Baseball Swept by Seton in Weekend Series
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 4, 1999
The Pittsburgh baseball team was swept by Seton Hall in a three-game Big East Conference series played in East Rutherford, N.J. over the weekend. The Pirates claimed a doubleheader on May 2, (8-6, 13-5) before adding a 13-9 win on May 3. The Panthers move to 22-24 overall, and 10-13 in the conference.
In game one of the series, Pittsburgh and Seton Hall traded leads four times. The Panthers got on the board first with a run in the second inning scored on a homerun by freshman right-fielder Mike Gonda (Ruffs Dale, Pa./Yough). Seton Hall responded with three runs of their own in the second to take a two-run lead. Pittsburgh took over once again in the third with four runs. Freshman designated hitter Brad Rea (Gibsonia, Pa./North Allegheny) hit a double down the right field line that scored three runs. Rea then scored off a single to right field by senior first baseman Steve Dickinson (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk).
The Pirates tied it up with two runs in the bottom of the third before the Panthers added one more in the fourth to regain the lead. But a three-run fifth inning would put Seton Hall for good, as they clinched the 8-6 victory.
Sophomore right-hander Matt Irvin (Derry, Pa./Derry) pitched four innings of the seven-inning game with fellow sophomore Scott Schultz (Pittsburgh, Pa./Carrick) stepping in as relief. Pittsburgh accounted for six errors, allowing for only three earned Seton Hall runs on seven hits.
The Panthers once again scored first in the night cap on May 2, but the Pirates took a 7-2 lead after five complete innings. Pittsburgh drew within three in the sixth, but that's as close as the Panthers would come in the 13-5 loss.
Freshman center fielder Stuart Rykaceski (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills) led Pittsburgh as he went 4-5, including a double, with one run batted in and one run scored. Gonda was 3-5 with one double, an RBI and a run. The Panthers recorded 14 hits in the game, but were unable to capitalize, leaving 14 men on base. Junior righty Jory Coughenour (Uniontown, Pa./Uniontown) recorded the loss.
In game three of the series on May 3, Seton Hall held a 7-1 lead after four innings before Pittsburgh began a late scoring rally. Three more runs for each team made the score 10-4. But a three-run homerun for the Pirates would help them clinch the 13-9 win.
Junior shortstop Chris Happ (Rochester, N.Y./Greece Athena) led the Panthers, going 4-4 with an RBI and a run scored. He also recorded a sacrifice bunt. Happ's performance improved his batting average from .271 to .311. Senior second baseman Lou Melucci (Clarks Summit, Pa./Abington Heights) was 3-5, including a two-run homerun, his third of the season. He recorded three RBI and scored once. Dickinson was 2-5 with two RBI and a run, while Gonda contributed a 3-4 performance with an RBI and two runs scored. Senior right-hander John Schultz (Pittsburgh, Pa./Carrick) recorded the loss.
The Panthers host Wright State on Tuesday, May 4 at Trees Field (7 p.m.) before traveling to Ohio State on Wednesday, May 5. Pittsburgh is home again on Thursday, May 6, when the Panthers take on Youngstown State (3 p.m.).