Feb. 17, 2007

Box Score

CONWAY, S.C.- The Pitt baseball team fell 7-3 to Virginia Tech for its second loss of the season Saturday at Watson Stadium in game two of the Coastal Carolina Tournament. The Panthers notched an early three-run lead, but could not hang on for the win.

After yesterday's tough start against Coastal Carolina, Pitt (0-2) got their offense going and scored a run in each of the first three innings. Junior outfielder Sean Conley (Chippewa, Pa./Blackhawk) started the game by reaching base on an error. Freshman Dan Lopez (Queens, N.Y./Monsignor McClancy) then singled to left, advancing Conley. Senior Peter Parise (Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Spellman) came to the plate and grounded into a double play, but Conley scored the unearned run, giving the Panthers an early 1-0 lead.

In the top of the second, third baseman Gary Bucuren (Ambridge, Pa./Ambridge) notched a leadoff single and advanced to second when teammate Chris Warner (West Seneca, N.Y./University of South Carolina) drew a walk off of Hokies (2-1) starter Andrew Wells. With two on and no outs, Pitt designated hitter Rob Lawler (Rochester, N.Y./Greece Olympia) ripped an RBI-single past shortstop Warren Schaeffer, scoring Bucuren and advancing the Panthers' lead to 2-0.

The Panthers continued to add to their lead in the top of the third. With two out and the bases empty, senior first baseman Seth Button (Elk Lake, Pa./Gloucester College) blasted his first homerun of the season and tenth of his career to give the Panthers a three-run advantage.

The Pitt defense held Virginia Tech scoreless through two innings, with starter Paul Nardozzi (Victor, N.Y./Victor) retiring six of the first eight batters he faced, with two strikeouts. The Hokies got on the board in the bottom of the third after a leadoff double by Anthony Sosnoskie led to Virginia Tech's first run of the day. Sosnoskie scored on an RBI-single by Schaeffer, cutting the Panthers' lead to 3-1.

The Hokies' offense never looked back, scoring six more times, including a three-run third inning, while the Panther bats fell cold as Pitt was unable to muster another run. Nardozzi lasted six innings and picked up the loss, before giving way to sophomore reliever Ryan Dunford (Buffalo, N.Y./Bishop Timon). Nardozzi tallied seven strikeouts while throwing no walks with 28 batters-faced. Dunford went on to finish the game for Pitt, allowing just one additional run by the Hokies and striking out one as well.

For the second day in-a-row, Parise went 2-4 for Pitt with two singles for a .500 (4-8) average thus far. Last season he led the team with 19 multi-hit games. Bucuren has also fared well at the plate, batting .375 (3-8) with two singles and triple, as well as two RBI's and two runs-scored.

Pitt will conclude play in the Coastal Carolina Tournament Sunday as it takes on Old Dominion at 11 a.m. The Monarchs sit at 4-2 for the season after dropping a 7-0 contest to Coastal Carolina on Saturday.

NOTES: With his one-run shot, Button joins eight other players in the Panther record books with 10 career homeruns and needs just two more to advance in the standings.