April 9, 2008

PITTSBURGH--The Pitt baseball team entered today's midweek contest with Penn State looking to win its second straight non-conference game and build some momentum heading into a weekend series in Cincinnati. After falling behind early, the Panthers battled back only to come up one run short and drop the contest to the Nittany Lions.

Penn State jumped on top early in the first inning when Robbie Wine got aboard on a fielder's choice that plated Landon Nakata. Scott Kelley was the next batter to step to the plat and proceeded to take a Kevin Dooley (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks East) offering deep to left center with two Lions on base, giving Penn State an early 4-0 lead.

The Panthers added two more runs in the fifth when Dan Williams (Berwyn, Pa./Episcopal) scored Philip Konieczny (Phoenix, Ariz./Mountain Pointe) and Sean Conley (Chippewa, Pa./Blackhawk) with a single to right field.

Pitt remained one run short until pinch hitter Ryan Boonie approached the plate in the eighth inning and smacked a drive over the wall in left field, stretching the PSU lead to two runs.

In the bottom of the inning, the Panthers answered back with a run of their own and appeared poised to take the lead away from the Nittany Lions, as they loaded the bases after Conley was intentionally walked. The comeback was not to be, however as pitcher Drew O'Neill got the third out of the inning to end the threat. He would go on to pick up the save for Penn State.

Pitt will now set its sights on that three-game series in the Queen City, which begins on Friday at 5 p.m.