Pitt
Connecticut
Pitt Baseball Falls 14-10 To Connecticut
5/15/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 15, 2008
PITTSBURGH - Despite a bases loaded ninth inning, the Panthers were unable to battle back, as the Pitt baseball team fell 14-10 in the first contest of the three-game series with Connecticut Thursday night at Trees Field.
Joe Leonard (Connellsville, Pa./Connellsville) led the way for the Panthers hitting 4 for 5 with three runs scored and an RBI on the night. Reliever Cole Taylor (Burrell, Pa./Burrell) suffered the loss for Pitt, giving up four runs off three hits in 2.1 innings of play.
Connecticut jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning. Dan Williams (Berwyn, Pa./Episcopal Academy) countered for the Panthers in the bottom of the first as he drove in Sean Conley (Chippewa, Pa./Blackhawk) from third.
Both teams were held scoreless in the second, but the Huskies added three runs in the top of the third and three in the fourth to take a commanding 8-1 lead. Pitt closed the gap to 8-2 on a Williams leadoff homerun in the bottom of the fourth.
In the fifth and sixth innings, Connecticut combined for four more runs to extend its lead to 12-2. Pitt chipped away at the lead with four runs of their own in the bottom of the seventh. The Panthers scored four runs on five hits including a two-run single by Chris Tonte (Pittston, Pa./Lackawanna CC).
Connecticut added to its tally in the eighth with one run, but Pitt answered with three runs to pull to within four at 13-9. Two of the Panthers' three runs were off of walked-in batters. The third came from a Tonte sacrifice fly with one out.
In the top of the ninth, the Huskies appeared to put the game out of reach by adding a run, taking the 14-9 lead. Leonard hit a solo homerun with one out, however, and Pitt loaded the bases with leadoff hitter, Conley, at the plate with an opportunity to tie up the game. The contest ended with a pop up and three Pitt runners remaining on base.
Pitt returns to action against the Huskies Friday at 6 p.m. at Trees Field. The season concludes Saturday at noon with the Panthers honoring its seniors in a pregame ceremony.
