May 7, 2002

CLEVELAND, Ohio-The University of Pittsburgh baseball captured its fifth straight contest in a come-from-behind 6-5 victory over Cleveland State Tuesday afternoon at the Cleveland Indians' Jacobs Field. The Panthers improved to 31-13-1 overall while the Vikings dropped to 13-29.

Pittsburgh fell behind 5-0 after Cleveland State scored once in the first inning and twice in each of the third and fourth innings. Ernest Simpson led off the first inning with a solo home run, becoming the fourth collegiate athlete to hit a home run at Jacobs Field.

However, the Panthers clawed their way back into the contest with two runs in the sixth inning thanks to an RBI-single by junior Brant Colamarino (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) and an error by the Viking first baseman. Colamarino finished 2 for 5 with two RBIs, extending his hitting streak to 22 games.

Pittsburgh grabbed the lead by plating four runs in the seventh inning. RBI-singles from Colamarino and Scott Folmar (Chambersburg, Pa./Chambersburg) and a two-run double by Bryan Spamer (Harrisburg, Pa./Redlands) provided the punch for the Panthers.

Spamer finished with four hits in five at-bats while knocking in two runs and scoring two more. Colamarino, Brad Rea (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) and Tony Railing (Highland Village, Texas/F.M. Marcus) each tallied two hits apiece for Pittsburgh.

Jeff Barnyak (Philipsburg, Pa./Philipsburg-Osceola) picked up the win in six innings of relief. Barnyak (3-0) allowed just two hits and struck out five Vikings while walking none. Jimmy Blue (Washington, Pa./Trinity) started the game, but pitched only three innings and gave up five runs and eight hits.

Pittsburgh travels to Akron Wednesday night for a 7 p.m.