April 4, 2008

PITTSBURGH--The Pitt baseball team travels to South Orange, N.J. this weekend for a three-game series with Big East rival Seton Hall. Action is set to begin at Owen T. Carroll Field Friday, April 4, at 6 p.m. and will continue Saturday at 1 p.m. and Sunday at noon. The Panthers enter the series at 8-14 overall and 2-4 Big East while the Pirates are 15-12 and hold a 5-4 conference record.

Leading the Panthers is left fielder Sean Conley (SR/Chippewa, Pa./Blackhawk), who was recently named the 2008 recipient of the Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame's Dick Kadis Award for his outstanding contributions to the squad. The left fielder boasts team-leading numbers in several categories, including batting average (.352), slugging percentage (.614), RBI (29) and home runs (6).

The Pirates enter the series on a three-game winning streak, including a 9-4 decision over Fairleigh Dickinson on Wednesday. Senior Mark Pappas and sophomore Chris Spagnuolo combined for two hits and five RBI in the victory.

Pitt has won 10 out of the last 15 contests against Seton Hall, including a thrilling 5-4 come-behind victory last season. Second baseman Dan Williams (SR/Berwyn, PA/Episcopal Academy) drove a single to deep center field to score the game-winning RBI the extra inning for the Panthers.

After traveling to Seton Hall, Pitt will return home to host two mid-week contests against Duquesne and Penn State at Trees Field on April 8, and 9, respectively. The Panthers then hit the road to continue conference play with a three-game series at Cincinnati April 11-13.