Pitt Edged by New Orleans in Series Finale

Sunday, March 6

New Orleans, LA.

1:00 PM

Pitt

6-4

New Orleans

9-2

Pitt

New Orleans

Pitt Edged by New Orleans in Series Finale

3/6/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

March 6, 2016

Box Score

NEW ORLEANS -- A late comeback fell short in New Orleans as the Panthers fell to the Privateers by a score of 8-5 in the series finale Sunday afternoon.

The Privateers' win secured the weekend sweep, as Pitt falls to 6-4-0 on the season.

"It was a tough weekend," said head coach Joe Jordano. "Through the three games we did some things well, but got ourselves in a little trouble that turned into big innings for New Orleans. We have to string some good innings together, both offensively and defensively." 

The offense continued to surge for the Privateers to kick off the game as they plated a run in the first stanza to take the early lead. New Orleans held onto the advantage through two innings before the Panthers tied it up at one apiece in the third.

Manny Pazos started off the inning with a single, advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt from Matt Johnson and moving to third on a groundout by Charles LeBlanc. Pazos was brought home by a single up the middle by Alex Kowalczyk.

The lead was short lived, however, as New Orleans responded with a four-run inning to regain the lead. A double down the left field line from Aaron Palmer got things started as Palmer would advance to second following a walk to Dakota Dean. Another walk to Hezekiah Randolph loaded the bases with no outs for the team's leading hitter, Kyle Bracey.

Bracey sent a single to center field, scoring two and putting two men on base for Samuel Capielano. In the next at bat, Capielano would reach on a throwing error by Tyler Garbee, bringing two more runners around to give the Privateers a 5-1 advantage.

Another two-run frame in the following inning for the Privateers extended their lead to 7-1.

Pitt slowly chopped away at the New Orleans lead as Matt Johnson sent a double to left field to start the fifth. LeBlanc cranked a double in the following at bat to bring Johnson home. With the bases loaded, Jacob Wright grounded into a double play, allowing LeBlanc to score and bring the score to 7-3 in favor of New Orleans.

In the seventh, a single from Parry would bring home Kowalczyk. The Panthers put runners on each base with no outs, but were unable to plate anymore runs.

New Orleans added another in the bottom of the eighth to extend their lead to 8-4.

Pinch hitting in the ninth, Nick Yarnall singled up the middle to bring Wright home and cut the lead to 8-5. The comeback was halted though as Yaya Chentouf and Aaron Schnurbusch recorded the final two outs of the contest.

Liberatore was awarded the loss as he falls to 1-1 on the season.

Kowalczyk led the way for the Pitt offense, going 3-of-5 with one run batted in and one run scored, including a double. Parry went 3-of-5 with an RBI double.  

"This is certainly a work in progress," added Jordano. "We had four freshmen out there again today and they are going to experience growing pains, but no doubt we have to improve in every aspect of the game." 

Up next, the Panthers head to North Carolina for their first ACC series of the year next weekend, traveling to Chapel Hill, N.C., March 11-13.  

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Notes: Pitt is swept for the first time since May 2-3 against then 16th-ranked Miami ... Ron Sherman snaps a 15-game hit streak (0-of-2) ... Charles LeBlanc extended his hit streak to nine ... Nick Yarnall extended his hit streak to eight ... Ron Sherman ended a 17-game reached base streak ... Charles LeBlanc has now reached base in 17 straight outings ... Nick Yarnall extended his on base streak to nine ... Jacob Wright has reached base safely in eight straight outings ... the loss is the sixth all-time against the Privateers as New Orleans moves the series record to 6-3 in their favor ... heading into the series, the Panthers led the nation in home runs with 19 and added two more in the first game of the weekend ... the game was just the fourth (of 10) in which Pitt did not record a home run ... four Panthers recorded a double on the afternoon.