April 18, 2008

Box Score

PITTSBUGH--The Pitt baseball team captured a 6-3 win over reigning Big East champions St. John's Friday afternoon at Trees Field. Freshman Joe Leonard tallied four RBI in the contest, including a two-run homer, as Nate Reed and David Kaye combined for a stellar performance on the mound.

St. John's (26-9, 9-4) threatened the 0-0 game with two outs in the second inning, drawing back-to-back walks off Panther starter Reed (SO/Reading, Pa./Oley Valley). Reed and the Pitt defense got out of the jam, however, as Sean Conley (SR/Chippewa, Pa/Blackhawk) made the final out of the inning in left field.

Pitt (12-21, 4-9) tallied the game's first runs in the bottom of the second when Leonard (FR/Dawson, Pa./Connellsville) blasted his third homerun of the season over the right field wall.

With one out, Morgan Kielty (JR/Burlington, Ontario/Burlington Central) reached base safely when his hit-ball took a crazy hop over the Red Storm first baseman. Leonard followed with the two-run shot, giving the Panthers a 2-0 lead. Kielty would go on to bat a perfect 3-3 on the day with three singles and a walk, while scoring a run

St. John's answered in the top of the third, when second baseman Gino Matas got things rolling for the Red Storm with a leadoff homerun to left field, pushing the score to 2-1. Reed and the Panther defense kept the damage to a minimum, retiring the next three Red Storm batters to get out of the inning still holding the lead.

Leonard tallied his third RBI of the game in the fourth inning, roping a single to right field. After back-to-back hits from catcher Nick Mullins (SR/Brick, N.J./Brookdale Community College) and Kielty, Leonard smacked a hit of his own, bringing Mullins in for the Panthers' third run of the game.

Keitly was tagged out at the plate in an attempted suicide-steal for the innings' second out as Leonard advanced to third on the play. Leonard would score on the very next pitch as Red Storm starter Scott Barnes slid on the mound during his delivery, tossing a wild pitch that allowed Leonard to score as Pitt took a 4-1 lead.

Zach Duggan (RS FR/Cranberry Twp., Pa./Seneca Valley) kept the Panther offense rolling in the fifth inning, notching a single to the left side and would eventually score Pitt's fifth run when Barnes balked.

Reed continued his strong performance on the mound, keeping the Red Storm bats silent, as Pitt added another run to its lead in the sixth. Dan Williams (SR/Berwyn, Pa./Episcopal Academy) was beamed by a pitch, advancing to third on Kielty's third single of the day. With runners at the corners, Leonard plated Williams for his fourth RBI of the game with a fielder's choice as Pitt took a 6-1 lead.

Shortstop Danny Lopez (SO/Queens, N.Y./Monsignor McClancy) kept the St. John offense off base, tallying one of seven assists of the game with an amazing play in the top of the seventh. Lopez dove towards third, knocking down leadoff batter Gino Matias's hard-hit ball. Lopez bounced to his feet, gunning Matias at first base for the inning's first out.

Reed would then allow back-to-back singles, as St. John's threatened to score for the first time since the third inning. The sophomore started buckled down, however, getting out of the inning with his team still ahead 6-1.

Freshman first baseman Paul Karnas tallied two runs for St. John's in the eighth, blasting an offering from Reed over the left field wall and moving the score to 6-3. Karnas would be the last batter Reed faced as he finished the day allowing three earned runs off two homeruns while tallying four strikeouts in 7.1 innings.

Kaye (FR/Oakmont, Pa./Riverview) would replace Reed on the mound with one out in the eighth. Duggan made a shoestring catch in right as Lopez tallied yet another assist at shortstop, getting the Panthers out of the inning without further damage.

The right-handed reliever closed the game, shutting down the Red Storm offense as Pitt held on to win 6-3.

Pitt and St. John's will continue their weekend series tomorrow with a 3 p.m. matchup at Trees Field and conclude play on Sunday at noon.