Panthers Drop 4-1 Decision to VT in ACC Opener

Friday, March 9

Blacksburg, VA

1 PM

Pitt

10-3, 0-1

Virginia Tech

7-7, 1-0

Pittsburgh

Virginia Tech

Panthers Drop 4-1 Decision to VT in ACC Opener

3/9/2018 4:53:00 PM | Baseball

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Costly Fourth Inning Give First ACC Loss

BLACKSBURG, Va. – A few misplays in the fourth inning gave the Hokies of Virginia Tech a 4-1 victory over the University of Pittsburgh baseball team in the ACC opener Friday afternoon at English Field at Union Park in Blacksburg, Va.

Pitt (10-3, 0-1 ACC) snaps a five-game win streak with the loss to the Hokies, allowing four runs in the fourth that would prove to be the difference maker.

"The margin of error in conference play is very thin and we made two defensive mistakes that led to four unearned runs and that was the difference in the game," said head coach Joe Jordano. "Connor Coward is a senior that knows how to pitch for them. He will win a lot of games this year, so he deserves credit for a well-pitched game. We need to do a better job with our consistency in all phases. We are not consistent right now and that needs to change. That will be the focus tomorrow."

The Panthers got on the board first in the third as Connor Perry drew a walk and stole second, making way for a single off the bat of Alex Amos to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead.

A few costly mistakes in the fourth would allow the Hokies (7-7, 1-0 ACC) to score four unearned runs. With a man on second, an attempted sacrifice bunt put runners on the corners after a throw to first sailed over the head of Nick Banman. The Hokies would tie it up as an errant throw allowed the runner at third to score. A single and a two-run homer gave the Hokies a 4-1 lead as RJ Freure would enter the game and retire the final batter to end the inning.

Derek West (1-1) earned his first loss of the season as he threw 3.2 innings, allowing four unearned runs off three hits and two walks, whiffing two. Freure was again solid in relief, tossing 1.1 innings, letting up just one hit and striking out a pair. Chris Gomez threw 1.0 inning, letting up a hit and a walk, while Chase Smith tossed 2.0 innings, giving up just one hit.

The Panthers return to action in Blacksburg tomorrow, taking on the Hokies in a doubleheader set for noon with the second game slated for 45 minutes following the conclusion of the first.

Notes: Pitt is now 18-14 all-time against Virginia Tech and 7-6 against the Hokies in ACC play … Connor Perry extended his team-best hit streak to six games … David Yanni extended his team-best reached base streak to 19 games dating back to the 2017 season … all of Derek West's runs were unearned.

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