March 9, 2008
Box Score
GREENVILLE, N.C.--The Pitt baseball team was shutout 7-0 by No. 15 Michigan Sunday morning in its final game of the Keith LeClair Invitational. Inclement weather on Friday in Greenville led to a reshuffling of the invitational schedule, as the Panthers were forced to play three games in less than 24 hours.
Pitt's game against Georgia Southern Saturday evening ended after 12:30 a.m., and with the loss of an hour of sleep due to daylight saving's time, the Panthers were back on the field for batting practice less than six hours later.
The tired Pitt (3-6) offense was silenced by the nationally-ranked Wolverines (5-5), as it mustered just one hit on the day. Catcher Nick Mullins (SR/Brick, N.J./Brookdale Community College) notched the Panthers' lone hit of the day with a two-out single in the seventh inning. Pitt was unable to capitalize on Mullins' offense, however, as the following Panther-batter grounded to third for the inning's final out.
Michigan starter Chris Fetter recorded seven shutout-innings for the Wolverines, striking out a career-high 11 batters in the process. Fetter picked up the win, improving his season record to 2-0.
Panther starter Brian Chrisman (RS SR/Pittsburgh, Pa./Marshall) picked up his first loss of the season as he went six innings, allowing six runs off nine hits, while striking out four.
Three other pitchers saw action on the mound for Pitt in today's game, including Mike Wood (SO/Endicott, N.Y./Union Endicott) who made his first appearance of the 2008 season. The right-hander went one inning, tallying one strikeout and giving up one run off no hits.
Hugh Henry (FR/Mount Vernon, N.Y./Mount Vernon) and Ricky Breymier (RS JR/Clarks Summit, Pa./Lackawanna Community College) combine for two shutout innings, surrendering no hits to the Michigan offense.
The Wolverines tallied their first runs of the game in the top of the third off a two-run homer from shortstop Jason Christian, who notched his second longball in as many days to put Michigan up 2-0.
After scoring an additional run in the fourth, Michigan senior Nate Recknagel launched a two-run shot of his own in the fifth, his third of the season, as the Wolverines' extended their lead to 5-0. Michigan added one run in both the sixth and the eighth innings for the game's final of 7-0.
The Panthers will head to Florida this week for a five-game spring training series, starting in Orlando with a 6:30 p.m. contest at Central Florida on March 11. Pitt will then head to West Palm Beach for the Papa John's Challenge where it will square-off with Penn on March 13, Bethune Cookman on March 15, and New Jersey Tech and Cornell on March 16.
