Baseball Splits Doubleheader with Rutgers
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 15, 1999
Game 1 Boxscore | Game 2 Boxscore
PITTSBURGH - The University of Pittsburgh baseball team hosted Rutgers in a doubleheader today at Trees Field, winning the first game, 7-5, and falling in the second, 6-4. Senior second baseman Lou Melucci (Clarks Summit, Pa./Abington Heights) recorded two doubles on the afternoon to set a new record for all-time career doubles (34), while senior pitcher John Schultz (Pittsburgh, Pa./Carrick) surpassed the all-time career innings pitched record in his last appearance for the Panthers.
Pittsburgh rallied from behind in the bottom of the sixth inning to clinch the 7-5 victory in game one. Junior catcher Doug Caraway (Baltimore, Md./Chesapeake) began the five-run inning with a single to right field that drove in pinch-runner Chris Delsignore (Johnstown, Pa./Westmont Hilltop) and senior Jason Oliver (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville), tying the score, 4-4. With two men on base, Melucci homered to left field for three runs batted in, putting the Panthers in the lead, 7-4. Rutgers scored one more in the seventh, but Pittsburgh held on for the win.
Sophomore right-hander Matt Irvin (Derry, Pa./Derry) earned his sixth victory of the season as Pittsburgh's starter. Junior Jory Coughenour (Uniontown,Pa./Uniontown) earned his first save as the closer.
Rutgers took a 5-0 lead after four innings in game two of the afternoon. In the bottom of the sixth, Melucci doubled to center field for his record-setting 34th career double before advancing to third on a single by sophomore third baseman Joe Lydic (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park). He then scored on a sacrifice fly by freshman designated hitter Brad Rea (Gibsonia, Pa./North Allegheny).
A home run in the eighth put the Scarlet Knights ahead 6-1. The Panthers rallied in the bottom of the ninth with three runs but fell short of the comeback. A deep single to right field by junior catcher Dave Hoopes (Hershey, Pa./Lower Dauphin) drove in Delsignore, pinch-runner Harry Ciavarella (Moscow, Pa./North Pocono) and freshman Mike Gonda (Ruffs Dale, Pa./Yough). Rutgers retired the inning with two Panthers on base and the tying run on first.
Schultz pitched his fourth complete game of the year to set the new career innings pitched record of 224 and two-thirds. He is also second on the all-time career lists for appearances (55) and strikeouts (185).
Pittsburgh and Rutgers face off again tomorrow at noon at Trees Field in the Panthers' last game of the season.