Pitt baseball tests No. 1 Vandy, loses three straight

Pitt baseball came close to getting its first win of the season over the weekend. And what a… Pitt baseball came close to getting its first win of the season over the weekend. And what a win it would have been

The Panthers traveled to the Music City Classic in Nashville, Tenn. Pitt (0-6) had a few close calls but ultimately left the Volunteer State the same way it entered – winless. Pitt’s closest game came against the best team in the country.

Pitt head coach Joe Jordano’s team nearly upset top-ranked Vanderbilt in Friday’s opening game, but the Panthers rescinded their early 3-0 lead. Pitt couldn’t muster up enough offense to get past Belmont and Lipscomb in struggling to a last-place finish in the Classic.

The Panthers will be back in action this Sunday when they head to Clearwater, Fla. Pitt will play Sacred Heart and a doubleheader against St. Joseph’s.

No. 1 Vanderbilt 4, Pitt 3

Pitt built an early three-run lead in the first game of the Classic, but the Commodores pulled ahead with four straight runs, the last two coming in the bottom of the fourth, to come away with a 4-3 win.

Pitt second baseman Dan Williams belted a single to center field, plating designated hitter Brian Muldowney to open the scoring in the second.

But Vanderbilt starter David Price, who pitched 5 2/3 innings and struck out 10 to get his second win of the year, kept Pitt off the scoreboard until the third inning.

Operating with two outs, Pitt’s Peter Parise and Seth Button hit back-to-back singles. Muldowney found his way to first after Price hit him with a pitch, loading the bases. Catcher Nick Mullins nailed a single to center, scoring two runs to bump Pitt’s lead to 3-0.

Vanderbilt got two runs back in the bottom of the third, getting singles and a walk off of Pitt starter Paul Nardozzi (0-2). The Commodores got the two runs from a pair of singles, but Nardozzi killed the rally to keep the score even.

Vanderbilt outfielder Jonathan White crushed a leadoff double in the fourth and then scored on a single by designated hitter Kurt Lipton. A fielder’s choice plated junior Brad French, giving the unbeaten Commodores enough for their eighth win of the season.

Kyle Landis went 3 1/3 scoreless innings of relief for Nardozzi, scattering three hits. Pitt was out-hit 12 to seven and the Panthers mustered one hit after the third inning.

Belmont 11, Pitt 4

The Bruins bolted to an early lead and never let Pitt back in.

This time Pitt fell behind 4-0. The Panthers wouldn’t plate a run until freshman Daniel Lopez, who drew a walk, got to third on a double from Mike Lepor. Outfielder Sean Conley brought the freshman home on the next at-bat, cutting the deficit to 4-1.

Button helped Pitt close to 4-2 in the top of the sixth. With Button on second, Lopez came to the plate and belted an RBI-single to score Button, cutting the Belmont lead in half.

Just like Friday, the Pitt bats quieted late in the game. This time, the pitching gave way in the game’s final innings.

The Bruins doubled their runs with four more in the bottom of the sixth. Although redshirt freshman Gary Bucuren hit a two-run homer to cut into the deficit, Belmont got three more runs to put the game out of reach. The freshman went 3 for 4 on the day, hitting two singles to go with his home run.

Starter Rob Brant was tagged with the loss, giving up four runs and six hits in his five innings pitched.

Lipscomb 4, Pitt 2

A pitchers’ duel decided the final game of the weekend, but not even a stellar outing from Nate Reed was enough for Pitt to get into the win column Sunday.

Reed kept the Bisons scoreless until the fifth, but Lipscomb got on the board with a pair of two-out singles. Pitt’s offense struggled against starter Brandon McClurg, eventually falling behind 4-0 when the Bisons scored three in the seventh.

The Panthers managed a few hits and tallied two runs in the top of the ninth inning, but for the second day in a row, it proved too little offense, too late in the game. Button hit a two-run home run in the inning, leaving him 2 for 3, but that was the highlight for Pitt’s offense on the day.

Reed finished the game with three walks and three strikeouts, scattering nine hits.