Pitt opens Big East, winning 2 of 3 games over weekend

There’s no place like home ‘- especially to try to build on a winning streak. Entering the… There’s no place like home ‘- especially to try to build on a winning streak. Entering the weekend, the Pitt baseball team had won three consecutive games and faced a fortuitous schedule, playing eight of its next nine games at Trees Field. The opportunity to improve on a solid 9-5 record was there for the taking, and Pitt did not disappoint, winning two games of a possible three against Cincinnati while opening Big East play. In the first of three games against the Bearcats, Pitt came out swinging, blowing out Cincinnati 18-4. Every starting Panther recorded at least one hit, while eight different players knocked in at least one RBI on the day. The balanced attack paved the way to victory for the resurgent Panthers. A strong pitching performance by Nate Reed earned the junior his first victory of 2009. Reed struck out six in six innings and gave up four earned runs. Scoring 18 runs in a game opened the record books for Pitt, as the team set or tied a season-high in almost every offensive category. Home runs from Chris Sedon, Frank Mercurio and Cory Brownsten propelled the Panthers to a 23-hit day. Joe Leonard finished the day going 4 for 5 while scoring twice and knocking in two more. Pitt controlled play throughout the day, but a six-run eighth inning put the game out of reach. In the following day’s rematch, Cincinnati could not redeem itself, as Pitt defeated the Bearcats 5-0. The story of the day was the pitching performance by Corey Baker. Baker earned his team-high third victory of the season. He pitched a complete-game shutout, giving up six hits and striking out five. The pitching, coupled with a strong Mercurio bat, led the way for Pitt. Mercurio went 3 for 4 with two RBIs. His home run in the sixth was his third for the year. In the top of the ninth, Baker’s shutout was in jeopardy, as Cincinnati had batters on first and second with no outs. Solid defensive work, including a double play, backed Baker’s bid. The opening conference-play sweep loomed for Pitt, but Cincinnati topped the Panthers in the final game of the weekend, 9-5. The loss snapped Pitt’s six-game winning streak. Scoring the game’s first four runs, Cincinnati jumped to the lead, but Pitt clawed its way back to tie the game in the bottom of the third. The Bearcats retook the momentum, however, and rolled along with timely hitting and strong defensive play to knock off the Panthers. Despite the one loss, Pitt stands in good position at 11-6 overall for the year and 2-1 in the Big East. Pitt will travel to Akron today at 3 p.m. before another five-game homestand thereafter, including non-conference contests with Youngstown State and Akron and a three-game set with Big East opponent Notre Dame this weekend at Trees Field.