Panthers Battle in Series-Opening Loss at No. 2 North Carolina

Friday, May 8

Chapel Hill, NC

6 PM

Pitt

28-19, 10-15

North Carolina

38-9-1, 18-7

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Pitt	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	6	0
North Carolina	1	1	0	1	0	0	0	1	X	4	9	0

Panthers Battle in Series-Opening Loss at No. 2 North Carolina

5/8/2026 9:18:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The Pitt Panthers (28-19, 10-15 ACC) battled in a hard-fought 4-1 loss to the No. 2 ranked North Carolina Tar Heels (38-9-1, 18-7 ACC) on Friday night.

The Panthers put several runners on base throughout the game but were unable to fully capitalize in the series opener.

Pitt's offense set the program record for walks in a single season on Friday. Their five walks in the series opener brought their total to 327 for the year. The program's previous record was 326, set in 2023.

Lorenzo Carrier collected his 19^th multiple-hit game of the season with his two-hit night in the series opener. Carrier is now batting .381 on the year with a career-high 61 hits. Sebastian Pisacreta went 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI and drove in Pitt's lone run on Friday on a bases-loaded walk. True freshman Mason Ligenza made the first start of his career and laced a single to left.

Antonio Doganiero gave Pitt a strong start against the No. 2 team in the country, surrendering just three runs over six innings. His six-inning outing was the longest in an ACC game in his career.

Kai Wagner and Trey Fenderson led off the top of the second inning with lengthy at-bats that each resulted in singles. North Carolina's Jason DeCaro then struck out to side to strand Wagner and Fenderson and end the inning.

North Carolina hit three home runs over the first four innings to lead 3-0 heading into the fifth.

Sebastian Pisacreta lined a double down the third base line led off the top of the fifth inning and moved up to third on a Joey Baran sacrifice bunt. AJ Nessler worked a walk and swiped second to put two runners in scoring position with two outs before both he and Pisacreta would be left on base.

Pitt loaded the bases in the top of the sixth inning to get on the board. Lorenzo Carrier led off the inning with his second hit of the game on an infield single up the middle. The Panthers followed with three-consecutive walks to drive in their sole run on Friday.

Antonio Doganiero finished the longest ACC outing of his career with a scoreless sixth inning to keep it a two-run ballgame.

Making the first start of his collegiate career, Mason Ligenza led off the top of the seventh inning with a single to left. He would be put out on a fielder's choice play in the next at-bat and AJ Nessler would be stranded at first to end the inning.

North Carolina added a run in the bottom of the eighth inning as they took the series opener, 4-1, on Friday night.

First pitch for game two of the series is slated for 12 PM tomorrow afternoon.