Comeback Falls Short in 6-5 Loss to Saint Louis

Saturday, February 17

Kissimmee, Fla.

11 AM

Pitt

1-1

Saint Louis

1-1

Saint Louis

Pittsburgh

Comeback Falls Short in 6-5 Loss to Saint Louis

2/17/2018 3:25:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score Box Score (PDF)Season Statistics

Panthers Drop First of Two Saturday Games

KISSIMMEE, FLA. – The University of Pittsburgh baseball team suffered its first loss of the season Saturday afternoon, as their comeback came up just short in a 6-5 decision to Saint Louis at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee, Fla.

Saint Louis jumped out to a 6-0 deficit that the Panthers would erase to just one, but couldn't push past the early difference as they fell to 1-1 on the season.

Starter Dan Hammer was clean through two innings, striking out three of the first seven batters he faced. The sophomore would get in trouble in the third as a single, double and subsequent error allowed Saint Louis to score the first run of the game. Hammer's fourth strikeout of the game would be the second out of the frame, but the Billikens continued to push forward, as an RBI double and two-run homer made it 4-0 in favor of Saint Louis.

The Billikens added two more in the fifth after a leadoff single and sac bunt forced head coach Joe Jordano to call on sophomore RJ Freure out of the bullpen. Freure would let up a double to Parker Sniatyski, who has smacked four two baggers in two games this year, bringing in the lead runner. A fly out and single would bring Sniatyski home and give Saint Louis a 6-0 lead.

Pitt began to chip away at the lead in the bottom of the frame, plating two to get within four. After a leadoff walk to Ron Washington Jr., Connor Perry would record his first career hit with an RBI double to center. Perry would move to third on a wild pitch, scoring on an RBI groundout from Cole MacLaren.

The Panthers scored two more in the next inning, as a slew of walks allowed Pitt to make it just a two-run game. Liam Sabino would lead things off with a five-pitch walk and moved to second after a two-out walk to Caleb Parry. Washington would record his first career RBI with a single into right that plated Sabino and put men on first and second. Perry would subsequently draw another walk before the Billikens called on the bullpen.

Keeping up the trend, MacLaren would walk in a run to move the score to 6-4 in favor of the Billikens before a strikeout ended the threat.

Pitt would score the last run of the game in the seventh off a David Yanni single that skipped into right field, but the Billikens would hold on for the 6-5 victory.

Alex Amos put together Pitt's only multi-hit performance, going 2-5 with a run scored. Perry finished 1-2 with a run scored and an RBI.

Chase Smith was again sensational in relief, going 3.0 innings without allowing a hit, walking two and striking out a pair in his second straight performance. Freure saw 1.2 innings of work, allowing one run off two hits, walking one and striking out four. Starter Hammer tossed 4.1 innings, allowing five runs off seven hits. He didn't surrender a walk and stuck out seven.

Pitt returns to action this evening, taking on Toledo in game three of the Sunshine State Series. The Panthers would close out the tournament tomorrow, taking on Oakland.

Notes: The Panthers are now 1-1 all-time versus Saint Louis … Pitt is now 4-2 in games played at Osceola County Stadium … Alex Amos extends his hit streak to eight games to pace the team … Amos extended his reach-base streak to 19 games to pace the team.

#H2P | Twitter | Instagram