Pitt
6-6, 0-2
NC State
14-0, 2-0
Panthers Suffer Setback at No. 20 NC State
3/9/2019 5:08:00 PM | Baseball
Pitt Drops Game Two in Raleigh
"I was really glad to see our guys come out and deliver a first punch today after yesterday's close loss," said head coach Mike Bell. "We've got to continue to grow as a team and learn how to pitch and play defense once we have the lead. Tomorrow will bring us another challenge and, more importantly, an opportunity to get better."
The Panthers jumped out to an early advantage, plating three in the opening frame to take a 3-0 lead. Connor Perry got things going with a single through the right side in the game's first at bat, moving to second on a successful sacrifice bunt from Cole MacLaren. A fielding error would allow Ron Washington Jr. to reach, scoring Perry.
With two outs, Nico Popa dropped a triple into right center, scoring Washington Jr. and making it 2-0 in favor of the Panthers. An NC State pitching change would follow but the Panthers would keep things going, as a single from Bryce O'Farrell plated Popa and made it 3-0 in favor of the visitors.
NC State would get two back in the bottom of the frame, capitalizing on some fielding miscues to cut the Panther advantage to just one. The Wolfpack would tie it up in the third after a single and a triple knotted things up at 3-3.
The Wolfpack took a commanding advantage in the fourth, scoring eight to take an 11-3 lead. NC State would add to its advantage in the fifth, seventh and eighth, coming away with the 21-3 victory.
Starter Dan Hammer (2-1) suffered his first loss of the season, and was relieved by Derek West after 3.0 innings. Senior Will Kirwan was effective for the Panthers, going 3.1 innings, striking out three. Freshman Mason Ronan and junior Chris Gomez also saw work out of the pen.
Offensively, the Panthers were able to put together nine hits, led by Washington Jr., who extended his hit streak to 10 games with a pair of hits.
Pitt and NC State will return to action Sunday at 1 p.m. in the weekend finale.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Andrew Blake (1-0)
L: Hammer, Dan (2-1)
Batting:
2B: Washington, Jr., Ron 1
3B: Popa, Nico 1
RBI: Popa, Nico 1 ; O'Farrell, Bryce 1
SH: MacLaren, Cole 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Perry, Connor 1 ; Washington, Jr., Ron 1 ; Popa, Nico 1
HBP: Washington, Jr., Ron 1 ; Moskiewicz, Bryce 1
Batting:
2B: Marek Chlup 1 ; Evan Edwards 1 ; Patrick Bailey 2 ; Thayer Thomas 1 ; David Vazquez 1
3B: Patrick Bailey 1
HR: Luca Tresh 1 ; Thayer Thomas 1
RBI: Marek Chlup 2 ; Will Wilson 1 ; Evan Edwards 3 ; Patrick Bailey 2 ; Luca Tresh 2 ; Tyler McDonough 1 ; Thayer Thomas 2 ; Brad Debo 2 ; Terrell Tatum 1 ; J.T. Jarrett 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jonny Butler 2 ; Marek Chlup 1 ; Will Wilson 2 ; Devonte Brown 1 ; Evan Edwards 1 ; Patrick Bailey 3 ; Luca Tresh 2 ; Thayer Thomas 2 ; Brad Debo 1 ; Vojtech Mensik 1 ; David Vazquez 1 ; Terrell Tatum 1 ; Dillon Cooper 1 ; J.T. Jarrett 2
SB: Jonny Butler 1 ; Brad Debo 1 ; Vojtech Mensik 1
