Panthers Shutout Against Ohio State

Sunday, February 15

Port Charlotte, Fla.

11:00 AM

Pitt

3-0

Ohio State

1-2

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Ohio State	1	0	1	4	0	0	0	0	2	8	12	1
Pitt	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	4

Panthers Shutout Against Ohio State

2/15/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

Feb. 15, 2015

Box Score

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PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – For the second straight game Pitt suffered a shutout, this time falling to Ohio State, 8-0, in the final game for both teams at the Snowbird Classic on Sunday, Feb. 15.

The opponent was different, but the story was similar to Saturday’s defeat where Pitt’s (1-2) missed opportunities and errors played a major role in the outcome of the game. Of Ohio State’s (3-0) eight runs, only three were earned. Offensively, the Panthers collected six hits as a team, but left 11 runners on base for the second straight outing.

Redshirt sophomore Jacob Wright led the Panthers at the plate with a 2-for-4 effort and senior Boo Vazquez added a hit as both players finished the weekend with a hit in each game. Sophomore Manny Pazos also had a single and is a perfect 3-for-3 on the season.

Junior Aaron Schnurbusch made his first start on the mound in a Pitt uniform after starting the first two games in centerfield. Schnurbusch went 3.2 innings, yielding six runs (three earned) on eight hits while striking out four. Pitt’s four relief pitchers combined to throw 5.1 innings and gave up four hits and no earned runs.

OSU struck first with an unearned run in the opening frame after Troy Kuhn doubled with one out, moved to third on a passed ball and scored on an error by junior Ron Sherman at third base.

The Panthers looked to respond in a big way in the bottom half of the inning after loading the bases with no outs following a hit by pitch to Wright and base hits by sophomore Caleb Parry and Vazquez. But a chopper back to the mound allowed Ohio State to turn a double play and get the force out at home. Pitt was able to reload the bases on a walk, but Buckeye pitcher Ryan Riga recorded his first strikeout of the game to get out of the jam.

In the top of the second, the Buckeyes put a pair of runners on with back-to-back one-out singles, but Schnurbusch pitched his way out of the minor jam by fanning the next two batters, giving him three strikeouts in the frame.

After retiring the first two batters of the third with only three pitches, Schnurbusch got into some trouble when he walked Nick Sergakis and allowed him to move to third on an underthrown pickoff attempt that got past senior Eric Hess at first. Patrick Porter then singled to bring Sergakis in and give OSU a 2-0 lead.

Ohio State opened up its lead in the fourth, scoring four times to make the game 6-0. It started with consecutive doubles by Craig Nennig and Jordan McDonough to set the score at 3-0. Next, Schnurbusch attempted to get the lead runner at third on an infield grounder, but pulled Sherman off the bag with his throw. An RBI groundout by Ronnie Dawson gave the Buckeyes their second run of the inning and Sergakis followed with a rocket down the third base line to bring in two more on his double.

Needing runs, Pitt was able to load the bases in the bottom of the fifth. However, a diving play by Nennig at short robbed Kowalczyk of a base hit and one or possibly two runs batted in.

Once Schnurbusch exited the game in the fourth, Pitt’s relievers kept the Ohio State hitters at bay until the ninth inning. Three pitchers combined to toss 4.1 innings while giving up just two hits, one walk and striking out four. Senior Hobie Harris had the longest outing, throwing 2.1 innings and allowing one hit and striking out two. Next, making his debut was freshman Isaac Mattson, who went 1.2 innings, surrendering on hit and fanning two. Senior Nick Parnell retired the only batter he faced.

Unfortunately the Panthers weren’t able to get anything going offensively during that time either. After the fifth, Pitt had just four base runners and only once were there at least two, which came with two outs in the ninth.

The Buckeyes tacked on two more unearned runs in the ninth inning for the final score. Ohio State loaded the bases on a single, error and walk. Junior Garrett Wrambel, who entered in the top of the inning, retired the next two batters and was one out away from getting out of the jam. But he issued a walk to the next batter and a single by Tre’ Gantt brought in the last run. A second runner attempted to score on the hit, but junior Jordan Frabasilio’s throw beat him home and Pazos applied the tag for the out.

Nennig finished the game a perfect 4-for-4 for Ohio State with a double and a run. Sergakis joined

him as the only other multi-hit performer for the Buckeyes with two hits – one going for two bases, two walks, two RBIs and one run scored.

Four pitchers combined for the shutout with Rega picking up the win. He went 6.0 innings, gave up five hits, one walk and struck out four.

Pitt will return to the diamond next weekend at the USC Upstate/Wofford Tournament from Friday, Feb. 20 to Sunday, Feb. 22. The Panthers will open with Wofford on Friday, play USC Upstate on Saturday and wrap up the weekend with East Tennessee State on Sunday.