Panthers Grab Weekend Opener over Notre Dame

Saturday, April 20

Pittsburgh, PA

11 AM

Pitt

12-25, 4-15-0

Notre Dame

14-22, 8-11-0

Notre Dame

Pittsburgh

Panthers Grab Weekend Opener over Notre Dame

4/20/2019 6:12:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Game 1 Box Score (PDF)Game 1 Photo Gallery

Game Two Suspended, to Be Resumed Sunday

PITTSBURGH – The University of Pittsburgh baseball team captured a series-opening victory over Notre Dame Saturday afternoon, earning a 4-2 decision over the Fighting Irish in the first of a doubleheader at Charles L. Cost Field.

The Panthers used a big eighth inning to capture the victory in the opening game, riding another strong start from Derek West. The teams got through seven innings in the second game, before inclement weather forced a postponement. The game will be resumed Sunday at noon with the series finale set to follow 45 minutes after the completion of the suspended game.

"I think the story was starting pitching on both ends," said head coach Mike Bell. "We had a great matchup. Derek [West] did a great job of getting us to the back end of the game. Their left handed pitcher [Tommy Sheehan] was phenomenal as well early on. A key hit for us in the seventh, the [Kyle] Hess double, that really got us on the board with one, but you go back to the pitching and defense and what they were able to accomplish.

"West with six innings, our defense was phenomenal behind him and we kept the game in check. Once we got that run in the seventh inning and tacked on three in the eighth, it allowed us get the lead and give the ball to Smitty [Chase Smith]. It was a great way to start off the series."

Game One
A three-run eighth inning pushed the Panthers to victory in the opener, as Pitt took game one by a score of 4-2.

West was masterful for the second straight start, going 6.1 innings to help lead the Panthers to their second-consecutive series opening victory. West retired nine straight before a bunt single in the fourth gave the Fighting Irish their first hit. He would hold Notre Dame to just two hits through six innings, before getting into a bit of trouble in the seventh.

Notre Dame would strike first, loading the bases up in the seventh before a sacrifice fly allowed the first run to come across. The Fighting Irish extended the lead on an RBI ground out, taking a 2-0 advantage.

Pitt got one back in the bottom of the seventh, cutting the lead in half. After Connor Perry reached on a bunt single, Kyle Hess used a two-out double to center to bring him home, putting the lead at 2-1 in favor of Notre Dame.

A big eighth inning for Pitt would give the home team a lead it would not surrender. David Yanni led off the frame with a hit by pitch, moving to second when Gregory Ryan Jr. reached on an error. After Sky Duff was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Notre Dame called on the bullpen with no outs. Bryce O'Farrell tied it up with a walk, before Ron Washington Jr. gave Pitt the first lead of the afternoon, driving home Ryan Jr. on an RBI single through the left side.

Pitt would extend its advantage to 4-2 on a sacrifice fly by Perry, as Pitt held on for the victory.

Despite the strong start, West earned a no decision, going 6.1 innings, allowing a pair of runs off four hits and one walk, striking out six. Chase Smith (2-5) earned the victory, going 2.2 innings, letting up just one hit and one walk.

Offensively, Pitt collected six hits, as Washington Jr., Perry, Popa, Hess, Ryan Jr. and Cole MacLaren each tallied one.

Game Two
Notre Dame plated one in the third and fourth frames to take a 2-0 advantage in game two, before a five-run fifth inning gave the visitor's a 7-0 advantage. The Fighting Irish would extend their lead in the sixth and seventh with one-run frames, taking a 9-0 lead before inclement weather forced the game to be postponed.

The game will be resumed at noon on Sunday, with the series finale to follow approximately 45 minutes after the conclusion of the postponed game.

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