Bell Captures Shutout Win in First Visit to Florida State

Friday, May 3

Tallahassee, FL

6 PM

Pitt

17-28, 5-17

Florida State

28-16, 14-11

Pittsburgh

Florida State

Bell Captures Shutout Win in First Visit to Florida State

5/3/2019 10:52:00 PM | Baseball

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Panthers Down Florida State 10-0 in Opener

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The University of Pittsburgh baseball team captured an impressive series opening victory Friday night, stunning Florida State 10-0 at Dick Howser Stadium in Tallahassee, Fla., giving head coach Mike Bell his first win at his former program.

"We've said it from day one, it starts with pitching and defense," said Bell. "Derek [West] was outstanding, our defense played errorless baseball and we grinded out at bats up and down the lineup. We played Panther baseball tonight."

Pitt struck early, jumping out to a 3-0 lead through the first three frames. After a leadoff triple from David Yanni in the second, Bryce O'Farrell dropped a single into shallow right center, plating the runner to give Pitt the 1-0 lead.

The Panthers would extend it in the third, as a two-run homer off the bat of Nico Popa gave Pitt the 3-0 advantage.

Pitt starter Derek West kept the Seminoles in check, allowing just one base runner between the third and fifth innings before getting into a jam in the sixth. Three straight singles allowed the Seminoles to load the bases with no outs, but the hard-throwing righty would respond, recording back-to-back full count strikeouts before a fly ball to right ended things.

The Panthers added on in the seventh, scoring two to take the 5-0 lead. A walk to Cole MacLaren and single from Connor Perry put a pair on before Popa was able to reach on a fielder's choice and an error allowed MacLaren to come across. Popa would steal second, moving to third on a wild pitch and scoring in a rundown as Pitt secured a 5-0 advantage.

Florida State again threatened in the eighth, putting on a pair before Chase Smith was able to induce a ground ball and whiff back-to-back batters to retire the side.

Pitt continued its hot hitting in the ninth, pushing three across to take a double-digit advantage. A pair of walks to Sky Duff and MacLaren put a pair on before a double from Popa allowed both to score. Yanni would draw a full count walk to put a pair on, followed by an O'Farrell double that would plate Popa. The Panthers made it 10-0 after Kyle Hess ripped a single up the middle to score Yanni and O'Farrell.

West (2-2) was stellar, going a career-high 7.0 innings, allowing just five hits and one walk, striking out nine. Smith closed things out, holding the Seminoles off the base paths for two innings, striking out three.

Offensively the Panthers hot streak continued, as Pitt collected 10 runs off 10 hits, drawing eight walks in the process. Popa raised his season average above the .350 mark, going 3-5 with four RBI and three runs scored. O'Farrell also wrapped up the evening with three hits, collecting two RBI and crossing the plate once, while Hess went 2-5 with two RBI.

The Panthers and Seminoles will conclude the series Saturday, taking part in a doubleheader at Dick Howser Stadium. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. with game two to follow approximately 45 minutes after the conclusion of game one.

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