May 7, 2008
Box Score
PITTSBURGH--The Pitt baseball team concluded the Panther Classic today with two games against Central Michigan and Coppin State. The Panthers split the two games, falling to the Chippewas, 10-8, and besting the Eagles by a count of 25-5. The contest with Coppin State was called after the sixth inning due to lightning.
In the first game of the day, Pitt fell behind early when Central Michigan posted three runs in the top of the first inning. The Panthers responded over the next two frames, tying the game at 3-3 with runs by Sean Conley (Chippewa, Pa./Blackhawk), Chris Warner (West Seneca, N.Y./South Carolina) and John Schultz (West Lawn, Pa./Wilson West Lawn).
Both teams added two runs in the fifth, keeping the game deadlocked heading into the seventh when CMU distance themselves with two runs off Pitt reliever David Kaye (Oakland, Pa./Riverview). Two doubles to left center from Conley and Danny Lopez (Queens, N.Y./Monsignor McClancy) in successive at-bats helped the Panthers cut into that advantage, however, bringing the score to 7-6 after seven innings.
The Chippewas got three more runs in the eighth, which ultimately led them to the victory, but not before the Panthers were able to mount a serious comeback attempt in the bottom of the ninth. After two strikeouts, the Pitt offense came alive with four consecutive singles that translated into two runs, one form Schultz and another from Conley. The rally was distinguished on a groundout to the shortstop with three Pitt runners still on base.
The weather-shortened second game turned out much better for the Panthers as they lit up the score board for 25 runs, marking the second time this season they have done so. The Pitt run production was paced by Jordan Herr's (Lancaster, Pa./Delaware) 3-4, five RBI performance. Lopez also chipped in with four RBI of his own, bringing his total for the day to six.
Freshman Hugh Henry (Mt. Vernon, N.Y./Mt. Vernon) went all six innings, picking up his first win of the season and his career.
Pitt will be back in action this weekend when they travel to South Bend, Ind., for a three-game tilt against Notre Dame.
