May 13, 2008
Box Score
PITTSBURGH--The Pitt baseball team returned home to Trees field Tuesday evening to host Akron in a non-conference showdown. The Panthers performed solidly, but fell to the Zips by a count of 4-2 in a game that took just over two hours to complete.
The Zips jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning with a Kurt Davidson homer to left field. The Panthers looked to answer in the bottom of the inning, but were unable to capitalize on a Morgan Kielty (Burlington, Ont./Burlington Central) single, stranding him on base after picking up their third out.
Akron added a run in the second on a Phil Bednar double to take the 3-0 lead. Pitt chipped away at the deficit with a run in the bottom of the second on a Zach Duggan (Cranberry Twp., Pa./Seneca Valley) single, bringing home Joe Leonard (Dawson, Pa./Connellsville) from third.
In the fifth, Akron scored its fourth and final run on a solo homerun by Davidson, his second of the game, bringing the tally to 4-1.
Duggan singled to second to reach base with one out in the bottom of the sixth. He went on to steal home on a passed ball and added to the Pitt tally, but the Panthers remained behind 4-2 heading into the seventh.
Akron relievers James Podgorney and Benjamin Danzinger took it from there, as they combined for three scoreless innings and extinguished Pitt's comeback hopes. Bejamin Danzinger saved the win for Zach Yike, while Corey Baker (New City, N.Y./Clarkstown South) was saddled with the loss.
Pitt returns to action Wednesday when the Panthers travel to Cleveland State for a 5 p.m. meeting with the Vikings. The season will wrap up with a three-game series against Big East foe Connecticut at Trees Field Thursday, May 15-17.
