Panthers Fall to Kent State, 9-8

Wednesday, April 17

Kent, OH

6 PM

Pitt

11-25

Kent State

16-18

Pittsburgh

Kent State

Panthers Fall to Kent State, 9-8

4/17/2019 10:32:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Season Statistics (PDF)Box Score (PDF)

Hess Launches First Career Homer in Defeat

KENT, Ohio – Despite late inning heroics, the University of Pittsburgh baseball team dropped a mid-week contest to Kent State Wednesday evening, falling 9-8 to the Golden Flashes on the road.

A leadoff triple from David Yanni paved the way for the Panthers to tie things up in the eighth inning, but a bases loaded single in the bottom of the ninth pushed the Golden Flashes to the victory.

Pitt got on the board first, taking advantage of some Kent State mistakes to grab the early lead. A double off the bat of Ron Washington Jr. and a pair of walks to Sky Duff and Connor Perry put runners on each base with two outs, before Kyle Hess would draw a four-pitch walk to plate Duff, as Kent State called upon the bullpen early and escaped the inning with just a one-run deficit.

The Golden Flashes' offense responded in the bottom of the frame, scoring three to take a 3-1 lead.

Pitt used a three-run third inning to regain the advantage. Bryce O'Farrell got the inning started with a walk, moving to second on a single from Nico Popa. The Panthers would again load the bases as Perry reached after catcher's interference was called at the plate. Hess would continue to rake in the RBI, bringing a pair home on a single up the middle.

After a successful double steal put both runners in scoring position a fielder's choice from Cole MacLaren brought Popa home as Pitt secured a 4-3 lead.

The Panthers added to their advantage in the fourth. Duff led off the frame with a double down the left field line, moving to third on a sacrifice bunt from O'Farrell. A sacrifice fly by Washington Jr. allowed Duff to score as Pitt took a 5-3 advantage.

The back-and-forth play continued in the bottom of the inning as Kent State put up five to regain the lead, going up 8-5.

Pitt began to chip away at the deficit in the fifth, as Hess launched his first career homer into right center, a two run bomb that pulled the Panthers within one. Pitt would tie it up in the eighth as Yanni got the frame started with a triple and was brought home on a nicely turned double play from the Kent State defense.

Kent State, however, would win it in the ninth as a bases loaded single gave the home team the 9-8 victory.

Chase Smith (1-5) earned the decision, going 1.2 frames, allowing one run off three hits and two walks, both intentional, striking out one. Chris Gomez earned the start, allowing three unearned runs off four hits, whiffing one. David Moore tossed an inning of relief, followed by 1.2 frames from William Kirwan.

Freshman Brady Devereux was solid in his 1.1 innings, letting up two hits and a walk, striking out one. Dan Hammer tossed the seventh inning, letting up one hit and a pair of walks, collecting a strikeout.

Offensively, Hess wrapped up the day with five RBI, going 2-4 with a run scored and a walk. O'Farrell finished the evening 2-3 with a run scored and a walk, as Pitt tallied nine hits.

The Panthers return to ACC play this evening, hosting Notre Dame for a three-game set at Charles L. Cost Field. Pitt gets things underway Friday at 6 p.m., returning to action Saturday at 3 p.m. before closing it out Sunday at 1 p.m.

#H2P | Twitter | Instagram