Late rally lifts Panthers to series win

With the possibility of falling to the bottom of the Big East conference standings staring… With the possibility of falling to the bottom of the Big East conference standings staring them in the face, the Panther baseball team found a way to win when things looked the worst.

After splitting a Saturday doubleheader and falling behind 6-0 in the third game of their weekend series with UConn, the Panthers (15-13 overall, 3-7 Big East) scored nine runs in the eighth inning, and their bullpen held off the Huskies (20-9, 4-4) to win the game, and more importantly, the series.

Of the four teams that made the Big East tournament a year ago, no team had more than nine conference losses. With six losses in the Big East heading into the weekend, the series was undoubtedly a must-win for the Panthers.

“You can’t look at previous years,” Panther head coach Joe Jordano said. “These top teams are going to play each other over the next few weeks and that will help shake them out but we definitely had to win the series and probably every series from here on out. We put ourselves in a hole and that is indicative of the youthful mistakes we have been making.”

Pitt 8, Connecticut 7

With a revamped lineup on the field, the Panthers were able to support staff ace Billy Muldowney with eight runs to take the series opener. Muldowney, who has been victim to a pair of tough luck losses this season, did not have his best stuff, but battled through five-plus innings, allowing just four earned runs and nine hits to pick up the win.

Coming off the bench, transfer Justin Cicatello led the Panther offense with two hits, a run scored and an RBI to go along with Jim Negrych’s two hits, two runs and two RBIs.

The Huskies got the scoring started in the first with three runs off four hits, the big blow coming in the form of a two-run single off the bat of catcher Larry Day. The Panthers tied the game quickly in the top of the second with three runs of their own.

After Peter Parise reached base on an error, Sean Conley continued his hot hitting with a single to advance Parise. Dan Ford, who was moved down in the lineup by Jordano in order to see more fastballs, followed up with a single, scoring both Parise and Conley.

Trailing by two in the fourth, the Panthers put up four runs, taking the lead for good. David Cline got things going by reaching base on a fielder’s choice, then stealing second and eventually scoring on a single from Cicatello. Negrych then drove in both Copeland and Cicatello with a double to center field, pulling the Panthers away.

Muldowney (2-2) got the win for the Panthers while Eli Friedman picked up his first save of the year, working the final one and two-third innings perfectly.

Connecticut 2, Pitt 1

Despite a brilliant pitching performance from Paul Nardozzi, the Panthers couldn’t get to Huskies starter Rich Sirois and lost a heartbreaker to split the doubleheader.

Nardozzi (3-4) pitched eight strong innings, allowing two runs, only one of which was earned, and striking out eight, but was out-dueled by Sirois (5-2), who gave up just one earned run in eight before Ted Garry slammed the door on the Panthers in the ninth.

The Huskies started the scoring with a lone run in the fourth. Junior Bryan Maler led the inning off with a single and then stole second base to get into scoring position. Maler then got to third on an error by Panther catcher Jeff Stevens, before scoring on Jeff Hourigan’s sacrifice fly. The Huskies’ second run came in the sixth when Russ D’Argento homered to left

“Paul pitched well,” Jordano said. “We talk everyday that every pitch matters and when he got behind D’Argento, he threw a 2-1 fastball and D’Argento just turned on it for a home run.”

Pitt 9, Connecticut 6

Career win number 496 for Jordano came in spectacular fashion as the Panther bats came alive in the eighth for nine runs and the come-from-behind win. The Huskies scored two runs in the third, fifth and seventh innings to build a six-run cushion, but the Panthers took advantage of a big error with timely hitting to fight back.

“It was tremendous, on the road, coming back the way we did,” Jordano said. “We showed a lot of character. We got a couple of crucial hits, and UConn made one crucial error and for maybe just the first or second time this season, we took advantage.”

Trailing by six in the eighth, Ford started the Panthers’ run with a single and moved to third on Williams’ double. Cline and Copeland followed with consecutive singles, plating Ford and Williams and cutting the lead to four.

Cicatello then greeted new Husky pitcher Ted Garry with a double to right field, scoring Cline and sending Copeland to third. Negrych, who had his eight-game hit streak snapped in the win, followed with a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Copeland and sending Cicatello to third to cut the lead to two.

Parise followed with a single up the middle, scoring Cicatello. Conley was hit by a pitch and the Huskies changed pitchers again, this time bringing in Tim Norton to face catcher Jeff Stevens. After Stevens walked to load the bases, Ford grounded into a fielder’s choice, but two runs scored on an error by Norton.

Williams then singled, his second hit of the inning, to drive in both Stevens and Ford, giving the Panthers a three-run cushion they wouldn’t relinquish.

The Panthers are back in action today as they travel to Ohio to take on Akron in a non-conference game before heading back to Pittsburgh to play cross-town rival Duquesne at PNC Park on Wednesday at 1 p.m.