Baseball peaks at right time

Pitt moved into a tie with Notre Dame for first place in the Big East with a three-game sweep… Pitt moved into a tie with Notre Dame for first place in the Big East with a three-game sweep of Seton Hall last weekend. Pitt also won two blowouts against non-conference opponents Buffalo and Niagara, scoring a total of 36 runs in both games combined. Over their current five-game winning streak, the Panthers have scored 62 runs.

“We’re peaking at the right time,” head coach Joe Jordano said.

Jordano spoke about the fact that the Panthers (34-12 overall, 15-5 Big East) have a solid lineup, and from top to bottom there are no weaknesses.

“There is no soft spot in the lineup,” Jordano said.

Pitt’s offense has come alive in its late season run for the No. 1 seed in the Big East Tournament.

“It’s like a horse race,” Jordano said. “We’re coming down the home stretch.”

At the moment, Pitt is tied with Notre Dame (38-9, 15-5) for the first seed, and each team has six Big East games left. Pitt plays UConn (22-24, 6-14) this weekend and St. John’s (30-16, 13-7) the following. Notre Dame still must play Rutgers (28-17, 13-5) and Virginia Tech (25-21, 10-10).

This is why the sweep over Seton Hall (14-29-1, 6-14) was huge for the Panthers.

Pitt 20, Buffalo 5

P.J Hiser blasted two home runs in Pitt’s rout over Buffalo at Audubon Field in New York on May 4. Hiser batted 4-for-4 on the day, with three RBIs and four runs scored. He was also a triple away from hitting for the cycle.

T.J. Gornati collected his second win of the season, striking out 10 batters in six innings of work.

With two outs, in the top of the first, Hiser got the scoring started for Pitt by sending a solo shot to left field. After Tom Cashman was hit by a pitch, Jim Negrych sent a ball flying over the fence in center field to give Pitt a 3-0 lead.

The Panthers just piled the runs on from there, including a seven-run eighth inning.

Mike Zambriczki went 2-for-5 with four RBIs and one run scored. He also hit his third home run of the season.

Cashman hit his ninth home run of the season in the top of the seventh inning. The two-run shot gave Pitt a commanding 10-2 lead.

Pitt 16, Niagara 7

Pitt put the Purple Eagles away early by scoring seven runs in the first inning at Sal Maglie Stadium on May 6.

The Panthers scored the seven runs on only four hits in the inning. Four of the runs came on two-run singles by Peter Parise and Ben Copeland. Copeland finished the game 3-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBIs.

The Panthers tacked on three more runs in the fourth inning to take a 10-2 lead over Niagara.

Paul Nardozzi (5-3) recorded the win in relief, pitching three scoreless innings. He struck out three batters and did not allow a hit.

Pitt 3, Seton Hall 2

A low-scoring game by Pitt standards started off the three-game series at South Orange, N.J. on May 8. Neither team scored a run until the final inning. Pitt jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the final inning on Hiser’s triple which scored two runners.

In the bottom half of the inning, the Pirates would tack on two runs before Hiser came in to pitch in relief of Nick Evangelista. Hiser recorded the save and gave the Panthers the win in the first game of the double header.

Evangelista struck out five batters and improved his record to 7-1.

Pitt 13, Seton Hall 7

Pitt scored a run in the ninth inning to force the game into extra innings in game two. Down 7-6, Spamer scored on a sacrifice fly by Negrych.

In the 10th frame, Pitt put up a six spot to take a 13-7 lead over Seton Hall. Cline scored the winning run for the Panthers on a passed ball. He reached base on a single, and stole second. He was advanced to third and the error allowed him to come home for the game-winning run.

Negrych batted 2-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Cashman was a perfect 3-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored.

Gornati collected the win in relief for Andrew Kuss. Gornati struck out eight Pirates in his five innings of work.

Pitt 10, Seton Hall 5

Before Pitt stepped to the plate in the seventh inning, the game was tied at four, but a six-run rally by the Panthers would help them complete the sweep of Seton Hall.

The Panthers loaded the bases with two outs and then Seton Hall continued to walk batters, allowing two runs to come in. Mike Scanzano singled to center field scoring two base runners and giving Pitt the 8-4 lead. The bases were loaded up again and Cline singled to center field, sending two more Panthers home.

Nardozzi (6-3) picked up the win in relief of Hiser, striking out four batters. He allowed only one run and two hits in his 4.1 innings of work.

Cline went 3-for-5 with two RBIs and one double.

Pitt is back in action at PNC Park today at 1 p.m. against city rival Duquesne. The game is free for all to come and watch.