March 6, 2002

Box Score

HOMESTEAD, Fla.-The University of Pittsburgh baseball team used a six-run sixth inning to keep its unbeaten streak alive as it defeated Fairfield, 7-5, Wednesday afternoon at the Homestead Challenge. The Panthers are now 10-0-1 as they gear up for No 2 Florida State this weekend in Tallahassee, Fla.

Pittsburgh found itself behind 4-1 heading into the bottom half of the sixth inning. However, a six-run outburst on just three hits helped the Panthers to their 10th win of the season. Back-to-back bases-loaded walks to senior Rob Beahn (Cleveland, Ohio/Cuyahoga Falls) and junior Brad Papciak (Plum, Pa./Plum) plated the first two runs of the inning, while junior P.J. Hiser (Hagerstown, Md./Hagerstown) scored on a wild pitch one batter later.

Sophomore Bryan Spamer (Harrisburg, Pa./Redlands) followed with a two-run single and scored the final run on the inning on an RBI-single off the bat of senior Brad Rea (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny).

Pittsburgh held off a ninth-inning rally by Fairfield thanks to senior Eric Ackerman (Denver, Pa./Cocalico), who picked up the save in two-thirds of an inning. Sophomore Jeff Barnyak (Philipsburg, Pa./Philipsburg-Osceola) recorded the win, pitching four innings and striking out four batters along the way.

The Panthers put their unbeaten streak on the line as they travel to Florida State (17-4) for a three-game series starting on Friday. First pitch on Friday is at 6 p.m., Saturday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.