Pitt
Big East Tournament
Pittsburgh Eliminated from Big East Baseball Tournament
5/18/2000 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 18, 2000
BRIDGEWATER, N.J. - The Pittsburgh baseball team (31-24) was eliminated from the 2000 Big East Conference Baseball Tournament after falling to second-seed Notre Dame, 15-7, in game four today in Bridgewater, N.J. The Panthers were defeated by first-seed Rutgers yesterday in game one of the double-elimination tournament.
Pittsburgh lost a 7-4 lead in the eighth inning when the Irish scored 11 runs to clinch the win. Ironically, the Panthers came back in almost the same way in game three of the regular season series at Notre Dame, scoring 10 runs in the top of the ninth to keep their playoff hopes alive. Unfortunately, Pittsburgh could not rally for the comeback as they have done 10 times this season.
The Panthers had committed six errors in the first five innings, but still managed to hold on to the three-run lead. But with the score tied at 7-7 in the eighth, Alec Porzel hit a grandslam with one out, lauching the Irish past the Panthers. Pittsburgh allowed 11 runs on 10 hits before retiring the inning with a runner left on base.
Junior Matt Irvin (Derry, Pa./Derry Area) started on the mound for the Panthers and pitched seven and one third innings. Sophomore Jeremy Rossi (Ridgway, Pa./Ridgway) received the loss in relief after giving up the grandslam.
On a positive note, junior third baseman Joe Lydic (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) hit a two-run home run in the first inning to bring his season total to 19, tying the school career record with his 33rd in just two years. He went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored, three runs batted in, and a stolen base. Lydic, an All-Conference (second team) selection, completed the season second on the team in batting average with a .340, and led the team with a single-season school record 57 runs.
In addition, Aaron Heilman, Notre Dame's ace pitcher and probable top-five draft pick, allowed seven earned runs by the Panthers, the most he has given up in his three-year career (51 appearances).
Pittsburgh combined for 15 hits in the game. Junior Charis Britt (Penn Hills, Pa./Gulf Coast C.C.) hit 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI, and finished the year with a team-leading .348 batting average.
The Panthers tied a season school record for most games in a season, playing their 55th of the year. Their 31 wins was just the fourth 30-plus season in school history and was the most wins since 1995.
