Pitt
Michigan State
Pitt Baseball Falls to Michigan State, 7-4
3/13/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 13, 2011
Lakeland, Fla. - The Pitt baseball saw its five game win streak come to an end Sunday as the Panthers fell to Michigan State, 7-4, at Henley Field in Lakeland, Fla.
The Panthers dropped to 8-3 overall while the Spartans improved to 11-3.
With the game scoreless, the Panthers got on the board first in the top of the third when senior Kevan Smith singled home sophomore Ronald Sucre.
The Spartans quickly responded with a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning to even the score at 1-1.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Michigan State broke out for six hits and scored five runs to pull ahead, 6-1.
Freshman Casey Roche was hit with the loss after giving up four runs in 4.1 innings pitched. Roche walked one and struck out three before being relieved by sophomore Alex Caravella with one out in the fifth.
The Panthers pulled within three runs in the top of the seventh when the Spartans gave up a run on an error and allowed another on a passed ball.
The Spartans added an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh to pull ahead, 7-3.
Sucre added an RBI double in the top of the ninth, and Smith came to the plate as the potential tying run before grounding out to shortstop to end the game.
The Spartans outhit the Panthers, 14-8. Sucre and Smith led the Panthers with two hits each.
Pitt concludes its trip to the Russ Matt Invitational with a matchup against Big Ten foe Indiana. Game time is scheduled for 11 a.m. and will take place at Chain of Lakes Stadium in Winter Haven, Fla.
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