Lopez Keys Baseball's Doubleheader Sweep of Pittsburgh, 4-3

BOX SCORE (.html) 
BOX SCORE (.pdf)

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. - Freshman Jose Lopez (Cranbury, N.J.) pitched seven innings of two-run relief to lift the Seton Hall baseball team to 4-3 victory and double-header sweep of Pittsburgh on Saturday.

Lopez came on in relief of an ineffective Brian Gilbert (Toms River, N.J.) with one out in the second inning and shut down the Panthers for much of the game.  The right-hander gave up just two runs on three hits, while striking out a career-high 12 batters and not issuing a walk.  His 12 strikeouts are a season-high for a Pirate pitcher this year, reliever or starter.

Seton Hall (31-21, 15-9) took an early lead when Sal Annunziata (Bronx, N.Y.) doubled home Giuseppe Papaccio (Nutley, N.J.) in the bottom of the first inning.  After Pittsburgh tied the game in the top of the second, the Pirates regained the lead on an RBI single by catcher Dillon Hamlin (Colts Neck, N.J.) scoring Dale Anderson (Calgary, Canada).

The score would remain 2-1 in the Pirates favor until they received some much need insurance in the bottom of the eighth inning.  With runners on first and second and one out, Pittsburgh intentionally walked Chase Gray (Toms River, N.J.) to load the bases for freshman Kyle Grimm (Bergenfield, N.J.).  The third baseman roped a single through the left side scoring two key insurance runs.

In the top of the ninth inning, Lopez ran into trouble giving up an RBI double to Pittsburgh's Casey Roche, cutting the Pirates' lead to 4-2.  Benny Mejia (Paterson, N.J.) came on in relief with one out and gave up an RBI double to Boo Vasquez cutting the Seton Hall lead to one.  But Mejia settled down and retired the last two batters on a ground out to second and a fly out to left field.

Mejia recorded a save in both games of today's double-header and now has eight for the season.

Scott Kalamar (Bethlehem, Pa.) recorded a team-high three hits today, going 3-for-4 with a run scored.  Grimm was the lone Pirate with two RBIs.

Seton Hall has now won three straight BIG EAST series' and will play three final conference regular season games at St. John's beginning Thursday at 1:00 p.m.  The Pirates' victories today clinch them a spot in the upcoming 2012 BIG EAST Championship in Clearwater, Fla.  The tournament will begin on Wednesday, May 23.

To watch the post-game interviews with head coach Rob Sheppard and Jose Lopez, CLICK HERE.