Pitt Downs Georgia Tech 6-5 for Third Straight ACC Series Win

Sunday, April 15

Pittsburgh, Pa.

11 AM

Pitt

19-14, 8-10

Georgia Tech

21-16, 9-9

Georgia Tech

Pittsburgh

Pitt Downs Georgia Tech 6-5 for Third Straight ACC Series Win

4/15/2018 2:45:00 PM | Baseball

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Maldonado Homers to Send Panthers to Victory

PITTSBURGH – The University of Pittsburgh baseball team won its third consecutive ACC series Sunday afternoon, downing Coastal Division rival Georgia Tech 6-5 in the rubber match at Charles L. Cost Field.

"Georgia Tech is one of the premier and most decorated programs in the country," said head coach Joe Jordano. "I have great respect for Coach Hall, his staff and his program. We knew it was going to be a great challenge for us, and anytime that you win a series like that – facing some adversity and having to come-from-behind in a couple of ball games – it's a character builder. It says a lot about, not only our program, but our guys; that we're just trying to get better one game at a time. We certainly saw that this weekend."

Pitt (19-14, 8-10 ACC) grabbed the lead in the opening frame, when Ron Washington Jr. doubled to right field to bring home Frank Maldonado, who had drawn a two-out walk. The Panthers continued to add to their lead in the second, going up 2-0 on the Yellow Jackets when Cole MacLaren singled to score Chris Cappas, who had moved to second on a balk after drawing a walk.

Georgia Tech (21-16, 9-9 ACC) stormed back in the fourth, scoring four runs to put themselves on top. The lead wouldn't last long though, as the Panthers pushed across two in the fifth to tie it up at 4-4. After Liam Sabino walked and David Yanni singled through the right side, Maldonado singled to score Sabino and advance Yanni to third. In the next at bat, Washington Jr. smacked a single to center field, bringing home Yanni to tie it up.

The seventh inning saw the Yellow Jackets add one, but Pitt would respond with two of its own to take back the lead. Sabino singled up the middle get the inning going, and Maldonado would crush a two-run home run to left field to put Pitt on top, 6-5. The Panthers would stave off the Yellow Jackets' offense in the ninth to seal the victory.

Kevin Henriksen (1-2) earned his first career win as a Panther, pitching 3.0 innings while giving up three hits and one run, walking only one and striking out one. Yaya Chentouf entered the game in the ninth to earn his sixth save of the season, tying his career-high for saves in a single season.

Offensively, Washington Jr. shined, going 3-4 with two RBI. Maldonado was impressive again, finishing 2-3 with three RBI and two runs scored, including a homer, his second of the season and 11th of his career.

Pitt is back in action this Tuesday at 6 p.m. when it faces West Virginia at Charles. L. Cost Field for the second and final Backyard Brawl of the season. Pitt will then travel to Kent State Wednesday at 4 p.m. before returning to ACC play the following weekend at Miami.

Notes: The Panthers' last ACC series win against Georgia Tech came in 2014 … This is the first time Pitt has won three consecutive ACC series since it joined the conference in 2014 … Yasin Chentouf is the first Pitt closer to record six or more saves in a single season since he did it in 2016, the last closer to record six or more saves in a single season prior to Chentouf came in 2005 ... Frank Maldonado's homer was his second of the season and 11th of his career … Maldonado now has a team-best five game winning RBI … Pitt has tied its total ACC series win record (3) amassed in 2014, 2015 and 2016.

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