Ninth Inning Comeback Lifts Kansas State over Pitt

Saturday, February 18

Kissimmee, Fla.

11:00 AM

Pitt

1-1

Kansas State

1-1

Kansas State

Pittsburgh

Ninth Inning Comeback Lifts Kansas State over Pitt

2/18/2017 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

KISSIMMEE, FL - A ninth-inning two-run homerun from Kansas State handed Pitt its first loss of the season as the Panthers fell 5-3 in game two of the Sunshine State Classic Saturday afternoon at Osceola Heritage Park.

Pitt took a two-run lead into the top of the ninth before a shot from Steve Serratore gave the Wildcats the advantage and eventual win.

"That loss certainly stung," said head coach Joe Jordano. "We had ample opportunity to push runs across and simply didn't execute our situational at bats. We left 13 baserunners on and had several third base with less than two out attempts. Josh (Mitchell) deserved a better outcome. He pitched a great game and unfortunately in this game, one swing of the bat can make the difference. And today it did.

"I give credit to Kansas State for converting on their opportunities. When you hit a three-run and two-run homer, both with two outs, you have a chance. That was the difference in today's game. We have to learn from it and come back big against the defending Big 10 Champions, Ohio State."

The Panthers got on the board first as Jacob Wright would score his first of two on the afternoon. Wright would lead things off with a single to left and was moved to second on a groundout from David Yanni. A double down the left field line from Frank Maldonado plated Wright as Pitt went up 1-0.

In the fifth, Pitt added one more, as Wright again led things up with a single up the middle. A sacrifice bunt off the bat of Caleb Parry moved Wright to second and a single from Yanni put runners on second and third before Wright would score on a wild pitch to put Pitt on top 2-0.

Starter Josh Mitchell was nearly perfect for Pitt, retiring the first 13 batters he faced before allowing a walk in the fifth. Despite the walk, Mitchell carried a no hitter into the sixth, as a single from Josh Ethier would break up the no-no.

In that inning, Either's single led things off and was followed up by a two-out error that allowed Cameron Thompson to reach. Serratore would hit a three-run bomb to give the Jayhawks a 3-2 lead before Mitchell go the fly out to end the inning.

Pitt knotted things back up in the bottom of the frame as Manny Pazos led off with a walk, followed by a wild pitch and subsequent walk to Nick Banman. A fielder's choice off the bat of Alex Amos put runners on the corners before Pazos scored on a passed ball.

The Panthers regained the lead in the seventh as Parry drew a lead-off walk and a double from Maldonado allowed the first baseman to score. Maldonado would advance to third on the throw, but Kansas State would escape the inning but surrender the 4-3 lead to Pitt.

In the ninth, reliever Yaya Chentouf came on to toss his second inning after a clean eighth. With two outs, Jake Scudder sent a single up the middle which opened the door for a home run off the bat of Quintin Crandall. The next batter would ground out to second, but Kansas State would take control, 5-4.

Pitt threatened in the bottom of the frame as a double from pinch hitter P.J. DeMeo, a wild pitch and a walk to Pazos put runners on the corners. Pinch hitters Alex Griffith and Zach Zientarski would both go down on strikes to end game as Kansas State earned the win.

With the loss, Pitt falls to 1-1 on the season and 0-2 all-time against Kansas State. The Panthers return to the diamond at 6 p.m. on Saturday in game two of the doubleheader, taking on reigning Big 10 Champion Ohio State in the nightcap.

Notes: Frank Maldonado led the offensive charge, going 3-5 with two RBI … Jacob Wright added a two-hit performance, going 2-4 with two runs scored … Nick Banman hit two well-hit doubles, including a ground rule double at nearly 400 feet … Josh Mitchell was stellar in his first collegiate start, going 7.0 innings, allowing three runs (none earned) off of three hits and one walk, while striking out one … the blown save is the first of his career for Yaya Chentouf … Maldonado now has three doubles on the season, with one on opening day and two against Kansas State.

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