Panthers Sweep Doubleheader, Series with Virginia Tech

Saturday, March 25

Pittsburgh, Pa.

4:30 PM

Pitt

11-10, 4-5-0

Virginia Tech

14-12, 3-6-0

Virginia Tech

Pittsburgh

Panthers Sweep Doubleheader, Series with Virginia Tech

3/25/2017 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

PITTSBURGH -- Solid pitching, clean defense and timely offense led the University of Pittsburgh baseball team to a doubleheader and series sweep over Virginia Tech Saturday afternoon at Charles L. Cost Field.

Pitt clinched the series in the first game with an 8-2 victory and followed it up with a 3-2 decision in the series finale. The ACC sweep is the first of the season for the Panthers as they move to 11-10, 4-5 ACC on the year.

"I told the team post game that I was very proud of our effort today," said head coach Joe Jordano. "Following yesterday and last week, we worked on some things specifically from an offensive perspective. We tried to tweak some things. Coach Oakes was working on some things with the pitchers for this series. The encouraging thing for me is that our guys see these changes working. When you make those adjustments, and you commit to those adjustments, and you see on the field that it is playing out, you feel very good about it. The players start to build confidence knowing that they are going to get better as the season progresses. We were good on the mound, we played really well defensively and we got some timely hitting against a good team. Anytime you sweep, which is a very difficult thing to do at any level, it is a big accomplishment."

Game One
The Panthers' offense continued to roll in the second game of the series as the home team captured an 8-2 victory to clinch the series.

Pitt got on the board first in the bottom of the second as P.J. DeMeo sent a two-out double into center. A single off the bat of Alex Amos scored DeMeo, putting the Panthers up 1-0.

The Panthers broke it open in the third, scoring three runs off two hits to extend their lead to 4-0. Jacob Wright hit a one-out single to left, moving to second after Yaya Chentouf was hit by a pitch. With two on, Caleb Parry smashed a three-run shot to left, his second of the season and fourth of his career.

An RBI double off the bat of Nick Banman in the fifth gave Pitt a 5-0 lead before the Hokies would break their offensive drought in the sixth.

Back-to-back singles led off the Hokies' sixth, putting men on the corners for an RBI single by Tom Stoffel. The Panthers would head to the bullpen, calling on reliever Isaac Mattson who would get out of the jam and end the inning with Pitt on top 5-1.

The Panthers extended their lead in the bottom of the stanza, plating three runs off three hits and a Virginia Tech error. Amos led off with a walk before the Hokies would call on the bullpen. A sacrifice bunt by Manny Pazos moved Amos into scoring position before a single up the middle by Nico Popa and throwing error by the Virginia Tech second baseman would allow Amos to score, moving Popa to second.

Wright would follow that up with a single of his own, putting runners on the corners for Chentouf, who would reach on a fielder's choice, as Popa was out at home. Parry was hit by a pitch, loading the bases as Frank Maldonado walked in a runner. An infield single for Banman scored Chentouf as Pitt took an 8-1 lead.

A solo homerun for the Hokies in the eighth made it 8-2 in favor of the Panthers, as Pitt would hold on to clinch its first ACC series win of the season.

Pitt starter Matt Pidich earned the win, moving to 3-1 on the season. He tossed 5.0 innings, allowing just one earned run off four hits and two walks, fanning six. Mattson would earn his third save of the year, tossing 4.0 innings, allowing one earned run off four hits and one walk, striking out four.

Offensively, eight of the nine Pitt batters recorded a hit, as Wright led the way, going 3-5 with two runs scored. Parry was 1-4 with three RBIs and a run scored, while Banman went 2-5 with two RBIs.

Game Two
Senior starter Josh Falk was the highlight of the afternoon's second game as the righty again tossed a gem, going 7.0 innings, allowing two runs off six hits. He did not walk a batter but fanned a career-high 10 Hokies on the afternoon as he earned a no decision.

"I told Josh [Falk] for him that on Sundays it is going to play out either one of three ways. One, on Sunday you are going to try to win the series; two, you are going to try and salvage a game; or three, you are going for the sweep," added Jordano. "All three of those are critically important. Josh and I talked about that this week, because he wants the ball on Friday night. I understand that; I'm looking at it as what puts us in the best position to be successful. He's such a competitor that no matter which one of those scenarios presents itself, I'm very confident with him on the mound."

The Panthers offense continued to shine early on, scoring two in the second frame to jump out to a 2-0 lead. A leadoff walk by Banman put a man on for DeMeo to smack a two-run shot over the wall in left center, his second of the season and fourth of his career.

Virginia Tech got one back in the fifth off a solo homer to center and tied it in the sixth following a leadoff triple and sacrifice fly.

In the eighth, the Panthers would break the tie, scoring the go-ahead run that would be the deciding factor. Maldonado led off with a double to center, moving to third on a passed ball. A single down the right field line by Banman scored the Pitt centerfielder as the Panthers held on for a 3-2 victory.

Freshman reliever Chris Gomez earned the win, moving to 2-1 on the season. The Miami native tossed 2.0 hitless innings in relief, striking out one in the victory.

Offensively, DeMeo continued his consistency, going 1-4 with a run scored and two RBI. Banman contributed a 1-2 outing with a run scored and RBI while Maldonado went 1-4 with a run scored.

The Panthers will return to Charles L. Cost Field on Tuesday, hosting regional rival West Virginia in the diamond edition of the Backyard Brawl. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.

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