March 22, 2006
Box Score
Pittsburgh, Pa. - Duquesne University's baseball team's rally from a 14-2 deficit wasn't enough as the Dukes were topped by the Pittsburgh Panthers, 18-8, Tuesday afternoon at Trees Field.
The game, which was rescheduled after the orginal planned meeting last Wednesday was postponed because of the weather. started in an almost spring-like 50 degrees.
Duquesne opened the scoring with a run in the first when a single by sophomore Aaron Janusey, the Atlantic 10 Player of the Week, drove in classmate Pat Kimutis. Pitt matched that -- plus 10 -- as 11 Panthers crossed the plate in the bottom of the frame for an 11-1 lead heading to the second.
Again the Dukes placed a single run on the scoreboard when A-10 Rookie of the Week Anthony Manley scored after Kimutis's ground ball was misplayed by the Panther first baseman.
Pittsburgh added two in their turn in the second and one in the fourth to extend their edge over Duquesene to 14-2.
Sophomore Derek Mechling's three-run homer in the fifth scored senior Steve Maiolo and Janusey to tighten the margin to 14-5. But Pitt answered with a duplicate trey one inning later to return the margin to 12, 17-5.
In the seventh, the Dukes' two-out rally, highlighted by freshman Mike Carroll's 2-RBI triple, again put three runs on the scoreboard. Pitt scored one in the eighth for the final score of 18-8.
Janusey led the Dukes' attack going 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Mechling was 2-for-5 with 3 RBI. Freshman Gary Pierpont, who entered the game in the sixth, went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Sean Conley led UP's offense going 4-for-6 with two RBI and three runs scored.
Junior Travis Rife (0-1) started the game and picked up the loss. Kyle Landis (2-1), who pitched the fourth and fifth, was credited with the win.
The Panthers, victors in eight of their last 10 games, improved to 11-8 while the Dukes are now 3-12, 0-0 A-10.
The Dukes remain in the 'Burgh this weekend and will host league-foe St. Bonaventure (4-5, 0-0 A-10) in a three-game series beginning Friday, March 24, 2006 at 3:00 p.m. on Duquesne Field in nearby Green Tree, Pa.
