Panthers Walk Off Georgia Tech in 14, 4-3

Saturday, April 14

Pittsburgh, Pa.

3 PM

Pitt

18-14, 7-10

Georgia Tech

21-15, 9-8

Georgia Tech

Pittsburgh

Photo by: Pete Madia/Pitt Athletics

Panthers Walk Off Georgia Tech in 14, 4-3

4/14/2018 8:26:00 PM | Baseball

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Pitching Dazzles in Second ACC Extra-Inning Victory

PITTSBURGH – The University of Pittsburgh baseball team defeated ACC Coastal Division foe Georgia Tech Saturday at Charles L. Cost Field, capturing a thrilling 14-inning walk-off, 4-3 win to even up the series.

With runners on first and second a single off the bat of redshirt junior Liam Sabino plated Connor Perry as the Panthers walked away with a 4-3 victory over the Yellow Jackets. Pitt used just two pitchers in the outing as both starter Matt Pidich and reliever RJ Freure were dominant.

"They [Pidich & Freure] both gave us a great performance," said head coach Joe Jordano. "I thought Matt [Pidich] did a great job as usual, pounding the zone and mixing his pitches very well. We played some good defense behind him and he minimized opportunities. When RJ [Freure] came in, it was a tough situation, especially with Georgia Tech tying it in the ninth. He came in and did an outstanding job again. When he has his command, he can beat anyone and he showed that today. We did a great job at the plate. We're facing a good team over there."

Georgia Tech (21-15, 9-8 ACC) took a one run lead in the first on a solo homer, increasing its lead to two in the fourth off of another solo home run.

Pitt (18-14, 7-10 ACC) cracked the code in the sixth to cut the Yellow Jackets lead in half. Perry, who was walked to lead off the inning, scored on a sacrifice fly from Sabino after a single from catcher Cole MacLaren allowed him to advance to third.

In the eighth, Sabino singled through the left side bringing home Perry, who had advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt from MacLaren after doubling down the right field line, tying things at 2-2. Chris Cappas brought home David Yanni for the go-ahead run on an infield single, after Yanni doubled to right field, as the Panthers grabbed a one-run advantage.

Georgia Tech tied it up in the top of the ninth, forcing the game in to extras. The two teams would go scoreless for four innings in a duel of the pitchers, until Pitt ended it in the 14th. Sabino would walk it off for the Panthers, smacking a single into left after back-to-back walks to Perry and MacLaren.

RJ Freure (3-1) earned the win, pitching a career-high 5.2 innings of scoreless work, giving up just here hits and three walks, whiffing a career-high 11 batter, including five straight between the 12th and 13th innings. Starter Matt Pidich also tossed a career high, going 8.1 innings, allowing seven hits and one walk, fanning eight batters on the afternoon.

Offensively, Sabino led the charge, going 2-6 with three RBI including the game winner. Yanni would wrap up the afternoon 2-5 with a run scored, while Cappas went 2-3 after entering the game in the sixth.

The Panthers and the Yellow Jackets will meet tomorrow at 11 AM for the rubber match as Pitt looks to win its third consecutive ACC series. Redshirt junior Blair Calvo is set to take the mound for the Panthers.

Notes: This was the second ACC game this season to go in to extras, the first coming against Boston College on April 7, a 6-4 win in 13 innings in the game two of a doubleheader … The last time the Panthers players 14 innings was April 10, 2007 at Akron, a 4-2 victory … Saturday's game was the longest game at Charles L. Cost Field since the Panthers defeated Towson 2-1 in 15 innings on March 23, 2013… RJ Freure was the first Pitt pitcher to have 11 or more strikeouts in a game since T.J. Zeuch had 12 against Duke on May 19, 2016.

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