Flashes of brilliance propel Kent State

Pitt baseball reverted back to some bad habits in Wednesday’s 7-0 loss against Kent State at… Pitt baseball reverted back to some bad habits in Wednesday’s 7-0 loss against Kent State at Trees Field.

The Panthers gave up three runs in the first two innings, and the offense couldn’t make up the difference, mustering only four hits in the contest.

Pitt (8-14) came off an impressive weekend series against Big East rival Louisville, where the Panthers won 2 of 3 games. But the Panthers couldn’t continue the momentum against nonconference opponent Kent State (9-13).

“We need to be more focused for mid-week, nonconference games,” Pitt coach Joe Jordano said.

Pitt had the problem that hindered the team when it was swept by West Virginia two weeks ago: a slow start. The Panthers fell behind those games, 12-0, 10-0 and 8-0, respectively.

Errors and hit batsmen were the culprits on Wednesday. Two of each in the first inning gave the Golden Flashes a two-run cushion that they wouldn’t relinquish.

“We did not play well defensively today, and that definitely hurt us,” Jordano said. “Unfortunately, our mistakes came at a time when there were runners on base. We have to play clean baseball to be competitive.”

Kent State pitcher Alan Morrison gave up four hits in five innings to earn the victory. He also struck out four batters and walked none.

Sophomore starter Mike Wood picked up the loss for the Panthers. He allowed three runs, one earned, in two innings of work.

Kent State scored two more unearned runs against Pitt’s bullpen.

Freshman reliever Kevin Dooley pitched the final three innings. He allowed one hit and struck out two, walking none.

“Dooley was dealing in this game,” Jordano said. “He threw strikes, let the ball work and worked ahead of hitters. He earned himself more opportunities.”

The Golden Flashes’ bullpen matched Pitt’s effort and didn’t allow any semblance of a Panthers’ comeback. Two Kent State relievers pitched four hitless innings.

Things looked ominous from the start for Pitt. After retiring the first batter he faced, Wood plunked the next hitter.

An error and a single loaded the bases for Kent State’s Anthony Gallas. Gallas reached on another Pitt error to score the first run of the game. Wood hit Brad Winter with the next pitch to put the Golden Flashes up two runs.

Pitt got on the comeback trail in the bottom of the first when leadoff man Jordan Herr hit a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. But Morrison picked off Herr, ending the threat.

Kent State manufactured a run in the second with some small ball. Two batters walked to start of the inning, and a sacrifice bunt advanced them one base farther. Ben Klafczynski then hit a sacrifice fly to put the Golden Flashes up, 3-0.

That was all Morrison would need. He gave up another leadoff single in the second, but that was immediately erased by a double-play ground ball.

Pitt would only manage one more hit the rest of the game.

Kent State put the game away in the top of the fourth without recording a hit. Pitt freshman Cole Taylor walked four batters, and two more Pitt errors led to three runs.

The Golden Flashes’ Doug Sanders hit a solo home run in the top of the sixth to finish the scoring.

Pitt looks to rebound in a key weekend series at Seton Hall that begins on Friday.

“We will play hard this weekend,” Jordano said. “We need these games. Every game in the conference is important. I look forward to the series. The Hall is much improved this year.”