Pitt defeats Youngstown State, 7-1

The Pitt baseball team’s bats came back to life with runners on base Wednesday night as… The Pitt baseball team’s bats came back to life with runners on base Wednesday night as it defeated the Youngstown State Penguins 7-1 behind a strong pitching effort by Tom Gornati.

Pitt (19-8 overall, 2-4 Big East) had only scored five runs and stranded 28 base runners in its past three games, which all were against St. John’s. The Panthers erupted for seven runs on 11 hits and were able to capitalize on five Penguin errors.

Stuart Rykaceski scored what proved to be the winning run in the top of the fourth inning. He led off the inning with a single and advanced to third on two wild pitches. Rykaceski scored on a sacrifice fly, making the score 2-0.

The Panthers drew first blood, as they got on the board in the first inning. Panthers’ shortstop Bryan Spamer reached on a two-out single and eventually came around to score on consecutive errors on Youngstown State catcher Adam Cox and right fielder Brandon Caipen.

Pitt first baseman Tom Cashman singled home a run in the fifth inning, making the score 3-0. The Penguins (11-10) aided the Panthers with three errors, which enabled them to break the game open in the ninth.

Rykaceski had an RBI triple, one of three hits in the inning. Cashman added an RBI double during the rally.

Gornati picked up the win as he pitched 4 1/3 scoreless innings. Gornati struck out seven, walked none and scattered five hits.

The Penguins’ only run came in the bottom of the ninth after Charles Shultz led off the inning with a triple. Kendall Schlabach knocked Shultz in with a sacrifice fly.

Cashman finished with three hits and two RBIs. Spamer and Rykaceski had two hits apiece and a run scored.

Pitt takes on Big East foe Rutgers today in a doubleheader at Trees Field. Game one is scheduled to begin at noon.