University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt
South Florida
Walk-Off Home Run Gives Bulls Series Sweep
4/5/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 5, 2009
TAMPA, Fla. — For the second time this season, the University of Pittsburgh baseball team was a victim of a walk-off home run. Jonathan Koscso’s two-run homer in the bottom of the 10th inning gave the South Florida Bulls their first series sweep in Big East Conference play, 10-8 over the Panthers here today at Red McEwen Field.
Joe Leonard (1-1) was charged with the loss after giving up a two-run homer in the ninth that forced extra innings, and the game winner in the following inning. John Schultz and Kevan Smith each collected multiple hits on the day with Schultz going 4-for-5 with two RBI and Smith going 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored.
The Panthers (17-10, 4-5 Big East) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top half of the second by way of a Smith’s first collegiate home run, a two-run shot over the left-field wall.
South Florida (19-10, 7-2 Big East) cut the lead in half in the bottom of the inning after Junior Carlin doubled to left center and scored on a Peter Brotons sacrifice fly to center field.
Schultz led the Panther third off with a double down the left-field line and advanced to third on a passed ball. A Leonard groundout to second allowed Schultz to score and gave Pitt the 3-2 edge after three innings of play.
Trey Manz cut the deficit to 3-2 with his first of two home runs on the day, a solo shot to left field in the bottom of the sixth.
The Bulls plated four runs an inning later to take a 6-3 lead. Carlin led the inning off with a double to left center and later scored on a Koscso single through the left side. After Stephen Hunt was intentionally walked, Ricky Breymier hit Todd Brazeal, allowing Ryan Lockwood to score. Chris Rey’s fielder’s choice scored Koscso before Manz’s single to center field drove in Hunt to round out the inning.
Pitt rallied to plate five runs in the top of the ninth with two outs to take an 8-6 lead. Smith’s RBI double scored Matt Litzinger and Chris Sedon singled up the middle to cut the lead to 6-5. Schultz’s fourth hit of the game, a double to left field drove in two, giving the Panthers the 7-6 lead. Morgan Kielty’s RBI double rounded out the Panther scoring in the ninth.
Leonard entered the game in the bottom of the ninth looking for his second save of the season. After getting Hunt to fly out to left and Brazeal to pop up, Leonard hit Mike Consolmagno, bringing the tying run to the plate in Manz. Manz wasted no time in blasting his second homer of the game, a two-run shot to center field that tied the game and forced extra innings.
With two outs in the bottom of the 10th and one swing of the bat, Koscso ended the game with a two-run shot.
Pitt remainds on the road this coming week, traveling to Penn State on Tuesday, April 7th for a non-conference contest with the Nittany Lions. First pitch is slated for 6:35 p.m.
