April 19, 1999

PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh baseball team finished the week 2-3. The Panthers defeated Wright State, 8-1, on April 13, and West Virginia, 11-9, on April 14, before falling to St. John's in a three-game weekend series April 17-18 (8-1, 3-1, 14-5). Pittsburgh moves to 20-17 overall, with a Big East mark of 8-8.

Freshman designated hitter Brad Rea (Gibsonia, Pa./North Allegheny) hit a grand slam home run in the fourth inning to lead the Panthers over Wright State. He completed the day 2-for-4 with five runs batted in.

Senior second baseman Lou Melucci (Clarks Summit, Pa./Abington Heights) began the scoring for Pittsburgh in the top of the first with a double to center field that knocked in sophomore shortstop Mike Pokrzywinski (Murraysville, Pa./Franklin Regional). Melucci then scored on a single by Rea for an early 2-0 Panther lead. Senior left fielder Jason Oliver (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville) hit his first home run of the season to make it 3-0 after two innings. Pittsburgh held Wright State scoreless for seven innings, before the Raiders put one on the board. Senior first baseman Steve Dickinson (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk) added a double in the ninth to drive in pinch hitter Darrin Lenhart (Allentown, Pa./William Allen) for a final score of 8-1.

Freshman left-handed pitcher Erik Ackerman (Denver, Pa./Cocalico) recorded his fourth victory of the season, making him an undefeated 4-0. He pitched seven innings with one run, four hits, one walk and seven strikeouts. Sophomore Scott Schultz (Pittsburgh, Pa./Carrick) came in as relief and pitched two innings.

Pittsburgh notched it's 20th victory of the season at West Virginia on April 14. Junior catcher Doug Caraway (Baltimore, Md./Chesapeake) went 3-for-5 with two runs and the game-winning RBI in the top of the seventh inning. The Panthers grabbed an early 9-2 lead before the Mountaineers pulled within one in the bottom of the fourth after a grand slam home run. West Virginia then tied it up, 9-9, after six. With Chris Delsignore (Johnstown, Pa./Westmost Hilltop) on first, Caraway doubled to right field, driving in the go-ahead run. Caraway then scored on a ground-out RBI by Pokrzywinski to make the score 11-9.

Sophomore Joe Lydic (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park), Pittsburgh's third baseman, had an outstanding night as he went 4-for-4, including a triple and his seventh homerun of the year. He also recorded four RBI and scored twice. Rea was 2-for-4 with two RBI and one run scored, while Melucci scored three runs for the Panthers.

Senior right-hander John Schultz (Pittsburgh, Pa./Carrick) stepped in as relief in the fourth and closed out the game with four hits, one run, one walk and six strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. It was his third win of the season. Sophomore Matt Irvin (Derry, Pa./Derry Area) started the game and struck out six batters in 3 1/3 innings.

In game one of a doubleheader at St. John's on April 17, the Panthers were held to just one run on six hits in the 8-1 loss. Lydic was 2-for-3 on the day while scoring Pittsburgh's lone run. Dickinson recorded the RBI. Junior Jory Coughenour (Uniontown, Pa./Uniontown) pitched 4 2/3 innings with Vickroy and Scott Schultz coming in as relief.

Game two of the doubleheader saw the Panthers with a single run once again. Pittsburgh held St. John's to three runs, stranding 13 Red Storm runners on base. Dickinson led the Panthers with a 2-for-2 outting, while Melucci knocked in Oliver for the run. Sophomore Greg Paul pitched 6 1/3 innings to record the loss. He moves to 2-2 on the season.

Pittsburgh jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in game three of the weekend series on April 18, but an eight-run sixth inning by St. John's was too much to overcome in the 14-5 loss. Lydic once again stood out with a 1-for-2 day with one run and two RBI, while Oliver stepped in a pinch-hitter and recorded two RBI of his own on one hit. Irvin started on the mound for the second time in one week and recorded his third loss of the season after pitching five and one-third innings.

The Panthers return to action on Tuesday, April 20 when they travel to Kent. They then host West Virginia on Wednesday, April 21, and visit Akron on Thursday, April 22, before hosting Boston College in a three-game series, April 24-25.