FEBRUARY Sat............15 .................... at Coastal Carolina ...................W, 7-5 at Coastal Carolina ................ W, 10-6 Sun. ......... 16 .................... at Coastal Carolina ............... L, 8-5 (7) Fri. ........... 21 .................... vs. Butler................................ W, 15-7 Sat........... 22 .................... at USC-Upstate ....................... W, 5-2 Sun. ......... 23 .................... vs. Fordham ............................. L, 9-2 Fri. ........... 28 .................... vs. Ohio State .......................... L, 6-2 MARCH Sat........... 01 .................... at East Carolina ........................ L, 4-2 Sun. ......... 02 .................... vs. WKU ............................. L, 3-2 (11) Sat........... 08 .................... at No. 17 North Carolina* ......... L, 9-5 at No. 17 North Carolina* ..........L, 2-1 Sun. ......... 09 .................... at No. 17 North Carolina* ........ W, 6-4 Tues..........11 .................... at Presbyterian ......................W, 12-3 Wed......... 12 .................... at Presbyterian ............... W, 10-9 (11) Fri. ........... 14 .................... at Virginia Tech* ..................... L, 11-5 Sat............15 .................... at Virginia Tech* ................... L, 11-10 Sun. ......... 16 .................... at Virginia Tech* ..................... L, 11-7 Tue. ......... 18 .................... Youngstown State.................. W, 12-1 Wed......... 19 .................... at Akron .................................W, 11-8 Fri. ........... 21 .................... Duke* ..................................... W, 3-2 Sat........... 22 .................... Duke* ..................................... W, 5-1 Duke* ..................................... W, 8-5 Tues......... 25 .................... at West Virginia ........................ L, 6-3 Fri. ........... 28 .................... No. 23 Georgia Tech* ........ W, 4-3 (13) Fat. .......... 29 .................... No. 23 Georgia Tech* .............. W, 5-0 Sun. ......... 30 .................... No. 23 Georgia Tech* .............. W, 4-2 APRIL Tue. ......... 01 .................... West Virginia............................ L, 6-4 Wed......... 02 .................... at Youngstown State .................L, 7-6 Fri. ........... 04 .................... No. 1 Virginia* ..........................3 p.m. Sat. ......... 05 .................... No. 1 Virginia* ..........................3 p.m. Sun. ......... 06 .................... No. 1 Virginia* ..........................1 p.m. Tue. ......... 08 .................... Akron...................................... 6 p.m. Fri. ............11 .................... at Miami* ................................ 7 p.m. Sat........... 12 .................... at Miami* ................................ 7 p.m. Sun. ..........13 .................... at Miami* ................................1 p.m. Tue. ..........15 .................... Youngstown State....................3 p.m. Wed......... 16 .................... at Kent State ............................3 p.m. Fri. ........... 18 .................... Clemson* ............................... 6 p.m. Sat........... 19 .................... Clemson* ................................3 p.m. Sun. ......... 20 .................... Clemson* ................................1 p.m. Sun. ..........27 .................... at Arkansas Pine Bluff ...............Noon Sun. ..........27 .................... at Arkansas Pine Bluff ................ TBA Mon......... 28 .................... at Arkansas Pine Bluff ............ 11 a.m. MAY Fri. ........... 02 .................... at Boston College*.............. 2:30 p.m. Sat........... 03 .................... at Boston College*.............. 1:30 p.m. Sun. ......... 04 .................... at Boston College*...................1 p.m. Wed......... 07 .................... at Ohio .................................... 6 p.m. Fri. ........... 09 .................... Maryland* .............................. 6 p.m. Sat........... 10 .................... Maryland* ...............................3 p.m. Sun. ..........11 .................... Maryland* ...............................1 p.m. Tue. ..........13 .................... Kent State............................... 6 p.m. Thu. ......... 16 .................... at Notre Dame* .................. 5:35 p.m. Fri. ............17 .................... at Notre Dame* .................. 5:35 p.m. Sat........... 18 .................... at Notre Dame* .................. 1:35 p.m. Times listed in EST All times and dates are subject to change SERIES STAKES Pitt will host No. 1 Virginia in a three-game Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) series on April 4-6 at Charles L. Cost Field at the Petersen Sports Complex in Pittsburgh, Pa. This weekend’s conference clash marks the seventh all-time meeting between the two programs in a series that dates back to 1940, with the Cavaliers holding the advantage at 5-1. The last time the Panthers faced Virginia was in 1981, when they dropped an 11-4 contest on the road. The Cavaliers, who enter the series on the heels of an eight-game winning streak, currently hold first place in the league’s Coastal Division at 10-2 while sporting the ACC’s best overall record (25-4, .862 winning percentage) on the year. In 2013, Virginia produced a 50-12 showing (.806 winning percentage) and hosted the Charlottesville Super Regional as a No. 1 seed, falling in the bracket’s champi- onship game against Mississippi State, 11-6. The Cavaliers have made 10 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances since 2004. MEET VIRGINIA Virginia’s pitching staff has proven to be one of the most valiant units in all of NCAA Division-I baseball, owning a top-10 national ranking in team ERA (2.11). The Cavaliers’ arsenal of arms also tops the conference in ERA, wins (25), saves (10) and batting average against (.204), as well as having permitted the fewest runs (68) and earned runs (61) in the ACC. Southpaw Nathan Kirby, Friday’s probable starter, is 5-1 on the year with a 2.78 ERA, .173 batting average against and 37 strikeouts. Josh Sborz, who will toe the rubber Saturday afternoon, has limited his opponents to a team-best .165 batting average against to compliment his 3-1 record and 2.78 ERA. Sunday’s hurler, lefty Brandon Waddell, rounds out Virginia’s rotation boasting a 3-1 mark and 3.76 ERA to go along with 31 strikeouts. The Cavaliers also possess a tremendous asset out of the bullpen in Nick Howard (1.88 ERA), who has converted a conference-leading eight saves as the team’s pri- mary closer. With regards to Virginia’s offensive attack, the Cavaliers have been carried by the likes of Mike Papi, who leads the lineup in batting average (.354), home runs (5), RBI (26) and bases on balls. Five Virginia players entered the 2014 season rated on Baseball America’s Top-100 Prospects List – Derek Fisher (No. 10), Papi (No. 39), Howard (No. 43), Branden Cogswell (No. 47) and Brandon Downes (No. 53). GAME OF THRONES On Monday, March 31, the Cavaliers received top-three rankings in all five major collegiate baseball polls. Virginia is slotted at No. 1 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches’ Poll and the National Collegiate Baseball Writ- ers’ Association (NCBWA), No. 2 in Perfect Game and No. 3 in Baseball America and the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. This weekend’s three-game set will be the first time the Panthers have played the top-ranked team in the country since Feb. 23, 2007, when they fell to No. 1 Vanderbilt, 4-3, in Nashville, Tenn. Current Major League Baseball players Pedro Alvarez, Ryan Flaherty and David Price were on that Commodores team. Friday’s contest also marks the first time that Pitt has hosted the nation’s number-one program. The Panthers’ most recent victory against a top-five opponent occurred on April 25, 2004 at No. 4 Notre Dame (W, 8-6) in South Bend, Ind. Pitt has won four consecutive games against teams in ranked in the national polls to contribute to a 4-2 record against top-25 opponents this season. On March 9, the Panthers defeated No. 17 North Carolina, 6-4, in Chapel Hill, N.C., marking the program’s first win against a ranked foe on the road in a decade. Last weekend, Pitt swept No. 23 Georgia Tech at Charles L. Cost Field to establish a program-record six-game home winning streak against top-25 teams. The Panthers, who are 12-13 (.480 winning percentage) against ranked programs since 2009, have also won seven of their last 10 home con- tests vs. those rated in the top-25 polls. HOME, SWEET HOME Pitt, which has won seven of its last 10 games and eight of its last nine at home, will welcome Virginia to Charles L. Cost Field this weekend in the midst of what has become the program’s most impressive home Atlantic Coast Conference Series Pitt (15-13, 7-5 ACC) vs. No. 1 Virginia (25-4, 10-2 ACC) Game 31 RHP Matt Wotherspoon (3-3, 6.81 ERA) v. LHP Brandon Waddell (3-1, 3.76 ERA) Game 29 RHP Rhys Aldenhoven (2-1, 3.79 ERA) v. LHP Nathan Kirby (5-1, 1.24 ERA) Game 30 RHP Joseph Harvey (2-1, 2.91 ERA) v. RHP Josh Sborz (3-1, 2.78 ERA) PITTSBURGH PANTHERS SERIES INFORMATION .com/PITTSBURGHPANTHERS @PITTBASEBALLACC 3719 TERRACE STREET. PITTSBURGH, PA 15261 • OFFICE: (412) 648-8240 • FAX: (412) 648-8248 INAUGURAL SEASON OF ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE MEMBERSHIP
Transcript
FEBRUARY Sat............15 .................... at Coastal Carolina ...................W, 7-5 at Coastal Carolina ................ W, 10-6 Sun. ......... 16 .................... at Coastal Carolina ...............L, 8-5 (7) Fri. ........... 21 .................... vs. Butler................................W, 15-7 Sat........... 22 .................... at USC-Upstate ....................... W, 5-2 Sun. ......... 23 .................... vs. Fordham ............................. L, 9-2 Fri. ........... 28 .................... vs. Ohio State .......................... L, 6-2
MARCH Sat........... 01 .................... at East Carolina ........................ L, 4-2 Sun. ......... 02 .................... vs. WKU ............................. L, 3-2 (11) Sat........... 08 .................... at No. 17 North Carolina* ......... L, 9-5 at No. 17 North Carolina* ..........L, 2-1 Sun. ......... 09 .................... at No. 17 North Carolina* ........ W, 6-4 Tues..........11 .................... at Presbyterian ......................W, 12-3 Wed. ........ 12 .................... at Presbyterian ............... W, 10-9 (11) Fri. ........... 14 .................... at Virginia Tech* ..................... L, 11-5 Sat............15 .................... at Virginia Tech* ................... L, 11-10 Sun. ......... 16 .................... at Virginia Tech* ..................... L, 11-7 Tue. ......... 18 .................... Youngstown State..................W, 12-1 Wed. ........ 19 .................... at Akron .................................W, 11-8 Fri. ........... 21 .................... Duke* ..................................... W, 3-2 Sat........... 22 .................... Duke* ..................................... W, 5-1 Duke* ..................................... W, 8-5 Tues......... 25 .................... at West Virginia ........................ L, 6-3 Fri. ........... 28 .................... No. 23 Georgia Tech* ........ W, 4-3 (13) Fat. .......... 29 .................... No. 23 Georgia Tech* .............. W, 5-0 Sun. ......... 30 .................... No. 23 Georgia Tech* .............. W, 4-2
APRIL Tue. ......... 01 .................... West Virginia ............................ L, 6-4 Wed. ........ 02 .................... at Youngstown State .................L, 7-6 Fri. ........... 04 ....................No. 1 Virginia* ..........................3 p.m. Sat. ......... 05 ....................No. 1 Virginia* ..........................3 p.m. Sun. ......... 06 ....................No. 1 Virginia* ..........................1 p.m. Tue. ......... 08 .................... Akron ...................................... 6 p.m. Fri. ............11 .................... at Miami* ................................7 p.m. Sat........... 12 .................... at Miami* ................................7 p.m. Sun. ..........13 .................... at Miami* ................................1 p.m. Tue. ..........15 .................... Youngstown State....................3 p.m. Wed. ........ 16 .................... at Kent State ............................3 p.m. Fri. ........... 18 .................... Clemson* ............................... 6 p.m. Sat........... 19 .................... Clemson* ................................3 p.m. Sun. ......... 20 .................... Clemson* ................................1 p.m. Sun. ..........27 .................... at Arkansas Pine Bluff ...............Noon Sun. ..........27 .................... at Arkansas Pine Bluff ................ TBA Mon. ........ 28 .................... at Arkansas Pine Bluff ............ 11 a.m.
MAY Fri. ........... 02 .................... at Boston College* ..............2:30 p.m. Sat........... 03 .................... at Boston College* .............. 1:30 p.m. Sun. ......... 04 .................... at Boston College* ...................1 p.m. Wed. ........ 07 .................... at Ohio .................................... 6 p.m. Fri. ........... 09 .................... Maryland* .............................. 6 p.m. Sat........... 10 .................... Maryland* ...............................3 p.m. Sun. ..........11 .................... Maryland* ...............................1 p.m. Tue. ..........13 .................... Kent State ............................... 6 p.m. Thu. ......... 16 .................... at Notre Dame* .................. 5:35 p.m. Fri. ............17 .................... at Notre Dame* .................. 5:35 p.m. Sat........... 18 .................... at Notre Dame* .................. 1:35 p.m.
Times listed in ESTAll times and dates are subject to change
SERIES STAKESPitt will host No. 1 Virginia in a three-game Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) series on April 4-6 at Charles L. Cost Field at the Petersen Sports Complex in Pittsburgh, Pa. This weekend’s conference clash marks the seventh all-time meeting between the two programs in a series that dates back to 1940, with the Cavaliers holding the advantage at 5-1. The last time the Panthers faced Virginia was in 1981, when they dropped an 11-4 contest on the road. The Cavaliers, who enter the series on the heels of an eight-game winning streak, currently hold first place in the league’s Coastal Division at 10-2 while sporting the ACC’s best overall record (25-4, .862 winning percentage) on the year. In 2013, Virginia produced a 50-12 showing (.806 winning percentage) and hosted the Charlottesville Super Regional as a No. 1 seed, falling in the bracket’s champi-onship game against Mississippi State, 11-6. The Cavaliers have made 10 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances since 2004.
MEET VIRGINIAVirginia’s pitching staff has proven to be one of the most valiant units in all of NCAA Division-I baseball, owning a top-10 national ranking in team ERA (2.11). The Cavaliers’ arsenal of arms also tops the conference in ERA, wins (25), saves (10) and batting average against (.204), as well as having permitted the fewest runs (68) and earned runs (61) in the ACC. Southpaw Nathan Kirby, Friday’s probable starter, is 5-1 on the year with a 2.78 ERA, .173 batting average against and 37 strikeouts. Josh Sborz, who will toe the rubber Saturday afternoon, has limited his opponents to a team-best .165 batting average against to compliment his 3-1 record and 2.78 ERA. Sunday’s hurler, lefty Brandon Waddell, rounds out Virginia’s rotation boasting a 3-1 mark and 3.76 ERA to go along with 31 strikeouts. The Cavaliers also possess a tremendous asset out of the bullpen in Nick Howard (1.88 ERA), who has converted a conference-leading eight saves as the team’s pri-mary closer. With regards to Virginia’s offensive attack, the Cavaliers have been carried by the likes of Mike Papi, who leads the lineup in batting average (.354), home runs (5), RBI (26) and bases on balls. Five Virginia players entered the 2014 season rated on Baseball America’s Top-100 Prospects List – Derek Fisher (No. 10), Papi (No. 39), Howard (No. 43), Branden Cogswell (No. 47) and Brandon Downes (No. 53).
GAME OF THRONESOn Monday, March 31, the Cavaliers received top-three rankings in all five major collegiate baseball polls. Virginia is slotted at No. 1 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches’ Poll and the National Collegiate Baseball Writ-ers’ Association (NCBWA), No. 2 in Perfect Game and No. 3 in Baseball America and the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. This weekend’s three-game set will be the first time the Panthers have played the top-ranked team in the country since Feb. 23, 2007, when they fell to No. 1 Vanderbilt, 4-3, in Nashville, Tenn. Current Major League Baseball players Pedro Alvarez, Ryan Flaherty and David Price were on that Commodores team. Friday’s contest also marks the first time that Pitt has hosted the nation’s number-one program. The Panthers’ most recent victory against a top-five opponent occurred on April 25, 2004 at No. 4 Notre Dame (W, 8-6) in South Bend, Ind. Pitt has won four consecutive games against teams in ranked in the national polls to contribute to a 4-2 record against top-25 opponents this season. On March 9, the Panthers defeated No. 17 North Carolina, 6-4, in Chapel Hill, N.C., marking the program’s first win against a ranked foe on the road in a decade. Last weekend, Pitt swept No. 23 Georgia Tech at Charles L. Cost Field to establish a program-record six-game home winning streak against top-25 teams. The Panthers, who are 12-13 (.480 winning percentage) against ranked programs since 2009, have also won seven of their last 10 home con-tests vs. those rated in the top-25 polls.
HOME, SWEET HOMEPitt, which has won seven of its last 10 games and eight of its last nine at home, will welcome Virginia to Charles L. Cost Field this weekend in the midst of what has become the program’s most impressive home
Atlantic Coast Conference SeriesPitt (15-13, 7-5 ACC) vs. No. 1 Virginia (25-4, 10-2 ACC)
Game 31RHP Matt Wotherspoon
(3-3, 6.81 ERA)v.
LHP Brandon Waddell(3-1, 3.76 ERA)
Game 29RHP Rhys Aldenhoven
(2-1, 3.79 ERA)v.
LHP Nathan Kirby(5-1, 1.24 ERA)
Game 30RHP Joseph Harvey
(2-1, 2.91 ERA)v.
RHP Josh Sborz(3-1, 2.78 ERA)
PITTSBURGH PANTHERS SERIES INFORMATION.com/PITTSBURGHPANTHERS @PITTBASEBALLACC
NUMERICAL# Name Pos. HT/WT B/T YR Hometown/Last School2 Dylan Wolsonovich INF 5-9/160 R/R R-So. Ford City, Pa./Ford City3 Frank Maldonado OF 6-1/190 R/R Fr. Short Hills, N.J./Seton Hall Prep4 Dan Furman RHP 6-0/185 R/R Fr. Brookhaven, Pa./ Monsignor Bonner5 Matt Johnson INF 5-10/175 R/R Jr. Plano, Texas/Paris JC (Texas)6 Caleb Parry C 6-0/190 R/R Fr. Riverside, Calif./Norco7 Nick Montefusco RHP/OF 6-2/175 R/R Fr. Medford, N.J./ Shawnee8 Eric Hess 1B 6-1/205 L/L Jr. Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep9 Keaton Miller INF 5-11/185 R/R Jr. Webster, Texas/Hill College (Texas)11 Matt Wotherspoon RHP 6-1/200 R/R Sr. Mountain Top, Pa./Crestwood12 Hobie Harris RHP 6-3/195 R/R Jr. McKinney, Texas/Paris JC13 Luke Curtis RHP 6-1/215 R/R R-Jr. Philipsburg, Pa./Philipsburg-Osceola14 Joseph Harvey RHP 6-2/220 R/R R-Jr. Audobon, Pa./Kennedy-Kenrick15 Rene Rodriguez LHP 6-3/205 L/L R-So. Miami, Fla./Miami-Dade College16 Jordan Frabasilio 3B 6-3/190 R/R Jr. Chandler, Ariz./ South Mountain CC18 Steven Shelinsky, Jr. OF/1B 6-0/215 R/R R-Sr. Furlong, Pa./Pennsbury19 Sam Mersing RHP 6-2/200 R/R Fr. McKees Rocks, Pa./Montour20 Matt Emge C 6-2/215 R/R R-Fr.. Beaver Falls, Pa./Ohio State21 Stephen Vranka OF 5-11/180 R/R Sr. Monroeville, Pa./Gateway22 Nick Parnell LHP 6-1/180 L/L Jr. Midlothian, Va./Chandler-Gilbert CC 24 Boo Vazquez OF 6-4/215 L/R Jr. Youngstown, Ohio/Cardinal Mooney27 Andrew Belfiglio LHP 6-2/175 L/L So. Newtown Square, Pa./Penncrest29 Adam Dian RHP 6-4/225 R/R So. Gibsonia, Pa./Temple31 J.R. Leonardi RHP 6-3/215 R/R R-Sr. Pittsburgh, Pa./Pittsburgh Allderdice32 Tyler Albert C 6-1/205 R/R Jr. Montoursville, Pa./Cecil College33 Nick Yarnall OF 6-0/205 L/L Fr. Landisville, Pa/Hempfield34 T.J. Zeuch RHP 6-7/225 R/R Fr. Mason, Ohio/Mason35 Matt Pidich RHP 6-3/210 R/R Fr. Aberdeen, N.J./ Christian Brothers37 Rhys Aldenhoven RHP 6-2/195 R/R Sr. Victoria, Australia/Hill College40 Josh Mitchell LHP 6-1/210 R/L Fr. Ridgway, Pa./ Ridgway41 Casey Roche OF/RHP 6-1/190 R/R Sr. Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown East42 P.J. DeMeo INF 6-0/195 R/R Fr. Sewickley, Pa./Central Catholic43 Manny Pazos C 6-0/185 R/R Fr. Miami, Fla./ Pace44 A.J. Lardo OF 6-0/205 R/R R-So. Baltimore, Md./Maryland45 Jon Danielczyk RHP 6-4/200 R/R R-Sr. Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep
Head Coach: #30 Joe Jordano (16th season)Pitching Coach: #46 Jerry Oakes (Second Season)Assistant Coach: #23 Bryan Peters (First Season)Assistant Coach: #17 Shane Liska (First Season)
ALPHABETICALNo. Name Pos.32 Tyler Albert C37 Rhys Aldenhoven RHP27 Andrew Belfiglio LHP13 Luke Curtis RHP45 Jon Danielczyk RHP42 P.J. DeMeo INF29 Adam Dian RHP20 Matt Emge C16 Jordan Frabasillo INF4 Dan Furman RHP12 Hobie Harris RHP14 Joe Harvey RHP8 Eric Hess 1B5 Matt Johnson INF44 A.J. Lardo OF31 J.R. Leonardi RHP3 Frank Maldonado OF19 Sam Mersing RHP9 Keaton Miller INF40 Josh Mitchell RHP7 Nick Montefusco RHP/OF22 Nick Parnell LHP6 Caleb Parry C43 Manny Pazos C35 Matt Pidich RHP41 Casey Roche OF/RHP15 Rene Rodriguez LHP 18 Steven Shelinsky, Jr. OF/1B24 Boo Vazquez OF21 Stephen Vranka OF2 Dylan Wolsonovich INF11 Matt Wotherspoon RHP33 Nick Yarnall OF34 T.J. Zeuch RHP
BY POSITIONPitchers (18)37 Rhys Aldenhoven RHP27 Andrew Belfiglio LHP13 Luke Curtis RHP45 Jon Danielczyk RHP29 Adam Dian RHP4 Dan Furman RHP12 Hobie Harris RHP14 Joe Harvey RHP31 J.R. Leonardi RHP19 Sam Mersing RHP40 Josh Mitchell RHP7 Nick Montefusco RHP/OF22 Nick Parnell LHP35 Matt Pidich RHP15 Rene Rodriguez LHP 41 Casey Roche OF/RHP 11 Matt Wotherspoon RHP34 T.J. Zeuch RHPOutfield (8)44 A.J. Lardo OF3 Frank Maldonado OF7 Nick Montefusco RHP/OF41 Casey Roche OF/RHP 18 Steven Shelinsky, Jr. OF/1B24 Boo Vazquez OF21 Stephen Vranka OF/RHP33 Nick Yarnall OFInfield (7)42 P.J. DeMeo INF16 Jordan Frabasillo INF 8 Eric Hess 1B5 Matt Johnson INF9 Keaton Miller INF18 Steven Shelinsky, Jr. OF/1B2 Dylan Wolsonovich INFCatchers (4)32 Tyler Albert C20 Matt Emge C6 Caleb Parry C43 Manny Pazos C
2014 ROSTER
Pitt Baseball Pronunciation Guide Aldenhoven, Rhys ........................................................ Reese All-den-hoe-ven Belfiglio, Andrew ........................................................................... Bell-fig-leo Danielczyk, Jon ........................................................................ Dan-yull-check Dian, Adam .......................................................................................... Dee-on Emge, Matt .......................................................................................... M-gee Frabasillio, Jordan .........................................................................Fra-ba-sil-io Harris, Hobie .........................................................................................Ho-be Lardo, A.J. .......................................................................................... Lar-doe Leonardi, J.R. .......................................................................... Lee-oh-nar-dee Maldonado, Frank ................................................................. Mal-don-ah-doe Mersing, Sam ....................................................................................Mer-sing Pazos, Manny ..................................................................................... Pah-zos Pidich, Matt ........................................................................................Pie-dich Roche, Casey .........................................................................................Roach Rodriguez, Rene .................................................................................... Ren-e Shelinsky, Jr., Steven ................................................................. Sheh-lin-skee Vazquez, Boo.....................................................................................Vass-kez Vranka, Stephen .............................................................................. Vrain-kah Wolsonovich, Dylan ..............................................................Wol-sun-oh-vitch Wotherspoon, Matt ............................................................... Wah-thur-spoon Yarnall, Nick ........................................................................................Yar-nell Zeuch, T.J. ........................................................................................... Zoo-ch
QUICK FACTS/COACH JORDANO
QUICK FACTSSchool Info.School: University of PittsburghLocation: Pittsburgh, Pa.Founded: 1787Enrollment: 28,823Nickname: PanthersColors: Blue and Gold (PMS 289/PMS 4515)Home Field: Charles L. Cost FieldCapacity: 1,000Conference: ACCChancellor: Mark A. NordenbergAthletic Director: Steve C. PedersonAthletic Department Phone: (412) 648-8200Baseball Office Phone: (412) 648-8208Press Box Phone: (412) 624-6813
Coaching StaffHead Coach: Joe Jordano Alma Mater, Year: Westminster, 1985Record at School (Years): 484-391-2 (16 years)Overall Record (Years): 767-509-2 (26 years)
Assistant/Pitching Coach: Jerry Oakes (Sec-ond Season) Alma Mater, Year: Coastal Carolina, 2012
Team Information2013 Overall Record: 42-172013 Big East Record: 18-62013 Home Record: 25-52013 Away Record: 15-82013 Neutral Site Record: 2-4Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 15/9Newcomers: 20Position Starters Returning/Lost: 6/3Starting Pitchers Returning/Lost: 2/1
Media Relations InformationMedia Relations Contact: John GonoudeE-mail Address: [email protected] Relations Phone: (484) 744-5973Web Address: www.pittsburghpanthers.com
THE JORDANO ERA• Winningest coach in program history• 484 Wins• Averaging 30.5 wins per season• 9 Post-Season Appearances• 46 players have signed procontracts• 11 All-Americans• 15 All-Region Selections• 49 All-Conference Selections• 94 percent of players have received degrees• 2010 Chuck Tanner Collegiate Manager of the Year• 2010 ABCA East Region Coach of the Year• 2010 Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame Inductee• 2009 Mercyhurst College Hall of Fame Inductee• 2013 & 2004 Big East Coach of the Year
Excellence. Integrity. Passion.
Three words to describe the successful baseball coaching career of 15th-year Pitt skipper, Joe Jordano. Hired by Steve Pederson to lead the Panthers on November 15, 1997, Jordano began a rebuilding project that has delivered an unprecedented amount of growth, productivity and success over the past 15 seasons.
In 1997, the Panthers, only three years removed from a conference title, were slipping within the ranks of the power-ful Big East Conference and were in need of a new direction and vision. Jordano stepped in and engineered an incredible turn-around in just one season as he molded the Panthers into a significant presence over the past 15 seasons. Pitt has won over 400 games, been nationally-ranked, sent numerous players to the professional ranks and established itself as a force in the highly-competitive Big East Conference during his tenure. This past season, Coach Jordano became the all-time winningest coach in Pitt baseball history, a remarkable accomplishment in only 15 seasons at the helm of the program.
The 2013 season was one of the most successful in Pitt baseball history as the Panthers won a school-record 42 games and were ranked for a program-best seven weeks during the season, climbing as high as a program-best 16th in the nation. Pitt also cracked the rankings of all five major baseball publications for the first time ever.
A school-record eight Panthers took home All-Big East honors as Jordano took home his second Big East Coach of the Year award. four players garnered All-Region accolades while Casey Roche was named an All-American during the Panthers’ final season in the Big East.
The impressive season was capped when three Pitt players heard their names called at the 2013 MLB Draft, the second most in school history.
The 2012 season was a year of transi-tion. After losing seven players to professional baseball the very young Panthers took on an aggressive schedule and started seven players in new positions for the spring campaign. Despite the challenge, they earned a fourth straight appearance in the Big East Tournament. Pitt is one of only four teams in the Big East to advance to the tournament over four consecu-tive seasons.
This coming spring will be a year of transition as well as the Panthers enter their final season in the Big East Conference and prepare to begin play in the powerful Atlantic Coast Conference, which is arguably the best baseball conference in the country.
In the spring of 2011, the Panthers opened up their new home of baseball
at Charles L. Cost Field at the Petersen Sports Complex. Jordano fielded a se-nior-laden team to a third place finish in the Big East and yet another berth in the conference championships. Under Jordano' s tutelage, Corey Baker became the school's all-time career wins leader. Fellow senior John Schultz broke two school records (career walks and career doubles). Evidence of his success, six of Jordano' s players' were selected in the 2011 MLB entry draft, the highest ever in the program's existence. The 2010 season, the last at Trees Field, brought even more success to Jordano and his squad. The coaching staff's diligent recruiting efforts paid off, as the Panthers boasted one of the most powerful and dangerous lineups in collegiate baseball.
In 2010, Pitt earned its first-ever rank-ing in Baseball America (No. 24) and its highest-ever ranking in Collegiate Baseball (No. 20). The Panthers also broke numerous offensive records and have led the nation for most of the season in key offensive categories. Following the season, Jordano was named the ABCA East Region Coach of the Year as well as garnering the first ever Chuck Tanner Collegiate Baseball Manager of the Year.
There have been many highlights over the past 10 years including a trip to the Big East Championship game in 2005. From 2002-2005, Jordano put together the best four-year winning stretch in the program's 97-year history, captur-ing a total of 143 wins, including 36, 36, 38 and 33 during the stretch. The 38 wins in 2004 tied for the second-most victories in a single season. The 2004 season also saw the Panthers make a return visit to the Big East Champion-ship in Somerset, N.J. The accolades were numerous. In addition to Jordano being named Coach of the Year, P.J. Hiser was named Player of The Year, Nick Evangelista was named Co-Pitcher of the Year and Negrych was named Rookie of the Year. Both Hiser and Negrych garnered All-America honors. The Big East also named Ben Copeland, Tom Cashman and Bryan Spamer to the All-Conference squad.
Over the course of Jordano's career, over 50 players have played profes-sional baseball, in addition to eight All-Americans and countless All-Conference and All-Region selections. Jordano's overall record of 682-449-2 (.602) ranks him among the top 50 active Division-I coaches.
That trend of rebuilding has been a trait of Jordano in his coaching career. His first position was at Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pa. The NCAA Division II School did not have a strong baseball tradition and Jordano inherited a team that had won only nine games the previous season. However, the suc-cess began immediately for Jordano and did not stop for 10 consecutive seasons.
During his 10-year reign on the
Hill, Jordano's numbers speak for themselves: 283 wins against only 118 losses; six post-season appear-ances; two conference championships in his two years in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference; 30 All-Region players; four All-Americans; and several players in professional baseball.
Upon leaving Mercyhurst, Coach Jordano was the winningest coach in Mercyhurst College history and was ranked sixth all-time active winningest coaches in the D-II baseball history at the time of his departure. On May 17, 2009, Jordano was inducted into the Mercyhurst College Hall of Fame.
Jordano was also named the GLIAC Coach of the Year twice and was the Louisville Slugger NCAA DII Indepen-dent Coach of the year in 1995. In his last four years at Mercyhurst, Jordano's teams finished with a gaudy 128-31 record with four consecutive NCAA regional appearances. During his stay, Jordano also served on the NCAA DII National Baseball Committee and served as a chairman of the North Central Baseball Region. While at the University of Pittsburgh, Jordano has served on the NCAA Regional Advisory Committee as well as President of the Big East Coaches group for four years, 2000-04. He currently sits on the American Baseball Coaches Associa-tion College Playing Rules Commit-tee and sits on the ABCA Division I Advisory Board.
Jordano has been honored by groups over the past several years for his contributions to baseball. In 2003, he was named "Baseball Man of the Year" in Erie, Pa. - his hometown, for "ap-preciation for his lifetime support and devotion to baseball on the local and collegiate levels."
Following the 2004 season and the Big East Coach of the Year award, Jordano was recognized by the Team Pittsburgh Group of Erie and was also awarded an Honorary Lifetime membership to the San Francisco Bay Area Pitt Club.
Academically, Jordano has been extremely successful graduating his players. Since 1998, 94 percent of his players who have completed their eligibility have earned a University of Pittsburgh Degree. The Panthers have garnered 36 All Big East Academic Awards as well as the Most Improved Team GPA in 2008.
Jordano received his bachelor's degree from Westminster College, where he was a stellar four-year letter-winner and All-District performer in baseball. He also obtained his master's degree in athletic administration from Slippery Rock University.
Jordano resides in Cranberry Township with his wife, Michell, and sons Mat-thew and Joseph, daughter Sophia and his faithful golden retriever, Babe.
MATCHUP/NOTES
stretch in its 107-year history. The Panthers, who own a 63-21 overall record at Charles L. Cost Field (.750 winning percentage), have won 33 of their last 39 games at home (.846 winning percentage) and 19 of their last 22 (.864 winning percentage). On the season, Pitt has registered an 8-1 record at Charles L. Cost Field (.889 winning per-centage), including a pair of conference series sweeps over Duke (March 21-22) and No. 23 Georgia Tech (March 28-30). The Panthers have swept their first two three-game conference series at home for the second time in as many seasons and for the fourth time in program history. Pitt has also won a program-record 19 consecu-tive conference games at home, in addition to another school record of six straight conference series sweeps at home. The Panthers have not lost a conference match-up at Charles L. Cost Field in 705 calendar days (April 29, 2012 vs. Georgetown, Game 1 | L, 6-3).
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCKThe Panthers officially joined the ACC on July 1, 2013 after spending 29 baseball seasons in the Big East Confer-ence. Pitt is 62-104 (.373 winning percentage) all-time against current members of the ACC and 44-58 (.431 winning percentage) overall under head coach Joe Jordano. From 2010-13, the Panthers posted the third best winning percentage (.621, 141-86) and the fourth most conference wins (62-42) among all Big East teams during that span. The ACC has seen a total of nine programs make regional appearances since 2009, including eight with at least two appearances and six with at least five. The conference has also had the second most regional appearances (37) and second most appearances in the College World Series (9) in the past five seasons, with two programs advancing to the collegiate game’s biggest stage in 2013 (North Carolina, a No. 1 national seed, and North Carolina State). Three ACC programs are currently ranked in the ESPN/USA Today Top-25 Coaches’ Poll – No. 1 Virginia, No. 2 Florida State and No. 15 Clemson.
DYLAN DELIVERINGDylan Wolsonovich (SO/Ford City, Pa.) has not only provided a defensive presence at shortstop, he has also es-tablished himself as a key contributor in the Panthers’ offensive game plan. Nearing career highs in several major offensive categories, Wolsonovich currently leads Pitt in both batting average (.310) and on-base percentage (.417). Wolsonovich has solidified a career-high seven-game hitting streak heading into the weekend, including three multi-hit games. During that stretch, he is batting .458 (11-for-24) with a .567 on-base percentage and a .542 slugging percentage. Wolsonovich has also reached base safely in 11 consecutive contests. To break it down even further, the sophomore infielder has led the team in batting average in the last 10 games (.419, 13-for-31) and five games (6-for-14), respectively, helping to add to a .302 average in ACC play (on top of a team second-best 12 RBI).
BOO IS BOILINGBoo Vazquez (JR/Youngstown, Ohio) was listed at No. 67 on Baseball America’s Top-100 Prospects List heading into the 2014 season, in addition to being named the No. 11 prospect in the ACC by Perfect Game. Such acco-lades have proven to be worthwhile, as the junior outfielder has compiled quite an impressive campaign through the better part of the year. Vazquez, a 38th round draft selection by the Colorado Rockies in 2012, is batting .274 this season and is tied for first in the conference in RBI (30) and fourth in home runs (5). What may be most impressive about Vazquez is his handling of top-of-the-line pitching, as he holds a .333 batting average (15-for-45) against ACC opponents with a team-leading three home runs and 18 RBI during such games. Over his last 10 appearances, Vazquez has hit two home runs with the most RBI (11) among his teammates during that stretch.
HARVEY AND HARRISHarvey and Hobie Harris (JR/McKinney, Texas) have been exceedingly effective on the mound as of late, whiff-ing batters and limiting the opposition’s chances at run production. In fact, over the past five games, Harvey and Harris have combined for 18 strikeouts and 24.2 innings. What is most astonishing about this diamond duo is their combined earned run average during that stretch – 0.00 ERA. Additionally, Harvey has limited his opponents to a .160 batting average against in the past 14.2 frames worked and Harris has spotted his foes an .091 mark at the plate during 10 innings out of the bullpen. Harris, the ACC’s leader in batting average against this season (.136), tossed 6.2 innings of relief last weekend against No. 23 Georgia Tech in a 4-3 upset victory determined in 13 innings played.
CASEY AT THE BATCasey Roche (SR/Downingtown, Pa.) was named a First-Team Preseason All-American by the NCBWA in Decem-ber after garnering Third-Team All-American honors following his extraordinary junior campaign in 2013. Roche, a 2013 First-Team All-Big East selection, is batting .292 this season with five doubles, two triples, three home runs and a 23 RBI. Over his last 10 games, Roche is batting .341 (14-for-41) with one homer and 10 runs plated, in addition to holding a .537 slugging percentage. Most recently, Roche has registered a .364 batting average (8-for-22) to coincide with 11 total bases in his previous five contests. The slugging senior outfielder is currently ninth in Panthers history in games started (173), eighth in hits (218) and third in RBI (152) during his four-year career at Pitt.
PLEASE AND VRANKAStephen Vranka (SR/Monroeville, Pa.) has been consistently productive at the top of the lineup for Pitt this year. Having reached base safely in 18 straight contests, the senior has chalked up a hit in 14 of his last 16 games and has not been held hitless in consecutive games since Feb. 28 against Ohio State. During his 18-game streak of reaching first without issue, which dates back to March 8, Vranka has had seven multi-hit games, including four games with three or more hits. Vranka is batting .293 on the year with a team-leading 26 runs scored, 22 walks and 13 extra-base hits. Furthermore, Vranka leads the ACC with four triples, with three of those three-baggers coming on March 15 during a doubleheader at Virginia Tech. Vranka has pulled himself into second place on the program’s all-time list in career triples (14), four shy of Ben Copeland’s (2003-05) record of 18.
Casey Roche• NCBWA Region I Player of the Year• Third Team All-American (NCBWA)• First Team All-Region• First Team All-Big East• Big East Honor Roll (5/13) • Big East Honor Roll (4/15)• Big East Player of the Week (2/18)• CollegeBaseball360 National Player of the Week (2/18)
Steven Shelinsky Jr.• Second Team All-Big East
Boo Vazquez• Second Team All-Big East• Big East Honor Roll (4/29)• Big East Honor Roll (3/11)
Matt Wotherspoon• Second Team All-Big East• Big East Honor Roll (5/6)• Big East Honor Roll (3/25)
Stephen Vranka• Second Team All-Big East• Big East Honor Roll (5/6)• Big East Honor Roll (4/22)• Big East Honor Roll (3/25)
NON-CONFERENCE? NO PROBLEMSince the start of the 2008 season, Pitt has tallied a 110-65 (.629 winning percentage) against non-conference opponents, including a 22-9 showing (.710 winning percentage) in 2013 and an 8-8 mark this year. The Panthers have won 15 or more non-conference games in each of the past five seasons. Pitt has also won nine consecutive non-conference three-game sets dating back to 2005, with five series resulting in sweeps. The Panthers, who totaled 7.9 runs per game against out-of-league opponents in 2013, are averaging 6.8 runs per game during non-conference play this season.
FORTIFIED AT FORTY-TWOPitt set a program record in wins on May 12, 2013 when it defeated Villanova, 10-2, for its 40th victory of the season (also Jordano’s 750th career win) in the Panthers’ final Big East game at Charles L. Cost Field. Pitt finished at 42-17 on the year with an 18-6 conference record, edging the Panthers’ 1995 39-win season and tying their program best in conference wins (originally set in 2010). Last season marked the sixth time in history that Pitt has won 35 or more games (fifth time under Jordano). The Panthers, who swept a program-record eight three-game series in 2013, also posted their best winning percentage (.712) since 1981 (.758, 25-8) to rank 17th in NCAA Division-I baseball. Pitt has held itself at or above .500 in five consecutive seasons (2009-13), two shy of the program record of seven straight seasons (1967-73). The Panthers were one of 35 teams to win at least 40 games last season, placing themselves in the top 11.8 percent at the NCAA Division-I level.
PITT IN THE POLLSThe Panthers were ranked in all five major collegiate baseball polls for the first time in program history in 2013, earning its highest ever ranking, No. 16, from the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, a No. 21 ranking by Baseball America and a No. 23 ranking in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches’, NCBWA and Perfect Game top-25 polls. Pitt’s seven weeks in the polls more than doubled its prior best mark of three weeks set in 2010 and it also held ground in the top-20 for three straight weeks from April 29-May 13. The Panthers finished with a 15-10 record vs. teams ranked or receiving votes in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Preseason Top-40 Poll, including a three-game series sweep over No. 16 Notre Dame and a 12-inning, 7-6 victory against No. 19 Seton Hall in the Big East Tour-nament on May 24. Most recently, on Monday, March 31, Pitt received votes in the NCBWA Top-25 Poll for the first time this season after sweeping No. 23 Georgia Tech at home.
STATISTICAL STANDINGPitt’s offense ranked seventh nationally in scoring (7.5) and runs (444), 12th in on-base percentage (.403), 16th in slugging percentage (.448) and 20th in home runs (49) last season. In the conference, the Panthers were first in batting average (.302), on-base percentage, slugging percentage, runs, RBI (394), home runs (by a 20-home run margin over Louisville), total bases (926) and walks (292). Pitt was second in hits (625) and doubles (108), tied for third in triples (23) and fifth in stolen bases (72) as well. Defensively, Pitt converted 61 double plays on the season to lead the conference and to tie for 10th nationally.
Misc. Notes and NumbersOverall Record ................................................ 63-21 (.750)Capacity ...................................................................... 900Sellouts ..............................................1 (Villanova, 4/9/11)Surfaces ..................................... FieldTurf Synthetic GrassFirst game: .......... March 16, 2011 (10-7 loss to Kent State) Pitt Shutouts: ...................6 (No. 23 Georgia Tech, 3/29/14)Opponent Shutouts: ........................................................ 0 Pitt 10+ Run Games: ............................. 17 (Akron, 3/19/14)Opponent 10+ Run Games: ..............2 (Penn State, 5/11/11)Pitt Homeruns ............................................................... 58Opponent Homeruns .....................................................37
DimensionsLF .............................................................. 325 (16 ft. wall)LC ............................................................. 375 (16 ft. wall)CF .............................................................. 405 (8 ft. wall)RC ............................................................... 375 (8 ft. wall)RF ...............................................................330 (8 ft. wall)
The University of Pittsburgh baseball team has called Charles L. Cost Field at the Petersen Sports Complex home since the 2011 season.
The stadium, which replaced Trees Field, is named for three sport (football, basketball and baseball) and nine-time letterman Charles L “Corky” Cost, the owner and Chief Executive Officer of Cost Company, a Pittsburgh based masonry contractor.
In its three years at the facility Pitt has amassed an impressive 60-20 (.750) record.
LOB - Team (240), Opp (263). DPs turned - Team (17), Opp (15). CI - Team (0), Opp (1). IBB - Team (5), Frabasilio 2, Vranka1, Johnson 1, Roche 1, Opp (6). Picked off - Vranka 2, Frabasilio 1, Wolsonovich 1.
(All games Sorted by Earned run avg)
Player era w-l app gs cg sho sv ip h r er bb so 2b 3b hr b/avg wp hp bk sfa sha
