Panthers Take Game One vs. Monmouth

Friday, February 21

Cary, NC

1 PM

Pitt

4-0

Monmouth

2-3

MONMOUTH

PITTSBURGH

Panthers Take Game One vs. Monmouth

2/21/2025 7:55:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score

Cary, NC – The Pitt baseball team improved to 4-0 behind a strong pitching performance from left-handed starter Patrick Gardner, as they took game one of their series against Monmouth, 6-1.

Gardner threw six shutout innings and earned the win while striking out two and allowing just one hit. It was the transfer's first win as a Panther.

This is the second-consecutive year that Pitt has started 4-0.

Right fielder Lorenzo Carrier has now had multiple hits in three out of Pitt's four games this season. The transfer from Miami went 2-4 in the series opener on Friday. Luke Cantwell continued to get on base as he recorded a double, a walk and a hit by pitch this afternoon. Jayden Melendez got his first RBI knock of the year on a single through the left side. He went 1-2 with one run scored and two hit by pitches. Jake Kendro went 1-4 and drove in two runs on a single in the fourth inning.

Patrick Gardner showed why he was an all-conference performer last season at FDU as the senior allowed no runs on just one hit over six flawless innings. Kyle Demi had another scoreless outing in win, allowing just one hit over two scoreless frames to close out the series opening.

The game was scoreless through the four three and a half innings before the Panthers offense broke it open in the bottom of the fourth inning with a four spot.

After Carrier reached on an error and Melendez was hit by a pitch, Pitt had runners on first and second with one out. Carrier and Melendez would each move up a pair of bases on a wild pitch, which was preceded by a passed ball, as the Panthers took the first lead of the day. With Melendez now at third, Pisacreta walked and put runners on the corners. Gavin Miller came up and lined an RBI single the other into right field, scoring Melendez and advancing Pisacreta to third. Miller would advance to second on the throw home and Pitt now had two runners in scoring position. Shortstop Jake Kendro ripped a two-run single into the left that cleared the bases and put the Panthers up 4-0 after four.

Pitt added another run in the bottom of the fifth inning to give them a five-run cushion. Lorenzo Carrier singled to left center and would advance all the way to third on two wild pitches in the next at-bat. Jayden Melendez lined an RBI single to left, passed a diving third baseman, that scored Carrier from third.

The Panthers got that run back as they added their sixth and final run of the day in the bottom of the seventh following two hit by pitches and a Sebastian Pisacreta RBI single.

Kyle Demi entered to start the eighth inning and closed it out for the Panthers, striking out four over two scoreless frames.

Pitt returns for game two against Monmouth at 10 AM on Saturday morning at the USA Baseball Complex in Cary, NC. Left-handed junior Ryan Reed will make his second start of the season for the Panthers.