Pitt Concludes Sunshine State Series with 2-0 Win over Oakland

Sunday, February 18

Kissimmee, Fla.

11 AM

Pitt

3-1

Oakland

1-3

Oakland

Pittsburgh

Pitt Concludes Sunshine State Series with 2-0 Win over Oakland

2/18/2018 3:02:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Photo Gallery Box Score Box Score (PDF)Season Statistics

Calvo Makes NCAA Debut, Freure Grabs First Win of 2018

KISSIMMEE, FLA. – Another solid pitching performance pushed the University of Pittsburgh baseball team past Oakland, 2-0, Sunday afternoon in the finale of the Sunshine State Series at Osceola County Ballpark in Kissimmee, Fla.

Redshirt junior Blair Calvo made his return to the hill after missing 2017 due to Tommy John surgery, following his transfer from Eastern Florida Community College. The Floridian threw 3.0 innings, allowing just one hit and two walks, fanning five. Reliever RJ Freure was exceptional, going 5.0 innings, surrendering just two hits. He didn't walk a man and struck out a career-best nine. Yaya Chentouf earned his first save in as many attempts, tossing a clean ninth, allowing an infield single.

"We had a solid weekend of baseball," said head coach Joe Jordano. "We played well defensively and I felt we did a very solid job on the mound, especially taking into consideration that we had several guys throw their first college pitch. We had some timely hits, but there is still plenty of improvement needed offensively. Overall, again, playing four games in three days is taxing, but we stayed focused and came away with three wins. We were one inning way from having a close to perfect weekend. We look forward to getting back to work on Tuesday."

Pitt would get on the board in the opening frame, as Alex Amos got things going with a leadoff walk. A double into right off the bat of David Yanni plated Amos, as the Panthers captured a 1-0 advantage.

Pitt scored again in the fourth as Nico Popa smacked a double into left center with one out to get things started. A walk to Amos would put two on before a single by Liam Sabino loaded the bases. David Yanni would draw a walk to plate Amos as the Panthers went up 2-0.

That would be the end of the scoring for either team as the pitching took command. Freure entered in the top of the fourth for the Panthers and, after a single and fielder's choice early on, would strike out the next three. He let up a bloop single in the fifth before sitting down 10 straight to end his outing.

In his first appearance of 2018, Chentouf got a pair of quick outs before an infield single kept Oakland's hopes alive. A fielder's choice would end the inning, however, as the Panthers held on for the shutout victory.

With the win, Pitt improves to 3-1 on the season. Freure earns the win (1-0), with Chentouf tallying his first save.

Yanni led the offensive charge, going 1-4 with two RBI. Amos went 1-3 with a run scored and a pair of walks, while Sabino, Connor Perry and Popa each collected a hit.

The Panthers return to action next weekend, heading to Spartanburg, S.C. They'll take on Presbyterian Friday at 12 p.m. and follow that with USC Upstate (Saturday) and Seton Hall (Sunday).

Notes: The Panthers are now 3-1 all-time versus Oakland and have won three straight… Pitt is now 6-2 in games played at Osceola County Stadium … Alex Amos extends his hit streak to 10 games to pace the team … Amos extended his reach-base streak to 21 games to pace the team … Blair Calvo made his collegiate debut on the mound after missing the 2017 season due to injury … the Panthers shutout a team for the first time since a 5-0 blanking of Miami (OH) on April 23, 2016.

#H2P | Twitter | Instagram