Photo by: Matt Hawley/Pitt Athletics
Baseball Opens Fall Season with 13-6 Home Victory over Akron
9/27/2019 11:34:00 PM | Baseball
PITTSBURGH – The University of Pittsburgh baseball team opened its fall season with a 13-6 victory over Akron Friday night at Charles L. Cost Field. The Panthers scored all 13 runs in the first four innings, with Kyle Hess leading the way with a grand slam, three-run homer and a walk.
Akron scored two runs to start the game, but Pitt scored runs in the bottom of the first inning to secure the lead for good. Jordan Anderson drew a leadoff walk and stole second base. With two outs David Yanni and Samuel Frontino both drew walks to load the base for Hess' first homer of the night to right center.
The Panthers produced four more runs in the third inning. Yanni led off with a walk, Frontino was hit by a pitch, and Hess followed with another homer to right center. Bryce Hulett hit a double to left field and scored on a RBI-single through the left side by Anderson.
The next inning, Pitt notched its last five runs. Yanni, Frontino and Hess all drew walks, and Riley Wash knocked in all three runners with a standup double to left center. Hulett walked, and then both he and Wash advanced on a wild pitch. With one out, Anderson got his second RBI-single. Nico Popa brought home Hulett on a two-out single to right field.
"Overall, it was a great team effort and great way to start the fall with a W," said Pitt head coach Mike Bell. "Offensively we had some quality at-bats up and down the line up and really took advantage with extra-base hits with guys in scoring position. Hess, Wash, & Anderson came up big in RBI situations, but just as important Frontino, Yanni and others really worked their at bats to provide runners."
Pitt finished the game with nine hits and 11 walks. Anderson went 2-4 with a walk. Yanni had a game-high three walks, and Frontino also had two walks along with a hit.
The Panthers used eight pitchers in the game. Mason Ronan started and gave up two runs, three walks and a hit in two innings. Grant Powell, Jarett Bach, Adam Bloebaum and Brady Devereux all threw scoreless innings of relief, with Powell retiring the side.
"On the mound we had six of our eight pitchers pitching for the first time in a PITT uniform," said Bell. "Always great to get the young guys some valuable experience as we continue to evaluate and develop. Last but not least, anytime you have a zero in the error column it's a great night, and we saw some great range from the left side tonight. More importantly we loved seeing the routine plays being made."
Pitt hosts Youngstown State in its second home exhibition game next Saturday at 5 p.m.
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Akron scored two runs to start the game, but Pitt scored runs in the bottom of the first inning to secure the lead for good. Jordan Anderson drew a leadoff walk and stole second base. With two outs David Yanni and Samuel Frontino both drew walks to load the base for Hess' first homer of the night to right center.
The Panthers produced four more runs in the third inning. Yanni led off with a walk, Frontino was hit by a pitch, and Hess followed with another homer to right center. Bryce Hulett hit a double to left field and scored on a RBI-single through the left side by Anderson.
The next inning, Pitt notched its last five runs. Yanni, Frontino and Hess all drew walks, and Riley Wash knocked in all three runners with a standup double to left center. Hulett walked, and then both he and Wash advanced on a wild pitch. With one out, Anderson got his second RBI-single. Nico Popa brought home Hulett on a two-out single to right field.
"Overall, it was a great team effort and great way to start the fall with a W," said Pitt head coach Mike Bell. "Offensively we had some quality at-bats up and down the line up and really took advantage with extra-base hits with guys in scoring position. Hess, Wash, & Anderson came up big in RBI situations, but just as important Frontino, Yanni and others really worked their at bats to provide runners."
Pitt finished the game with nine hits and 11 walks. Anderson went 2-4 with a walk. Yanni had a game-high three walks, and Frontino also had two walks along with a hit.
The Panthers used eight pitchers in the game. Mason Ronan started and gave up two runs, three walks and a hit in two innings. Grant Powell, Jarett Bach, Adam Bloebaum and Brady Devereux all threw scoreless innings of relief, with Powell retiring the side.
"On the mound we had six of our eight pitchers pitching for the first time in a PITT uniform," said Bell. "Always great to get the young guys some valuable experience as we continue to evaluate and develop. Last but not least, anytime you have a zero in the error column it's a great night, and we saw some great range from the left side tonight. More importantly we loved seeing the routine plays being made."
Pitt hosts Youngstown State in its second home exhibition game next Saturday at 5 p.m.
#H2P | Twitter | Instagram
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