Panthers hold off Kent State, 10-7

The Pitt baseball team had control of all of the momentum Wednesday afternoon as they held… The Pitt baseball team had control of all of the momentum Wednesday afternoon as they held off Kent State. The Golden Flash was coming off a huge victory, having knocked off No. 1 Georgia Tech, but Pitt held on to win the game 10-7.

The Panthers (15-4) avoided falling to the Golden Flash, while extending their winning streak to six games, using three big offensive innings and a strong six-inning relief pitching performance from sophomore Adam Luckette.

After starter T.J. Gornati (1-0) held Kent State to a scoreless first inning with one strikeout, Pitt capitalized and scored four runs in the bottom of the frame.

Stuart Rykaceski and Bryan Spamer reached base on a walk-and-hit batsman, setting the stage for an early Panther lead.

First baseman Tom Cashman ripped an RBI-single up the middle, which was followed by a two-run double from designated hitter Chris Wilmoth. Alex Rybczak finished the inning with an RBI-double.

During the next two innings, Kent State (7-6) responded to tie the score at four. Golden Flash catcher Pat O’Brien knocked a home run over the left field fence that put Kent State on the scoreboard with two runs. After a three-up, three-down second inning for Pitt, the Golden Flash continued the offense in the top of the third inning.

Kent State scored two runs off three hits and two walks given up by Gornati. With two outs, two runners on and the score tied, Luckette, a left-hander, entered the game and racked up a strikeout to end the threat.

A two-run third inning followed for Pitt. This included four Panther hits from Cashman, Mike Scanzano, Rybczak and Joe Burger. Scanzano also picked up a stolen base in the frame.

In the nip-and-tuck contest, Kent State answered in the fourth inning with three runs, grabbing its first and only lead on the afternoon and the only runs that Luckette would allow.

Pitt had a big three-run fourth inning off two hits and one error. Center fielder Ben Copeland singled to left field, and then Rykaceski was walked. Spamer grounded out to the second baseman, and the Panthers had runners on second and third base with one out.

After battling with a 0-2 count, Cashman drilled the pitch to the center field warning track. Center fielder Eric O’Brien dropped the ball, and the error brought in the first Pitt run of the inning. Scanzano followed with an RBI-single.

With the score 9-7, Luckette pitched 3 2/3 innings more of scoreless baseball, allowing only two hits during that stretch, to pick up his first win of the season. The Panthers gave Luckette an insurance run in the sixth inning when Wilmoth singled home Spamer.

In the top of the ninth inning, after giving up a two-out double to Kent State pinch hitter Chad Wagler and going to a 3-0 count on Joe Tucker, Pitt looked to their bullpen.

Sophomore Jimmy Blue was called in to pitch the remaining count on Tucker. Blue picked up his second save this season as he threw three straight strikes to Tucker, registering the strikeout.

Luckette only gave up two earned runs while adding four strikeouts in his winning performance. Justin Laraway received the loss for Kent State, giving up two earned runs and two hits.

Cashman finished the game 3 for 5 from the plate with three runs scored and one RBI. Scanzano and Wilmoth each led Pitt with three RBIs. Second baseman Scott Folmar added two sacrifice bunts.

Pitt has won 13 of its last 14 games and looks to open its conference schedule Saturday. The Panthers will battle Seton Hall at Trees Field in a weekend doubleheader.