University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt
Georgia Tech
Panthers Battle in Game One, Fall to No. 3 Georgia Tech 11-9
3/20/2026 6:22:00 PM | Baseball
PITTSBURGH – The Pitt Panthers (14-5, 2-2) fell in their series opener to No. 3 ranked Georgia Tech (18-4, 5-2) on Friday afternoon, 11-9, at Charles L. Cost Field.
Despite finding themselves in an 8-1 deficit after the first two innings, the Panthers fought back in the middle innings and cut the lead to just two in the fifth inning. Pitt's bullpen did not allow a single run over the last five innings on Friday.
Sam Bryan (2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 4 K) and Freddy Beruvides Jr. (3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 K) combined for seven strikeouts over their five scoreless innings in relief. Bryan did not walk a single batter while Beruvides Jr. did not allow a single hit in their appearances.
Trey Fenderson had his best day at the plate this season, logging a three-hit, two-home run day on Friday. Fenderson went 3-5 with two home runs, three RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base. Leadoff man AJ Nessler (1-3, HR, 3 RBI, 2 R) hit his fourth home run of the year and drove in three runs as he continued to produce at the plate for the Panthers. Carter Dierdorf hit a solo home run and recorded his fourth multiple-hit game of the season, going 2-3 with a home run, RBI and run scored in the loss.
Georgia Tech used the long ball the jump out to an early 8-0 lead over the first two innings. Pitt got a run back in the bottom half of the second off the bat of Trey Fenderson who led off the inning with a first-pitch solo home run to left.
The Yellow Jackets added a run on an RBI groundout in the top of the third inning and led 9-1.
The Panthers scored a pair in the bottom half of the inning as AJ Nessler led off the inning with a walk and moved up to third on a single by Caden Dulin who perfectly executed hit-and-run. Fenderson delivered again for Pitt as he drove in Nessler on a single to right. Now at third, Dulin dashed home on a wild pitch to score Pitt's third run of the game. The Panthers trailed 9-3 after three.
Georgia Tech added two more runs in the top of the fourth on a two-run single, extending their lead to eight.
Pitt slugged a pair of home runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and put themselves right back in the ballgame. A solo blast from Carter Dierdorf followed by a two-run shot from AJ Nessler cut the Yellow Jacket lead to five. Pitt trailed 11-6 after the first four innings.
The game would be briefly halted in the fifth inning due to weather delay. The Panthers came out of the delay swinging, plating three more runs in the bottom of the fifth and minimizing the deficit to just two.
For the second time in the game, Trey Fenderson led off an inning with a solo home run. A hit-by-pitch to Joey Baran, a Sebastian Pisacreta single and a Carter Dierdorf walk loaded the bases for AJ Nessler who worked a walk as Pitt pried into the Yellow Jacket lead. Caden Dulin drove in Pisacreta on a sacrifice fly to right and the Panthers trailed 11-9 through five.
Both bullpens held their own over the final few innings as neither team scored a run from the sixth inning on.
RHP Sam Bryan and LHP Freddy Beruvides Jr. were stellar in relief for the Panthers, combining for five scoreless innings out of the bullpen.
Georgia Tech would hold onto their 11-9 lead as they went on to take game one of the series.
Pitt returns to Charles L. Cost Field tomorrow afternoon at 3 PM. LHP Vincent Spizzoucco will make his sixth start of the year for the Panthers.
