Pitt Falls to No. 3 North Carolina, 5-2

Friday, April 21

Pittsburgh, Pa.

6:00 PM

Pitt

16-19, 7-12-0

North Carolina

30-8, 15-4-0

North Carolina

Pittsburgh

Pitt Falls to No. 3 North Carolina, 5-2

4/21/2017 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

PITTSBURGH - The University of Pittsburgh baseball team dropped game one of their series against third-ranked North Carolina, 5-2, Friday at Charles L. Cost Field.

Jacob Wright and Caleb Parry were responsible for the Panthers' two runs as Pitt fell to the Coastal Division leader in the series opener.

Pitt (16-19 7-12 ACC) recorded five hits during the contest, but North Carolina's (30-8 15-4 ACC) offense shined as they brought across five runs on 14 hits. On the mound, Josh Mitchell went 4.2 innings, allowing four runs, two earned, on nine hits, striking out six. Sam Mersing and Isaac Mattson combined to throw 4.1 innings in relief. The pair allowed one run on five hits with three strikeouts.

"I thought we definitely took some quality at bats, I thought we had about 11 or 12," said head coach Joe Jordano. "We had some opportunities. We left some runners on base. The difference in this game was pretty much one play that led to the three-run inning and the fact that North Carolina, when they had opportunities to score, they came up with a big hit. That's why they're number three in the county and that's why they're in the position that they're in. They are a very well coached team and a very talented team, but we hung tough. We had opportunities late in the game; we had bases loaded with two outs, first and second with two outs and we just didn't get that big hit."

The Panthers got off to a hot start as Wright cranked a solo homer over the wall in right to give the home team a 1-0 lead. Parry followed the homer with a single up the middle, but Pitt was unable to add to its lead in the home half of the inning.

In the third, Mitchell was able to work his way out of trouble, escaping a bases loaded jam. After giving up back-to-back one-out singles and issuing a two-out walk, he was able to get UNC's cleanup hitter, Kyle Datres, to ground out to third to end the inning.

The Tar Heels put three runs on the board in the top of the fourth. After Brandon Riley led off the inning with a single, the Panthers appeared to have him picked off, but a wild throw allowed the runner to advance to second. A one-out single drove Riley in from second. Carolina again loaded the bases with two outs when Logan Warmoth drove in two with a single up the middle. Mitchell was able to induce a ground to shortstop to end the inning.

Pitt threatened to answer in the bottom half of the inning after Manny Pazos singled with one out and P.J. DeMeo followed with a walk. Alex Amos advanced the runners to second and third on a groundout, but right fielder Nico Papa was unable to strike with runners in scoring position as he grounded out the third.

North Carolina added another run in the fifth when Tyler Lynn delivered a two-out double to drive in a runner from second. After hitting the following batter, Mitchell was replaced by Mersing who was able to coax a fly ball to center field to escape further damage.

The Tar Heels struck again in the seventh. Lynn again came through for UNC, driving a single through the right side to bring home Datres from third. The following at bat, Mersing forced a groundball to third, inducing a rundown between third and home when Pazos was able to tag the runner out. UNC's Ike Freeman grounded out to third to end the inning.

The Panthers got on the board again in the home half of the seventh. Amos got the inning started with a one out single. After Wright drew a two-out walk, Parry singled through the left side to drive in Amos from second. Yaya Chentouf struck out but advanced to first on a passed ball to load the bases. UNC went to the bullpen to bring in Josh Hiatt who was able to induce a grounder to third to end the Panthers rally.

Pitt fell short during their final rally in the bottom of the ninth. Amos drew a walk to start the inning. After back-to-back strikeouts, Parry drew a walk to bring the tying run to the plate. Hiatt was able to strike out the final batter to capture game one of the series.

"As I told my club after the ballgame, regardless of the score of this game, we have to come back hard tomorrow and we know that's a big challenge," added Jordano. "North Carolina is such a quality program and they do such a great job. We understand what is in front of us and we just have to prepare ourselves to come out again tomorrow and play another quality game and hope we get those opportunities and take advantage of those opportunities and cash them in."

UP NEXT
The Panthers will take on North Carolina in game two of the series, Saturday April 22, at 3 p.m. Josh Falk is set to take the mound for Pitt against Luca Dalatri for North Carolina.

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