Pitt takes final game to complete sweep

Redemption sometimes comes in unexpected forms. Pitt’s baseball team avenged the basketball’s… Redemption sometimes comes in unexpected forms. Pitt’s baseball team avenged the basketball’s team sweep at the hands of West Virginia with a sweep of its own, capping a three-game series with an 8-7 victory Sunday afternoon.

The sweep also evened Pitt’s Big East record at 8-8, while improving the Panthers’ overall record to 22-15 on the season, but the Panthers had some work to do before they could get out the brooms.

Pitt pounced on top of the Mountaineers (19-26 overall, 5-11 Big East) with three runs in the bottom of the first. Ben Copeland smacked a double to left field and then used his speed to move to third. He eventually scored on a throwing error for a 1-0 lead. Pitt built its lead to 3-0, but wouldn’t hold the advantage for long.

In the top of the second, the Mountaineer offense exploded with two singles and a double for two quick runs. A fielding error gave West Virginia its final run of the inning for a 4-3 lead.

Pitt responded with four straight runs of its own, claiming a 7-4 lead going into the seventh. West Virginia rallied once again, however, crushing a home run in the seventh and adding a pair of runs in the ninth to tie the contest.

Peter Parise started the final inning out with a single up the middle, followed by a Copeland single that allowed Parise to move to third. Jeff Stevens then plated Parise with a single to center field for a thrilling 8-7 victory.

Pitt is back in action today at nonconference foe Niagara, a rematch of a 12-0 Panther win earlier this season.