Pitt
19-19
Mercyhurst
10-28
Panthers Score Sixteen Unanswered to Run-Rule Lakers
4/23/2025 11:05:00 PM | Baseball
PITTSBURGH – The Panthers (19-19, 5-13) scored sixteen unanswered runs and run-ruled Mercyhurst in seven innings on Wednesday evening, 16-6.
After falling behind 6-0 in the top of the first inning, Pitt scored runs over the next six innings to run-rule the Lakers in just seven innings. Eight different Panthers had a hit on Wednesday, four of which recorded multiple-hit games.
Jayden Melendez drove in a career-high five runs and had his first three-hit game of the season. Melendez also collected the 100th hit of the Pitt career on Wednesday on his RBI single in the third inning.
The Panthers slugged four home runs in the top of the fifth inning, including back-to-back-to-back jacks by David Pedanou, Caden Dulin and Luke Cantwell. Melendez had the other long ball on a three-run homer, his fourth of the year.
It was the first time Pitt hit four home runs in a single inning since February 28, 2016, when Nick Yarnall (2), Charles LeBlanc and Aaron Schnursbusch all went deep in the seventh inning at Grambling State.
The Panthers hit back-to-back-to-back home runs for the second-consecutive season on Wednesday. Josh Spiegel, Jake Kendro and Ryan Zuckerman hit consecutive home runs in the bottom of the second inning against St. Bonaventure (4/17/24) last year.
Melendez had a career day at the plate, going 3-3 with a three-run home run, an RBI double and a career-high five RBIs. Luke Cantwell (2-2, HR, 2 RBI, 2B, 2 BB, HBP), Caden Dulin (2-4, HR, 3 R, 2B, BB) and David Pedanou (2-5, HR) all had two-hit games in their run-rule victory.
At the time of Caden Dulin's home run in the bottom of the fifth inning, he had homered in three of his last six at-bats. He has recorded an extra-base hit in four of his last seven at-bats. AJ Nessler went 1-3 with two RBIs, three runs scored and two walks. Jackson Cooke had the walk-off run-rule winner on his pinch-hit RBI single. Cooke has driven in a run in all four of his pinch-hit hits this season.
Mercyhurst batted around and scored six runs in the top of the first inning.
Pitt chipped away early, getting a run in the bottom of the second when Jayden Melendez scampered home on a wild pitch.
The Panthers added three runs on one hit in the bottom of the third to cut their deficit to two. Pitt loaded the bases with no outs as each of the first batters all reached. Caden Dulin led off the inning with a walk, Luke Cantwell drew a hit-by-pitch and AJ Nessler walked as well. Jayden Melendez lined an RBI single through the left side and into left field, scoring Dulin from third. AJ Nessler would score on a wild pitch and the Panthers trailed 6-4 after three.
Pitt's bats woke up in the bottom of the fourth, scoring four runs on three hits to take their first lead of the evening. Anthony LaSala led off the inning with a double down the left field line. With two outs, Cantwell walked and LaSala advanced to third on another wild pitch and would score on a throwing error by the third baseman in the next at-bat. Nessler and Melendez doubled in back-to-back at-bats which put the Panthers up 8-6 after four.
The Panthers continued their onslaught with four home runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, including back-to-back-to-back jacks by Pedanou, Dulin and Cantwell. It was the first time since 2016 that the Panthers had hit four home runs in a single inning. With two outs, David Pedanou, Caden Dulin, Luke Cantwell and Jayden Melendez all homered. Pitt led 14-6 heading into the sixth inning.
Back-to-back doubles from Dulin and Cantwell added another run for the Panthers. Cantwell drove in his 32ndRBI of the year on a hustle double down the left field line.
Jackson Cooke and the Panthers ended this one early as he lined an RBI single through the right side that scored Keeton Burroughs from second. Burroughs swiped second to put himself in scoring position with two outs as he scored the final run of the day. Pitt scored sixteen unanswered runs and topped Mercyhurst 16-6 in seven innings.
Up Next
Pitt will host the No.8 North Carolina Tar Heels in a three-game set starting at 6 PM on Friday evening.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Lafferty, Drew (2-2)
L: Daniel Thoma (2-5)
Batting:
2B: Landon Diberadin 1
RBI: Chris Juchno 2 ; Eric Chorba 1 ; Landon Diberadin 2 ; Casey Smith 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Chris Juchno 1 ; Joey Trivisonno 1 ; Eric Chorba 1 ; Ray Altmeyer 1 ; Landon Diberadin 1 ; Ethan Adams 1
HBP: Joey Trivisonno 1
Batting:
2B: Dulin, Caden 1 ; Cantwell, Luke 1 ; Nessler, AJ 1 ; Melendez, Jayden 1 ; LaSala, Anthony 1
HR: Pedanou, David 1 ; Dulin, Caden 1 ; Cantwell, Luke 1 ; Melendez, Jayden 1
RBI: Pedanou, David 1 ; Dulin, Caden 1 ; Cantwell, Luke 2 ; Nessler, AJ 2 ; Melendez, Jayden 5 ; Tarpley Jr., Derrick 1 ; Cooke, Jackson 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Pedanou, David 1 ; Dulin, Caden 3 ; Cantwell, Luke 2 ; Zuckerman, Ryan 3 ; Nessler, AJ 3 ; Melendez, Jayden 2 ; Burroughs, Keeton 1 ; LaSala, Anthony 1
SB: Burroughs, Keeton 1
HBP: Cantwell, Luke 1 ; Zuckerman, Ryan 1 ; Tarpley Jr., Derrick 1
