Panthers Host LIU Brooklyn in Non-Conference Weekend

PITTSBURGH – The University of Pittsburgh baseball team returns to action this weekend, hosting LIU Brooklyn for a three-game series at Charles L. Cost Field Saturday and Sunday.

Pitt and the Blackbirds will take part in a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 3 p.m., celebrating National Superhero Day. The two teams will close out the series Sunday at noon with the program's third annual Negro League Celebration.

HOW TO FOLLOW

Live stats will be available for all three games here.
The series can be seen live on the ACC Network Extra via WatchESPN and the WatchESPN app.
- Game 1
- Game 2
- Game 3
Fans can also follow @Pitt_BASE on Twitter and Instagram.

TICKETS

Tickets to can be purchased here.

LEADING OFF

Pitt (21-16, 10-11 ACC) returns home to Charles L. Cost Field to face LIU Brooklyn (20-17, 10-7 NEC) this weekend, playing two on Saturday with game three set for Sunday. The Panthers come into the series off of their first career series victory over Miami, having taken games one and two from the Hurricanes. Pitt has now won four straight ACC series, marking the first time in program history that the Panthers have won four ACC series in a season.
Frank Maldonado continues to lead the team offensively, holding a team-high .295 batting average with 16 runs, 38 hits and 27 RBI. Ron Washington Jr. remains an offensive threat, posting 38 hits and 19 RBI while hitting .286 to rank second on the team.
The Panthers pitching has been outstanding lately, playing a significant role in the recent ACC series wins. Dan Hammer will get the start in game one, coming off of a fantastic performance against Miami where he gave up just three hits and one run across 7.0 innings. Matt Pidich, who will take the mound in game two, also enters the weekend off of a strong performance, having held Miami to just four hits and no runs while fanning seven. Pidich holds a 2.77 ERA while pitching a team-high 61.2 innings, allowing just 19 earned runs off 59 hits and 16 walks, whiffing 65. Sunday's starter, Blair Calvo, brings in a 4.14 ERA, having given up 17 earned runs off of 37 hits and striking out 39 across 37.0 innings.

SCOUTING LIU BROOKLYN

LIU Brooklyn enters the game having won three of its last five, dropping a mid-week contest to Iona, 8-6 on Tuesday after taking two-of-three from Central Connecticut State over the weekend.
Anthony Warneke leads the team with a .333 average, tallying a team-best 26 RBI with a .481 slug percentage and .421 on base mark. Edward Modica Jr., is also a force for the Blackbirds, hitting at a .304 clip with 19 RBI.
Left hander Patrick Clyne will get the start in game one, bringing in a 3-3 record with a 4.82 ERA. Clyne has thrown 52.1 innings this season, allowing 28 earned runs on 53 hits and 22 walks, striking out a team-best 65 batters. Zach Pederson will take the hill in game two, bringing in a 3.86 ERA with a record of 5-2. He has tossed a team-best 53.2 innings, allowing 23 earned runs off 57 hits and 16 walks striking out 44. Cory Hart will get the call in the finale, owning a 6.27 ERA with a record of 2-1. He has thrown 34.1 innings this season, surrendering 26 earned runs off 41 hits and 35 walks, striking out 38.

SERIES WITH LIU BROOKLYN

Pitt is undefeated against LIU-Brooklyn, going 4-0 since the teams met for the first time in 1983.
This weekend's series marks the first time the two teams will face off in Pittsburgh, as their previous meetings have all been held at neutral sites.
The Panthers and the Blackbirds last met in 2009, with Pitt capturing a resounding 12-2 victory.

WHO'S STREAKING

Connor Perry brings in the team's longest hit streak, sitting at two games. Both Liam Sabino and Brian Gerber are at one.
Four Panthers own two-game reached base streaks, with Nick Banman, Perry, Sabino and Chris Cappas pacing the group. David Yanni, Danny Alvarez, Michael McManus and Gerber are at one.

STEEL CURTAIN

The Panthers have been a solid defensive force this season, boasting the second best fielding percentage in the ACC. Pitt owns a .977 mark, tallying 32 errors, second fewest amongst the 14 ACC schools, adding 996 putouts and 369 assists in 1,397 chances.
In conference play, the Panthers have put up the top defensive numbers in the ACC, owning a .981 percentage. In ACC action, Pitt has committed just 15 errors, a league-best, while tallying 573 putouts and 222 assists in 810 opportunities.

YA! YA!

In his three seasons with the Panthers, closer Yaya Chentouf has been a force, and that trend continues in 2018 as he has already accumulated seven saves on the year.
Chentouf ranks fourth in the league in saves and has already surpassed his single season record of six saves set as a freshman in 2016. Chentouf is Pitt's all-time saves leader, having accumulated 15 in his three year stint.
Opponents struggle against the righty, who has allowed just 10 earned runs off 23 hits and 13 walks in 29.1 innings, whiffing 33 and holding batters to just a .219 average.

INTRODUCING THE HOME RUN HELMET

Any time a Pitt batter hits a home run this season, as he crosses the plate fans may notice him sport a gold construction helmet, adorned with the 3-D script P logo and a smattering of numbers of those who have lined one over the wall before. It's the home run helmet.
Dreamt up by redshirt senior Caleb Parry, the Panthers have used the home run helmet 21 times so far this season, on pace for 30 dingers, tying the 2017 total. Liam Sabino has seen his number stuck to the helmet a team-best nine times, while David Yanni and Ron Washington Jr. are at three, Frank Maldonado, Nico Popa and Nick Banman sit at two.

BINO BOMBS

Redshirt junior Liam Sabino has knocked nine home runs on the season to pace the Panther offense. Sabino's mark ranks 10th in the ACC, as the leader is Brett Kinneman (13) of NC State. Sabino is on pace for just over 14 homers this season.
On the season, Sabino has tallied two multiple homer games, smacking two against USC Upstate and Saint Peter's.
The Vanderbilt transfer has 10 homers in his career, bringing one from his former team.

UP NEXT

Pitt remains home in non-conference action, hosting Maryland Eastern Shore in a two-game series Tuesday and Wednesday.
The Panthers return to league play the following weekend, heading to Notre Dame May 4-6.

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Panthers Host LIU Brooklyn in Non-Conference Weekend

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