsoon-like storm again forced the two teams to cancel.
SCOUTING THE VIKINGS
Cleveland State enters Wednesday’s game against the Panthers with an overall record of 14-22. The Vikings are 5-5 in their last 10 games, splitting a doubleheader against Butler on April 25th before being rained out in a scheduled doubleheader at Milwaukee on April 26.
CLEVELAND STATE SERIES HISTORY
Wednesday’s game will mark the 28th installment of a 42-year-old series between the Panthers and Vikings. Pitt holds the 19-8 series lead and has won 12 straight and 15 of the last 16. The Panthers are 9-1 against Clevaland State in Cleveland, including a 4-2 win last year.
ANOTHER SERIES WIN
Pitt notched its fourth series win of the 2009 season by taking two of three games from Rutgers this past weekend. Coming off a sweep of Seton Hall at home April 17-19, the Panthers averaged 10 runs and 14 hits per game against the Scarlet Knights.
SEDON MAKES HONOR ROLL
Junior second baseman Chris Sedon was named to the Big East Conference Weekly Honor Roll for the period ending April 27. The nomination marks the second time this season Sedon has been recognized for his stellar play by the conference.
Against the Scarlet Knights, Sedon batted .500 (8-for-16) with two home runs, a double, triple, stolen base and five RBI. He slugged 1.062 for the series and raised his batting average by 11 points to .404 for the year.
SEEING THE BALL
Catcher Kevan Smith was 7-for-12 against Rutgers last weekend, hitting safely in all three games to extend his hitting streak to a team season-high 12 games. The former Pitt quarterback is batting .429 (18-for-48) during the streak with eight RBI, two doubles two home runs, three walks and two stolen bases.
