Dukes hand Pitt its sixth loss

It was a day filled with ups and downs for the Pitt baseball team.

The Panthers were able… It was a day filled with ups and downs for the Pitt baseball team.

The Panthers were able to come up with 14 hits in its game at local rival Duquesne on Tuesday afternoon, but they stranded 12 base runners and were only able to produce five runs with all those hits, losing the game by the score of 9-5.

Senior shortstop Bryan Spamer led the way for Pitt (17-6 overall). In addition to solid defense, Spamer produced three hits on the day, including his first home run of the season.

Duquesne’s Luke Taggart was the difference in the game, belting two home runs — the first of his career — including a fourth-inning grand slam.

The Dukes jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning of their home opener, when redshirt freshman Joe Berletic hit a two-run single.

The Panthers responded by cutting the deficit to one when Spamer scored off a Mike Zambriczki sacrifice fly to left field.

Duquesne took over the game in the fourth inning, however, scoring five runs and taking a 7-1 lead.

The Panthers trimmed the Dukes’ lead in the top of the fifth inning when Spamer hit a two-run single. But the Dukes would respond, pushing their lead back to six in the sixth inning behind another Taggart home run.

Pitt was able to score two more runs in the top of the seventh after Spamer hit a solo home run. Zambriczki followed by picking up his second RBI, doubling to drive in Mike Scanzano.

Freshman pitcher Paul Nardozzi suffered his second loss of the year by giving up seven runs and seven hits in four innings of work.

Despite the loss, the Panthers received some solid recognition for their recent play. The CollegeBaseballInsider.com Northeast coaches’ poll currently has Pitt ranked No. 2; up three spots from last week.

The Panthers currently have two players batting over .400. Sophomore center fielder Ben Copeland is leading the team with a .409 average and 12 stolen bases. P.J. Hiser owns a .408 average, and is leading the team with 10 home runs and 29 RBIs.

The Panthers return to Big East action today as they travel to New Jersey to play a doubleheader against Rutgers.