Pitt
Villanova
Villanova Tops Baseball, 8-4
5/3/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 3, 2008
PLYMOUTH MEETING, PA--The Pitt baseball team fell 8-4 to Villanova Saturday afternoon at Villanova Park. The Panthers jumped out to an early 4-3 lead, but could not hold on to win as the Wildcats tallied five unanswered runs taking their second-straight game from Pitt.
Pitt (15-27, 6-14) plated two runs in the third, breaking a 0-0 game. First baseman Morgan Kielty (JR/Burlington, Ontario/Burlington Central) ripped a one-out double, scoring teammate Danny Lopez (SO/Queens, N.Y./Monsignor McClancy) for the game's first run.
Second baseman Dan Williams (SR/Berwyn, Pa./Episcopal Academy) followed with a single through the left side, bringing in Kielty as Pitt took a 2-0 advantage off Villanova starter Brian Streilein.
The Wildcats (24-22, 8-12) responded, tallying three runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning off Panther starter Rob Brant (SR/Mansfield, Pa./Mansfield) to take a 3-2 lead.
The Panthers once again pulled ahead, 4-3, in the top of the fourth, scoring two more runs off a pair of doubles from right fielder John Schultz (FR/Reading, Pa./Wilson West Lawn) and Lopez.
Villanova would go on to plate five unanswered runs, three in the bottom of the fifth inning and two more insurance runs in the eighth. Brant was replaced on the mound by relief pitcher David Kaye (FR/Oakmont, Pa./Riverview) in the fifth inning. The Pitt starter went 4.1 innings, allowing six runs off four hits, while striking out five and picking up the loss.
Streilein earned the win for the Wildcats, putting in 7.2 innings of work on the day, while allowing four runs off nine hits and tallying five strikeouts.
Schultz and Kielty both notched a pair of hits on the day as Schultz posted a 2-3 effort at the plate for the Panthers, driving in a run and scoring one of his own.
Pitt and Villanova will conclude their weekend series with a 12:15 p.m. game tomorrow. The Panthers will then travel back to Pittsburgh to host the first-ever Panther Classic May 5-7. Central Michigan and Coppin State will head to Trees Field to take part in the three-day classic.
