March 16, 2008

Box Score

WEST PALM BEACH, FLA.--The Pitt baseball team rolled to a 17-2 win over New Jersey Tech in its third game of the Papa John's Challenge Sunday afternoon. The Panthers recorded nine runs in the top of the first, including a three-run blast from senior Sean Conley. Conley has now homered in three-straight games for Pitt, leading the Panthers to wins in each contest.

 

Conley (SR/Chippewa, Pa./Blackhawk) crossed the plate for the game's first run, as Pitt used aggressive base running to get on the board early. With the bases loaded, left fielder Jordan Herr (RS SO/Lancaster, Pa./Delaware) ripped a two-RBI single to center field as the Panthers took a 3-0 lead.

 

With two on and one out, catcher Nick Mullins (SR/Brick, N.J./Brookdale Community College) scored on a passed ball for Pitt's fourth run of the inning, as Herr advanced to third. Second baseman Chris Tonte (JR/Pittston, Pa./Lackawanna Community College) drew a walk off Highlanders' starter Bobby Wyrwa, putting runners at the corners for Pitt.

 

Designated hitter Philip Konieczny (FR/Phoenix, Ariz./Mountain Pointe) followed with an RBI-single to center, as the freshman recorded his second collegiate hit and first collegiate RBI to give the Panthers a 5-0 advantage.

 

The Panther offense continued to roll, as NJIT replaced Wyrwa on the mound following Konieczny's hit with right-hander Anthony Corsi. Pitt continued to run the bases aggressively as Konieczny and Tonte successfully completed a double-steal, advancing to second and third. Zach Duggan (RS FR/Cranberry Twp., Pa./Seneca Valley) followed, drawing a one-out walk from Corsi to load the bases.

 

Tonte scored the Panthers' sixth run of the inning as Corsi threw a wild pitch to Pitt batter Danny Lopez (SO/Queens, N.Y./Monsignor McClancy). The Pitt shortstop connected on a following pitch, ripping a line-drive to third base, but quick reaction from the Highlander defender robbed Lopez of a run-scoring hit, as NJIT recorded the inning's second out.

 

In similar fashion to last night's walk-off homerun, Conley stepped to the plate with two outs in the inning. The left fielder bombed his fifth longball of the season and third in as many days, plating three more runs for Pitt as the Panthers took a 9-0 advantage before the NJIT offense even saw action.

 

Pitt starting pitcher Brian Chrisman (RS SR/Pittsburgh, Pa./Marshall University) threw a career-game on the mound for the Panthers. The left-hander recorded a career-high 10 strikeouts over eight shutout innings of work, allowing just three hits as he faced a mere 25 batters. Chrisman picked-up his third win of the season in today's contest, as he has now tallied 30 stirkeouts on the season and holds a team-best 2.45 ERA.

 

While the NJIT offense was silenced by Chrisman, the Pitt bats continued to work as the Panthers tallied two runs in each of the next three innings, advancing its lead to 15-0. Konieczny and Duggan each recorded RBI in the second inning, while Leonard and Herr tallied run-scoring hits of their own in the third. Both Leonard and Herr have now tallied RBI in the Panthers' last three contests, while both are enjoying four-game hitting streaks.

 

Conley notched his fourth RBI of the game in the fourth inning, as Dan Williams (SR/Berwyn, Pa./Episcopal Academy) brought in Pitt's fifteenth run of the game. The Wildcat defense, behind relief pitcher Mike Bergaleta, quieted the Panther offense in the fifth, holding Pitt scoreless.

 

Pinch hitter Chris Warner (RS JR/West Seneca, N.Y./University of South Carolina) got things rolling once again for the Panthers in the top of the sixth as the lefty blasted his second homerun of the season with a solo shot to right field, putting Pitt up 16-0.

 

The Panther scoring-drive would end in the seventh, as Konieczny drove teammate Matt Litzinger (JR/Pittsburgh, Pa./Serra Catholic) in for Pitt's seventeenth and final run of the game. Konieczny tallied a career-high three RBI on the day, while going 1-4 with one run-scored.

 

Closer Anthony Rossi (RS JR/Peters Twp., Pa./Peters Township) entered the game for the Panthers in the bottom of the ninth, making his first appearance of the 2008 season. The right-hander faced just five batters, striking one out, but gave up two runs to the Wildcats off a triple and sac-fly for the game's final score of 17-2.

 

Conley went 4-4 on the day, with four RBI and three runs scored. Conley has now tallied four hits in a game for the second time this season and four RBI in a game for the third time this season. Teammates Herr, Litzinger and Williams each recorded two hits on the day, with Herr tying a career-high three RBI.

 

The Panthers will conclude play in West Palm Beach with an afternoon game against Cornell. Following the conclusion of the Papa John's Challenge, Pitt will head back north for a mid-week game at Akron before opening Big East conference play at West Virginia the weekend of March 20.