Panthers Steady in 7-2 Win over Toledo

Saturday, February 20

Vero Beach, Fla.

11:00 AM

Pitt

2-0

Toledo

0-2

Toledo

Pitt

Panthers Steady in 7-2 Win over Toledo

2/20/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

Feb. 20, 2016

Box Score

VERO BEACH, FL. – Competing in game two of the Historic Dodgertown Classic, the Pitt baseball team earned a 7-2 victory over Toledo, as the Panthers bats remained hot in their second contest of the 2016 season.

The game remained close early on as Toledo found the scoresheet first in the top of the second. Dan Zuchowski was hit by a Sam Mersing pitch before Josh Cales doubled to the wall in left center to bring Zuchowski around. Mersing responded with a three-pitch strikeout of Brad Boss and a one-pitch lineout of Lucas Sokol to end the inning with Toledo up 1-0.

Caleb Parry earned his first of three runs batted in with a single through the right side, scoring Ron Sherman who had reached two batters prior with a well-hit triple down the left field line.

Mersing fanned three batters in the top of the third to set the Panthers up to take the lead. Facing an 0-2 count, sophomore Charles LeBlanc smacked a single up the middle and advanced on a throwing error by catcher Sokol. LeBlanc would advance to third on a when David Yanni grounded out to the second baseman and would cross home plate on the following play as Alex Kowalczyk grounded out to the shortstop.

A homerun from Parry in the fourth would put Pitt up 3-1 as the junior sent a shot over the left field wall.

Toledo scored its second run of the afternoon in the fifth, as Matt Hansen reached on an error by Yanni and a double from Deion Tansel and sacrifice by AJ Montoya would bring Hansen around.

The Panthers kept the heat on in the sixth inning with Sherman continued his solid outing with a double down the left field line. Aaron Schnurbusch would groundout to advance Sherman to third before a single from Parry earned Pitt the 4-2 advantage.

Pitt was able to seal the game with a three-run eighth inning to earn the 7-2 victory. Nick Yarnall started the inning off with a single to the shortstop, advancing to second on the throw. Sherman would sacrifice fly to centerfield to bring Yarnall to third. Schnurbusch drew a walk and then stole second before Parry was intentionally walked to load the bases with one out. Toledo pitcher Kevin Kline hit Frank Maldonado to bring Yarnall around. A single up the middle from LeBlanc would bring Parry and Schnurbusch home and give the Panthers their second win of the season.

Mersing earned his first win of 2016, going 5.1 innings, surrendering just four hits, two runs, one earned run and one walk, while striking out seven. Garrett Wrambel earned the save with 3.2 innings of work. He gave up just one hit and struck out two, facing 12 total batters.

Parry led the offensive charge, going 3-of-3 with two runs scored, three runs batted in and one walk, including a homerun. Sherman also posted a solid outing, going 3-of-3 with two runs scored, a pair of doubles and a triple.

With the victory, the Panthers improve to 2-0 on the season, having claimed a win over Niagara on Friday night. Pitt will move on to face Ohio State in game three of the Historic Dodgertown Classic on Saturday at 6 p.m. in Vero Beach, Fla. Live stats for the nightcap with Ohio State can be found here.

The Panthers will conclude action in the opening weekend tournament on Sunday, facing Niagara for the second time in four games at 11 a.m.

Notes: Sam Mersing earned his sixth career victory (6-5) … Garrett Wrambel posted his second career save … five Panthers have now hit safely in two straight contests to open the season (Charles LeBlanc, Nick Yarnall, Ron Sherman, Caleb Parry, Frank Maldonado) … Frank Maldonado has been hit by a pitch in two consecutive games … Pitt is now 5-1 over Toledo, having claimed four straight wins … the win was head coach Joe Jordano’s 513th at Pitt and 796th in his career.

#H2P
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