Club men's baseball loses to rival Pitt 12–7
The Carnegie Mellon club baseball team traveled to its home field in Bethesda, Pa. this weekend to face off against the University of Pittsburgh Panthers.
On Friday, first-year pitcher Zach Cohen started for the Tartans and kept the game competitive for the five innings he played. Cohen had given up only five runs (four of them earned), allowing only four hits and striking out seven during his time in the game. After the fifth inning, Cohen was relieved by first-year Francisco Santiago, who had solid performances in previous weeks against Kent State University. Unfortunately, Friday’s matchup was not against Kent State, and Santiago struggled to pitch to his potential.
The Panthers started the sixth inning with a walk and a single, topping it off with a line drive past senior right fielder Tim Sandy for a triple, allowing Pitt to score two runs.
Going into the bottom of the inning, Carnegie Mellon was down 7–5 but were not giving in easily. First-year Joe Seymour led off with a hit to center field, getting a single. Sandy was up at bat next, and he drove one right into the pitcher’s glove for the Tartans’ first out.
Sophomore outfielder James Langhauser landed an unbelievable hit, driving the ball all the way over the center fielder’s head for a triple; it was later discovered that Langhauser’s hit should have been ruled a home run after being kept in play by a branch above the fence. Next at bat was junior shortstop Mike Niedwziecki, who hit a single to bring Langhauser in and tie the game at 7–7.
Despite a solid six innings under their belts, the Tartans unfortunately were unable to continue their performance into the seventh. The Panthers’ first three batters landed hits to load the bases. The fourth batter hit a pop-up fly to center field but even with a rifle throw Langhauser was unable to throw out the runner at home plate, giving Pitt a 8–7 lead.
The inning went downhill from there, with the Panthers scoring four more runs before Langhauser relieved Santiago to pitch the final out. In the bottom of the seventh, Carnegie Mellon was unable to make a comeback and the game came to a close with a final score of 12–7.
“It was another tough game to lose. Although we have some key players missing we kept fighting back which is all I ever ask my teams to do,” coach Claudio Reilsono said.
“Cohen pitched a solid game. He is going to be a major part of any success we have in the future. Seymour and Langhauser had great offensive days while [sophomore] Yoshi Kim came through in the clutch.”
The Tartans were scheduled to compete in a doubleheader against Pitt Sunday but the games were postponed due to the field conditions. The doubleheader will be rescheduled for this weekend.
“A few breaks here and there and things would have been different. But in life and in sports you have to make your own breaks,” Reilsono said. “We won’t quit. We will keep at it and I feel we will finish strong as we always have.”