Feb. 29, 2008
Box Score
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - The University of Pittsburgh reshuffled their weekend games due to weather, but the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) couldn't weather the storm from the Panthers, as Pitt won 25-3 in an afternoon match-up at Hawks Stadium.
Pitt jumped out to an early 1-0 lead but UMES got the bats going immediately. Phil Vaughn led off with a single to centerfield and went to second base on an error by Jordan Herr. Vaughn then went to third on a Josh Dunham ground out. Pat Hercinger dug in and tripled to right field to plate Vaughn and tie the game at one. Ryan Coppi then hit a ground ball to second to plate Hercinger.
In the second inning Ken Richardson would reach on a dribbler towards third base. Tyler Love singled to right and a bobble by Matt Litzinger allowed him to go second and put Richardson on third. Remo Orsini flied out to center to earn the sacrifice fly and plate Richardson.
UMES had the 3-1 lead going into the third inning.
Pittsburgh then posted a seven run inning in the third, using three hits and four Hawk errors. They again posted big runs in the fourth and fifth innings, getting five and eight runs respectively. UMES made two more errors in the fifth inning combined with five Panther hits. Pittsburgh added one more run in the seventh inning.
The Hawks made seven errors on the day.
Coppi, Orsini and Hercinger all had one RBI each. Vaughn, Richardson, Hercinger, Orsini, Coppi and Tyler Love all had one hit each to account for the Hawks' six hits.
Pittsburgh's offense was on fire. Danny Lopez led in the RBI category with five while Sean Conley and Litzinger had three RBIs each. Morgan Kielty, Joe Leonard and Chris Tonte all had a pair of RBI. Leonard was 4-5 on the day, Lopez was 3-7 and three other Panthers had two hits each. Lopez scored four times while Joe Leonard and Litzinger scored three times each.
Brian Chrisman got the win for Pittsburgh, throwing seven innings, improving to 2-0. He allowed three earned runs, struck out eight and walked none.
Carl Huber fell to 0-2 for the Hawks. He would throw 115 pitches in three and a third innings of work. He allowed 11 runs, seven earned and walked nine while striking out four.
UMES faces off against Rhode Island tomorrow at noon and plays two games on Sunday starting at noon, facing Rhode Island and Pittsburgh. The Panthers face the Rams tomorrow after UMES and Rhode Island play.
