Panthers Fall in Rubber Match to Buccaneers

Sunday, March 9

Johnson City, TN

1 PM

Pitt

9-5

East Tennessee State

12-3

Pittsburgh

ETSU

Photo by: Brian Miller

Panthers Fall in Rubber Match to Buccaneers

3/9/2025 5:11:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score

Johnson City, TN – The Panthers fell in their series finale at ETSU on Sunday afternoon, 6-5. The Buccaneers scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning as they took the series from Pitt.

Ryan Zuckerman continued his hot streak in Johnson City this weekend, collecting two more extra-base hits with a home run and a double. Zuckerman had three home runs, three doubles and six RBIs on the weekend. Luke Cantwell collected two more hits, going 2-4 with a walk on Sunday. He has 18 hits and 19 walks already this season. Jayden Melendez hit his second long ball of the year on a towering two-run home run in the eighth inning. Caden Dulin, Lorenzo Carrier, AJ Nessler, and Logan Duffy all had hits in the series finale as well.

In his fourth start this season, Drew Lafferty struck out four over 4.2 innings while only allowing a single run. Ethan Firoved relieved him during the fifth inning and tossed 3.1 innings, striking out three and allowing an earned run. In his three appearances this week, Firoved struck out nine and earned two saves over seven innings.

Pitt struck first with a two-run second inning to jump out to a 2-0 lead. For the second-straight game, the Panthers were able to manufacture their first run of the ballgame by getting runners on and driving one in on a sacrifice fly.

Jayden Melendez reached on a hit by pitch, his sixth of the year, and scampered to third on a Logan Duffy single to right. Melendez would be driven in by a Jake Kendro sacrifice fly for Pitt's first run on Sunday. Duffy advanced to third on an errant back pick attempt and later scored on a two-out RBI double by the Panthers' leadoff man, Luke Cantwell.

In the top of the third, Ryan Zuckerman cranked his third home run of the weekend with a towering blast off the light pole in left center. Pitt led 3-0 after three innings.

ETSU scored runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to tie Sunday afternoon's contest at three all through seven.

The Panthers immediately regained their lead with a Jayden Melendez two-run home run in the top of the eighth inning. AJ Nessler led off the inning with a single through the right side and one batter later Melendez launched his second home run of the year over the scoreboard and into the parking lot beyond left field. Ethan Firoved tossed a scoreless eighth inning and Pitt headed to the ninth with a 5-3 lead.

The Buccaneers scored three runs on two hits to win the series finale in the bottom of the ninth inning. They scored the winning run on an errant throw on caught stealing attempt.

Pitt returns to play this Wednesday, March 12 at 3 PM against Youngstown State at Charles L. Cost Field.