Panthers Sweep Doubleheader over Miami (OH)

Saturday, April 23

Pittsburgh, Pa.

1:00 PM

Pitt

19-14

Miami (OH)

20-17

Miami (OH)

Pitt

Panthers Sweep Doubleheader over Miami (OH)

4/23/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

April 23, 2016

<br> <br>

GAME 1 BOX SCORE | GAME TWO BOX SCORE

PITTSBURGH - The University of Pittsburgh baseball team swept the series-opening doubleheader against Miami (OH) Saturday afternoon at Charles L. Cost Field.

Behind junior right-hander T.J. Zeuch, the Panthers defeated the RedHawks 5-0 in game one and took down Miami 4-3 in game two with another solid pitching performance from Aaron Sandefur.

"I thought both pitchers did a really good job," said head coach Joe Jordano. "Obviously T.J. (Zeuch) was fantastic again, did a super job. We made a couple of throwing errors that cost him a complete game, he could have went the distance today, but settled down and did a really good job, keeping Miami off-balance. That's a really good hiting team. They did a great job. From an offensive perspective we got some timely hits, and overall it was a great win.

"Then in the second ballgame, Aaron (Sandefur) gave up that two-run homer but then really settled down and kept them off-balance. He did a very solid job. Wrambel came in in the seventh and then Yaya (Chentouf) took us home"

Topping out at 97 MPH, Zeuch didn't allow a run over his eight innings of work, striking out nine, scattering just four hits and not surrendering a walk. After a bumpy first inning, Zeuch settled in, retiring the side in order in the second inning.

After being held scoreless through the opening two frames, Pitt got on the board in the third, when centerfielder Aaron Schnurbusch led off the inning with a double.

After a bunt single by Matt Johnson, Jacob Wright grounded out to second, scoring Schnurbusch in the process.

Zeuch worked around a hit in the third inning, before running into a bit of trouble in the fourth, when Miami advanced Ross Haffey into scoring position with two outs.

The next batter, Tyler Harris singled up the middle, and Schnurbusch was able to throw Haffey out at the plate.

The single by Harris was the final hit Zeuch would allow on the afternoon. In the fifth, the righty was able to work around an error to record another scoreless frame.

At the plate, Pitt was able to string together some clutch hits, especially in the sixth and seventh innings.

The Panthers offense went back to work in the sixth inning, when Wright singled to open up the inning. After a fielder's choice, LeBlanc singled to set up first and second for Alex Kowalczyk.

After Maldonado was picked off at second base, Kowalczyk and Yanni contributed back-to-back doubles, scoring a pair of runs in the process.

In the bottom half of the seventh, the Panthers recorded back-to-back singles and a pair of stolen bases to set up runners on second and third with nobody out.

After the RedHawks recorded a strikeout, the Panthers plated a run on a wild pitch. Pitt recorded their fifth and final run of the afternoon, on a Jacob Wright sacrifice-fly.

In the ninth, Pitt summoned reliever to record the final three outs of the ballgame. Jextin Pugh allowed a leadoff single, but quickly erased the runner on a double-play. The third and final out of the ball game was recorded on a beautiful catch in foul territory by Frank Maldonado.

In the end, Zeuch retired 11 out of the last 12 batters he faced, with the lone exception coming on a throwing error by Johnson.

Zeuch improves to 5-0 on the year in six appearances. The eight scoreless innings lowed the juniors ERA to 2.63 on the season.

Schnurbusch went 2-of-2 on the afternoon with a pair of runs scored and a walk while Wright went 1-of-3 with two RBIs.

GAME TWO
In the second game of the doubleheader, Pitt started off quickly, scoring a pair of runs in the first frame to jump out to the early lead.

After Wright tripled off the very top of the wall, Charles Leblanc doubled him home, giving the Panthers an early 1-0 advantage. Alex Kowalczyk was hit by pitch, setting up runners on first and second with just one out. The next batter David Yanni hit a ground ball to the shortstop, Chad Sedio, who stepped on second to force out Kowalczyk, but his throw to first base was errant, allowing LeBlanc to score the Panthers' second run of the game.

Senior Aaron Sandefur retired the first four batters on the afternoon, before walking Steve Sada. After the walk, Harris sent a one-out 2-1 pitch deep over the right field wall, giving Miami a 3-2 lead.

Neither team was able to produce a run until the top half of the fourth, when Miami took its first lead of the game.

Haffey led off the top of the fourth with a single to right field. He then advanced to second on a passed ball, moving to third on a fly out. Haffey would score the third and final Miami run of the afternoon on a Sada single.

The Panthers reclaimed the lead in the sixth as Schnurbusch reached base on a walk, chasing the Miami starter. Another walk to Manny Pazos would put a pair on and a triple from Leblanc would clear the bases and give Pitt the 4-3 lead, which they would maintain for the remainder of the day.

In game two, Sandefur claimed the win, moving to 3-3 on the year. Yaya Chentouf earned the save, his fourth of the season. Sandefur went 6.0 innings, allowing just two earned runs off of three hits and two walks, fanning six.

Offensively, Leblanc went 2-of-5 with a run scored and three RBIs while Wright, Yarnall and Maldonado each posted two-hit performances.

With the wins, Pitt improves to 20-14-0 on the season and can earn its second sweep of the season with a victory in the finale. Game three is set for 1 p.m. Sunday at Charles L. Cost Field.

#H2P
For all things Pitt baseball, follow the team on Twitter and Instagram. Fans can also follow skipper Joe Jordano on Twitter.