Panthers Shut Out Hokies, 7-0

Thursday, May 14

Pittsburgh, Pa.

6:00 PM

Pitt

19-31, 8-20

Virginia Tech

26-25, 12-15

Virginia Tech

Pitt

5/14/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

May 14, 2015

Box Score | Season Stats

PITTSBURGH -- Opening its last home series of the season, the University of Pittsburgh baseball team (19-31, 8-20 ACC) took down ACC foe Virginia Tech (26-25, 12-15 ACC) in a 7-0 shutout on Thursday night at Cost Field.  

"We talked in the Georgia Tech series about how it was a microcosm of our season," said head coach Joe Jordano. "Our starters aren't going deep enough, not cashing in, we're making mistakes that lead to runs, and at the end of the day that's what kills us. Today, we played clean baseball and beat a really good team. There's no secret to the formula." 

It was the second shutout victory of the season for Pitt, and the first since taking down No. 1 Virginia, 1-0, on March 7. 

Five different Panthers notched two or more hits, totaling 13 on the day. Charles LeBlanc and Boo Vazquez each recorded three, while Alex Kowalczyk, Jordan Frabasilio, and Eric Hess chipped in with two apiece. Six different Panther hitters recorded an RBI.  

Jacob Wright was a familiar face on the base paths as he was walked four times -- a new career high -- and scored three runs for Pitt, which matches his all-time best. Tonight's matchup marked the 37th straight game in which he's reached base, good for second among active ACC streaks.
  
On the mound, Aaron Sandefur (2-6) claimed his second win of the season after turning in 5.1 innings of exceptional work. The righty allowed just three hits and one walk, striking out four Hokies. Sandefur is one of two Pitt starting pitchers, including T.J. Zeuch against No. 1 Virginia, to allow no earned runs in a start of 5.0 innings or more this season. Sean Keselica (5-4) took the loss for Virginia Tech. 

Pitt jumped to an early, 1-0, lead after Wright was walked in the bottom of the opening frame, which was followed by a single to left from Leblanc to put two on for Kowalczyk. He then lofted a sacrifice fly to right that brought home Wright, giving the Panthers their first lead of the game. 

Virginia Tech notched one hit in the second and left a man stranded in the third, but was unable to get anything going offensively. The Hokies fell in order in the fourth and fifth innings as Sandefur retired seven straight.

The Panthers tacked on another run in the bottom of the fifth off a wild pitch that scored Wright again. The leadoff batter drew his second walk of the game and advanced to third thanks to a Leblanc double before scoring on a wild pitch. 

In the top of the sixth, Ryan Tufts led off with a double up the left field line, which would be Virginia Tech's lone hit of the inning as Sam Mersing came on from the `pen and fired 2.2 innings of hitless relief. 

With one out in the bottom half of the sixth, Hess drew a walk before Pazos went down swinging. Wright then walked for the third time, moving Hess to second. Leblanc stepped up to the plate and blasted a single to right center, scoring Hess and advancing Wright to third. Vazquez followed suit and singled to right, sending Wright home for his third run of the game and bringing the score to 4-0 in Pitt's favor. 

In the bottom of the seventh, the Panthers touched home again to push their lead to 5-0. With two outs, Frabasilio doubled down the left field line and Hess singled to the mound. Hess then stole second, putting himself and Frabasilio in scoring position for Pazos. Pazos walked to load the bases for Wright -- who walked for the fourth time in the game, forcing a run home.

The Panthers' bats went to work in the bottom half of the inning to add the day's final runs. Vazquez doubled to left center and Kowalczyk notched a single, but was tagged out at second. With Vazquez on third, Maldonado hit a sac fly to right field, sending another Panther home for the sixth time. Pitt posted another run off a Frabasilio single that sent home Sherman who reached off a double to left center, bringing the score to 7-0. Hess grounded out to end eight complete innings.

Hobie Harris pitched the game's final frame, giving up just one hit, as the Hokies were unable to mount a comeback.

The ACC foes will return to action tomorrow, May 15 at Cost Field. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.