Rykacesk: extends hitting streak to 17 games as Panthers split eight games

Eight games took place for the Pitt baseball team since the spring semester came to an end…. Eight games took place for the Pitt baseball team since the spring semester came to an end. The Panthers (33-16 overall, 10-10 Big East) put together a respectable 4-4 record over the past two weeks, but perhaps lost their most important games of the season during a series with Boston College last weekend.

Victories outside of the Big East Conference helped improve the Panther?s overall record, but with three losses in conference play, they have fallen to sixth place.

Pitt 4, Buffalo 0

Another strong pitching performance by Nick Evangelista got the Panthers their 30th win of the season. This is the second consecutive year they?ve recorded that many victories.

Pitt was only able to produce four hits in the game, but a pair of errors by the Bulls in the bottom of the first inning gave the Panthers a 2-0 lead.

Tom Cashman and Bryan Spamer each added runs in the sixth inning with back to back RBIs to increase the Pitt lead to 4-0.

Evangelista continued to shutdown Buffalo and, with the help of relief pitcher Jimmy Blue in the ninth inning, his record improved to 8-2 on the season.

Buffalo 7, Pitt 4

A lack of defense cost the Panthers a sweep over Buffalo, as errors allowed the Bulls to jump out to an early lead. Buffalo picked up an unearned run in the second inning and never looked back.

Ten batters stepped to the plate for the Bulls in the sixth inning as they put together six more runs on Pitt?s Jeff Barnyak, the losing pitcher. Barnyak was pulled after 5 2/3 innings but the damage was already done.

Spamer was responsible for three of the four runs by the Panthers with an RBI in the fifth inning and a pair in the ninth.

Pitt 10, Niagra 3

An impressive offensive performance by the Panthers and a solid job on the mound by T.J. Gornati created an easy victory in this non-conference matchup.

Mike Scanzano had three RBIs on the day, including a two-run home run in the first inning. Casey Long was brilliant as well, batting 4 for 5 and adding two RBIs. The Panthers had 14 hits on the day.

Pitt 5, Canisius 0

Mike Rhoten pitched a complete game for the Panthers, allowing only three hits in his first career shutout.

Long continued to have the hot bat for Pitt, going 2 for 3 with a two-run homer in the fourth inning. Stuart Rykaceski continued to be hot as well with a RBI in the sixth inning. Rykaceski has now hit in 13 consecutive games.Pitt 8, Cansius 2

The Panthers? bats continued to be productive, putting together 10 hits in the second game of this doubleheader against the Griffs.

Rykaceski?s streak continued with a pair of hits and Scott Folmar added two of his own. Long was productive once again as well, adding a two-run double in the seventh inning.

Todd Schultz was credited for the win, giving up only four hits and pitching six solid innings.

Boston College 4, Pitt 3

The Panthers hot streak came to an end as Big East play resumed. The Eagles knocked in four runs in the bottom of the first and never looked back.

Pitt picked up a pair of runs in the fourth inning to cut the lead in half, and came within one after a Spamer RBI single in the sixth.

But solid pitching by Boston College held the Panthers scoreless for the remaining three innings to secure their lead and pick up the victory.

Boston College 5, Pitt 0

Rykaceski?s streak extended to 16 games in the second game of the series, but his bunt single in the second inning was the only hit the Panthers would see all day.

Chris Lambert was a gem on the mound for the Eagles, pitching a complete game, one-hit shutout. He struck out eight Pitt batters on the day as well.

Boston College 8, Pitt 1

The Pitt offense was not much more energetic in the wrap up game of the series. Barnyak took the mound again for the Panthers, but was taken out early after getting smacked around. He suffered the loss, allowing five runs on three hits in just three innings.

Though the Panthers lost three key games in conference play, they are still in the top half of the Big East standings in sixth place. It will be tough and they will need help from other teams, but it is possible for Pitt to make it to the postseason Big East tournament, which takes the top four teams in the conference.

Pitt returns to action on Saturday when the Virginia Tech Hokies visit Trees Field for a three-game series. Saturday?s doubleheader begins at noon.