NOTEBOOK: Week Three of Scrimmages in the Books

Oct. 4, 2016

PITTSBURGH - The University of Pittsburgh baseball team has surpassed the halfway point of the fall season, as the third week of scrimmages came to a close on Saturday and Sunday.

On Saturday the gold team walked away with a 6-1 decision, as the blue team earned an 8-4 victory on Sunday.

"We have seven true freshmen that are going to contribute to our lineup this season as well as a several sophomores. That is a young team," said head coach Joe Jordano. "This group is talented and has a high ceiling but we have to continue to get better at consistency and execution. I feel good about where we are at so far this fall."

Returning hurler Josh Falk got the start on the bump on Saturday, opposite midweek starter Sam Mersing. Falk would go 4 innings, allowing just one run off of three hits and a walk, striking out a pair. Mersing went four innings as well, allowing one run off of four hits and a walk, striking out three. In relief, Yaya Chentouf continued to dominate, going there innings, allowing just one hit and zero walks while fanning three. Zach Zientarski also blanked batters, striking out three batters he faced in his one inning of work.

"As I have said before, Josh is a competitor. He is going to come at you with everything he has and fight to the last pitch," added Jordano. "Josh's mentality is a strength of his and when he is on, he can beat anyone at any time.

"Yaya is very similar. He is challenge every hitter he faces. It is mano e mano with him. I love it. I have no problem with the result with these two guys on the bump for us."

On the offensive side, Caleb Parry and Nico Popa led the Panthers offenses. Parry was 3-5 with a double, while Popa also produced a 3-5 outing. Manny Pazos and David Yanni each collected a pair of hits with Yanni contributing two doubles, while Alex Griffith went 2-3 with a solo homerun.

On Sunday, the young guns got their chance on the mound as Danny Hammer, Richard Freure, Thomas Pagan, Christopher Gomez and Peyton Reesman led the way for the Panthers. Both Hammer and Freure would go three innings, as Freure would produce a solid line, surrendering just one hit and one walk, fanning six batters.

The hitters struggled a bit more on Sunday, as Liam Sabino, Pazos and Yanni were the only three Panthers to collect multiple hits. Sabino had a good outing, going 3-4 with a pair of doubles while Pazos was 2-4 with a double and Yanni went 2-3 with a walk.

Fall Season Batting Leaders (min. 15 AB)