PITTSBURGH – The University of Pittsburgh (12-8) shut out the Niagara University baseball team (3-16), 12-0, Tuesday at Trees Field, on the campus of Pittsburgh. The loss marked the first time this season the Purple Eagles have been shutout.

Allowing just two hits in the win, Panthers freshman Chad Baker (1-0) pitched six innings in the shutout, striking out six and walking just one batter.

Pittsburgh scored nine runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to pull away from Niagara.

Ahead 2-0 entering the sixth, the first seven batters of the inning reached base for the Panthers, all scoring in the inning. The nine-run inning was capped off by a two-run home run to left center by Pittsburgh sophomore Jim Negrych, who led the Panthers with three RBI in the win.

Niagara starter Ryan Virtue (Stittsville, Ont.) pitched three innings, allowing two hits and two runs while walking five batters.

The Purple Eagles return to action Saturday, traveling to Le Moyne College for a three-game Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference series at Rockwell Field.