Panthers drop two at Cincinnati

Despite strong pitching performances from both its starters and relievers, Pitt dropped two of… Despite strong pitching performances from both its starters and relievers, Pitt dropped two of three affairs to Big East foe Cincinnati at Marge Schott Stadium this weekend.

Pitchers Nate Reed and Corey Baker went the distance in the first and third games of the series, with Baker picking up the lone victory for the Panthers (10-20, 3-9 Big East).

Starter Rob Brant was effective as well in the second game of the series, but Pitt fell to the Bearcats in extra innings.

Cincinnati improved its record to 19-12 overall and 9-3 in the Big East.

The Panthers have an off day today but will travel to Athens, Ohio, to face the Ohio Bobcats in a nonconference battle tomorrow. Pitt will square off against Duquesne on Wednesday.

Cincinnati 6, Pitt 3

On Friday, the first game of the series, the Panthers found themselves in an early deficit but rallied to tie the game. Cincinnati’s offense bounced back to capture the win.

Cincinnati manufactured its first run with small ball and a Pitt miscue. With one out, Cincinnati’s Jamel Scott singled to right field. Scott stole second and advanced to third on a ground out.

The Panthers looked like they would get out of the inning unscathed, but an error by second baseman Chris Tonte allowed Scott to score.

The Bearcats added a second run in the third inning. Leadoff hitter Tony Campana singled and got to second on another ground out. After stealing third, Campana crossed home on a sacrifice fly by Josh Harrison to put Cincinnati up, 2-0.

Pitt’s offense finally got going in the fourth. Sean Conley, Danny Lopez and Dan Williams singled in succession to begin the inning, with Williams’ hit driving in Conley.

Catcher Nick Mullins flew out to center to score Lopez from third, tying the game, 2-2. Joe Leonard reached on an error to put two men on base, but both runners were stranded.

Cincinnati went ahead for good in the bottom of the fifth. Harrison got the inning going by singling and stealing second. Cameron Satterwhite slammed a home run with two outs to give the Bearcats a two-run lead.

Pitt answered quickly in the sixth. Once again, three straight hits to start the inning brought in a run, with Mullins’s single driving in Lopez. But the rally was killed when Leonard struck out and Williams was thrown out trying to steal third on the play.

Chris Warner struck out to end the threat.

That would be all for the Panthers offense. The team recorded only one more hit in the final three innings. Cincinnati’s Tyler Goodro hit a two-run home run in the eighth to complete the scoring and seal the 6-3 win.

Pitt sophomore left-hander Nate Reed pitched a complete game, giving up five earned runs and striking out three. Williams collected three hits in the game, and Lopez notched two as well while scoring two runs.

Cincinnati 3, Pitt 2 (11 innings)

Pitt’s offense recorded nine hits on Saturday, including Conley’s team-leading ninth home run of the year, but the Panthers lost a tough contest in extra frames.

Senior starter Rob Brant pitched effectively, giving up two runs, one earned, on five hits with four walks and four strikeouts. Brant didn’t figure into the decision.

Freshman reliever David Kaye threw 4 2/3 innings of shutout ball after Brant’s successful start.

But Pitt’s offense couldn’t capitalize on its opportunities in the top of the 11th inning and the Bearcats scored in the bottom of the inning to steal the victory.

In the 11th, Mullins walked to open the inning. Warner hit into a double play, but Leonard singled and the left fielder dropped Jordan Herr’s would-be fly out. With runners on second and third, Zach Duggan flied out to right to end the chance.

Ricky Breymier came out of the bullpen for Pitt in the bottom of the inning. After a clutch throw by Mullins threw out a Cincinnati runner trying to steal second, the bases were empty with two outs.

But Breymier walked the next two batters and Scott singled to center to score the winning run. Breymier was charged with the loss. Conley homered in the third for his ninth of the season. His only hit of the day put the Panthers ahead, 1-0.

Pitt 3, Cincinnati 2

Freshman pitcher Corey Baker threw a complete game and Conley scored on a wild pitch to break the tie and give Pitt a victory in Sunday’s afternoon contest.

Cincinnati notched the first run in the bottom of the second inning but Pitt tied it in the third. Warner launched a home run to right field to break the tie and give the Panthers a 2-1 advantage in the fifth, but Cincinnati inched a run across the plate on a sacrifice fly in the bottom half.

Pitt made two quick outs in the seventh inning, but Conley singled and Lopez doubled to put two runners on. The ensuing wild pitch brought Conley home as the winning run.