Hammer’s Strong Start Lifts Pitt to 7-2 Win over Villanova

Friday, February 15

Kissimmee, FL

3 PM

Pitt

1-0

Villanova

0-1

Villanova

Pittsburgh

Hammer’s Strong Start Lifts Pitt to 7-2 Win over Villanova

2/15/2019 9:01:00 PM | Baseball

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Mike Bell Collects First Win as Pitt Head Coach

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The University of Pittsburgh baseball team opened the 2019 season with a 7-2 win over Villanova, giving head coach Mike Bell his first victory as a head coach.

Pitt (1-0, 0-0 ACC) used a big third inning and a strong performance on the mound from junior Dan Hammer to take an early lead it would not surrender, collecting its seventh straight opening day victory.

"There is nothing like opening day, and it was a great day for Pitt baseball," said Bell. "I really felt like the first inning jam that Hammer worked out of really set the tone and showed that this team can be mentally tough. Our quality at bats and plate discipline really showed up in the middle of the game. Any time you can put a zero on the end of the scoreboard – having no errors – and pitch the way we did today, you're going to put yourself in a position to win ballgames. I was extremely proud of the staff and team today and the way we played Pitt baseball."

Hammer got into a bit of trouble in the opening frame as back-to-back hits put runners on the corners with no outs. The right-hander responded with three straight strikeouts to hold the Wildcats off the board. He would continue to cruise, using just eight pitches in the second and seven pitches in the third to retire nine straight batters.

The Panthers broke things open in the third, putting up four runs, all of which came with two outs. Kyle Hess would get the offense going with a triple into left center, scoring on a ball that got through the legs of the Villanova catcher on a walk issued to Ron Washington Jr. Another passed ball would move Washington Jr. into scoring position, before a walk to David Yanni put a pair on.

A double off the bat of Cole MacLaren cleared the bases to put the Panthers up 3-0. The offense continued as Sky Duff and Zach Klapak drew back-to-back walks. Alex Amos would follow up with a bases loaded free pass, giving the Panthers a 4-0 advantage.

Hammer retired his 10th straight before letting up a solo homer to cut the Pitt lead to three. The junior would respond, retiring five of the next six batters to close out the fifth inning.

Villanova cut the Pitt lead to two in the sixth as a triple and hit batter put runners on the corners with one out, ending Hammer's evening. A single up the middle would plate another for the Wildcats, as the Panthers held a 4-2 lead.

Pitt would add to its advantage in the seventh, scoring three more to jump out to a five-run lead. Four straight walks, got things going before Villanova recorded the first out on a fielder's choice. Another walk and hit by pitch would bring two more around, as the Panthers grabbed a commanding lead.

Chris Gomez closed things out for the Panthers, entering the game in the eighth and holding the Wildcats to two hits in his two innings.

Hammer (1-0) earned his first win of the season, going 5.1 innings, allowing just two runs off three hits without allowing a walk. He concluded the game with eight strikeouts, just one shy of his career high. Derek West threw 1.2 innings of clean relief, letting up just one hit and one walk, whiffing three. Gomez wrapped up his outing with 2.0 frames, surrendering two hits and two walks, fanning three.

Offensively, MacLaren and Amos each collected two RBI, while Hess went 2-4 with an RBI and run scored in his collegiate debut. Fellow rookie Duff grinded out four walks to lead the Panthers, as the team collectively drew 15 free passes on the day.

The Panthers return to action tomorrow for two, taking on Iowa at 11 a.m. and Marshall at 6:30 p.m. before closing out the Sunshine State Classic Series Sunday at 1 p.m. versus Milwaukee.

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