Baseball takes two games from New York Tech

A weekend off from Big East play seemed to be a good thing for Pitt’s baseball team, as it… A weekend off from Big East play seemed to be a good thing for Pitt’s baseball team, as it swept a doubleheader against New York Tech on Saturday.

In game one, starting pitcher Nick Evangelista threw six scoreless innings and had the support of four Panther home runs. The power stroke continued in the second game, as Pitt pounded out four more home runs while on its way to an 11-3 win.

Pitt 9, New York Tech 3

Pitt broke open a scoreless game in the fourth inning by placing a four spot on the scoreboard, and then proceeded to score two in the fifth and three in the sixth to pick up its 21st win of the season.

Evangelista started on the mound for the Panthers, and extended his scoreless innings streak to 13 innings. He went six strong innings, allowing no runs on four hits, while walking one and striking out four.

The nine Panther runs came mostly off four home runs hit by P.J. Hiser, Jim Negrych, Alex Rybczak and David Cline.

Hiser went 2-for-4 with two runs batted in and hit his Big East-leading 12th home run of the season, while Negrych was 3-for-4 including the home run, which was his fourth of the season.

New York Tech’s Garrett McDevitt and Ronny Reyes accounted for all three runs with back-to-back home runs in the top of the seventh. McDevitt drove in freshman Jon Antanasio with a two-run shot, and Reyes followed with a solo shot.

Pitt 11, New York Tech 3

The bats continued to roll in the second game for Pitt, as the Panthers posted another four home runs to push the two game total to 20 runs on 25 hits.

In the third inning and down 3-2, Ben Copeland singled to start the rally, while Negrych and Hiser hit back-to-back singles after Peter Parise flied out. After a groundout by Tom Cashman, Bryan Spamer delivered a home run over the left field wall to give Pitt a 6-3 lead.

Pitt then busted the game wide open in the fourth inning, when Copeland again led off the rally, this time with a walk, which was followed by a home run from Parise. Negrych and Hiser connected on back-to-back singles for the second time in the game, while Cashman delivered a double behind them. The four runs lengthened Pitt’s lead to seven, at 10-3.

Andrew Kuss started for the Panthers, going six innings allowing three runs on four hits, while walking one and striking out four. After giving up three runs in the first two innings, Kuss pitched four hitless innings before he was taken out.

Mike Bassage and John Hay each came on in relief for the final three innings. Combined, they allowed two hits and no runs in three innings of work.

Freshman Tony Marciante finished off the scoring for Pitt when he drilled his first career home run way over the left field fence in the eighth inning for an 11-3 Panther lead and eventual win.

The eight home runs give Pitt a total of 33 on the season, which surpasses its mark of 28 last season. Also, the four home runs in each game set a new season high for home runs in a game.

The Panthers will resume Big East play this weekend, when they host doubleheaders at Trees Field with the Georgetown Hoyas on Friday and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Sunday.