Panthers Clinch Series Behind Reed’s 12 Strikeouts

Saturday, March 1

Greensboro, NC

2 PM

Pitt

7-2

UNC Greensboro

4-5

Pittsburgh

UNC GREENSBORO

Panthers Clinch Series Behind Reed’s 12 Strikeouts

3/1/2025 6:45:00 PM | Baseball

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Greensboro, NC – The Panthers clinched their third-consecutive series to start the year behind another dominant pitching performance from Ryan Reed on Saturday afternoon.

The lefthanded junior had a career-high 12 strikeouts while allowing just one run and zero walks across his five innings of work. Coming off of seven shutout innings last weekend, Ryan Reed earned his second-straight win on Saturday behind his 12-strikeout performance. He became the first Panther since Matt Gilbertson in 2022 to eclipse the 12-strikeout mark in a game. Gilbertson is in his second year as Pitt's Director of Player Development.

Pitt's bullpen added five more strikeouts to the total and combined for 17 on the day. The Panthers' pitching staff hadn't combined for at least 17 strikeouts since March 25, 2022, when they struck Clemson out 18 times.

Daniel McAuliff earned the second save of his career and first as a Panther when we came into a two-out bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the ninth inning. McAuliff got ground out to second to end the game, earning a one-out save and clinching the series for the Panthers.

Caden Dulin led the way offensively, going 3-4 with a double and three RBIs. He was responsible for all three of Pitt's RBIs on Saturday. Ryan Zuckerman had his fourth multi-hit game of the year as he smacked two doubles. AJ Nessler, Lorenzo Carrier, Jayden Melendez, Gavin Miller and Sebastian Pisacreta all collected hits for the Panthers as well.

Jayden Melendez and Gavin Miller each singled in the top of the second inning to give the Panthers runners at first and second. Caden Dulin lined an RBI single to right that scored Melendez from second and gave Pitt an early 1-0 lead. Miller and Dulin each advanced a base on a wild pitch while Miller managed to score as the catcher's throw to second was mishandled. Pitt led 2-0 after two.

Ryan Reed continued to deal through the early innings. He struck out seven batters through the first three frames while allowing just three base runners.

Melendez got the Panther offense rolling again in the top of the fourth inning when he reached second on an error by the left fielder. After Gavin Miller walked, Sebastian Pisacreta laid down a sacrifice bunt that moved both runners into scoring position. Caden Dulin came up again and drove in his second and third runs of the game with a two-run single to left center that extended the Panther lead to four.

Reed struck out the side in the bottom of the fourth as he brought his total to a career-high 10 strikeouts on the afternoon. He added two more in the fifth inning and finished with 12 strikeouts. Reed became the first Panther to strikeout 12 batters in a game since April of 2022 when now Director of Player Development, Matt Gilbertson, punched out 12 batters against No. 16 NC State.

UNC Greensboro added a run in the bottom of the fifth and bottom of the seventh innings but Pitt still led 4-2.

Gavin Chillot came out of the bullpen and gave the Panthers two quality innings in relief. He allowed just one run on three this and struck out three.

The Spartans tacked one on more run in the bottom of the ninth inning and found themselves with the bases loaded. They trailed 4-3 and had the game-winning run in scoring position. Daniel McAuliff entered that bases-loaded jam and induced a groundout to second to earn a one-out save.

Pitt looks to earn their second sweep this season on Sunday afternoon when righthander Drew Lafferty makes his third start of the year. First pitch is scheduled for 1 PM.