Virginia Tech Takes Final Game from Panthers

Saturday, May 16

Pittsburgh, Pa.

1:30 PM

Pitt

20-32, 9-21

Virginia Tech

27-26, 13-16

Virginia Tech

Pitt

Virginia Tech Takes Final Game from Panthers

5/16/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

May 16, 2015

Box Score

PITTSBURGH -- In its last game of the 2015 season, the University of Pittsburgh baseball team (20-32, 9-21 ACC) dropped a back-and-forth conference series finale, 13-7, to Virginia Tech (27-26, 13-16 ACC) after a costly eighth inning on Saturday, May 16 at Cost Field.

Although falling in today's game, the Panthers claim the weekend series, 2-1. Through the three games, Pitt batted .346 against Virginia Tech and scored 21 runs on 36 hits.

Freshman Charles LeBlanc had a notable performance batting 3-for-4 on the day, including two runs, to make him 9-for-14 (.643) in the series.

Sophomore Jacob Wright was a familiar face on base. The left fielder was walked a total of eight times, boosting his final season on-base percentage to .442.

All hands were available for the Pitt pitching staff as eight different Panthers made an appearance on the hill on Saturday. Prior to the first inning, the team had not allowed a run in 24 innings dating back to May 12 at West Virginia.

The game saw 13 hits from the home team, including four players that posted multi-hit efforts. However, the visiting Hokies had 16 total hits, three of which were home runs.

Virginia Tech posted an early two runs in the opening frame off three hits. The leadoff batter, Saige Jenco, reached base after drawing a walk and was sent home after Erik Payne doubled to center field with one out. The Hokies came up with another double from Sean Keselica that scored Payne with two outs, bringing the tally to 2-0.

The Panthers answered in the bottom half taking the lead, 3-2. A Leblanc single and Boo Vazquez double put two aboard. With two outs, Nick Yarnall sent the payoff pitch over the right field wall for a three-run homer -- his fourth of the year and first since April 5 vs. Notre Dame.

In the top of the second, Pitt was off to a good start by retiring the first two batters until Jenco doubled to center to get on base. Back-to-back walks then loaded the bases for Hayden. However, Sam Mersing and the Panthers escaped the inning scoreless as he struck out Hayden for the final out.

The bottom half of the second started similarly to the top, as the first two Pitt batters were quickly retired. Wright was then walked, Leblanc was hit by a pitch, and Vazquez was walked. With the bases loaded and two outs, Wright attempted to steal home while Kowalczyk at the plate laid down a bunt. Kowalczyk was thrown out at first and Wright's run did not count.

The Panthers were able to escape another jam in the fourth, as the Hokies loaded the bases once again. Pitt held on to its 3-2 lead heading in to the bottom half thanks to a pop up to short.

Eric Hess notched his second hit of the game and then stole second. Wright was walked for the eighth time of the three-game series, to put two on for Leblanc. A single to right field brought home Hess and advanced Wright to third. The Panthers weren't done as Kowalczyk notched a two-run single, giving Pitt a 6-2 lead.

Virginia Tech came out swinging in the following inning, scoring three runs on four hits. Keselica and Tufts both singled and moved over a base off a throwing error from Kowalczyk behind the plate. Mogg then stepped to the plate and notched a two-run double. The pinch hitter, Max Ponzurick, doubled down the left field line that scored another Hokie, cutting Pitt's lead to 6-5.

The Panthers added another run to their lead in the bottom frame, thanks to a Frabasilio single that brought home Sherman -- who doubled to get on base. Hess grounded out to third to complete five innings of play.

VT's Payne led off the top of the sixth with a homer of the left field wall, cutting Pitt's lead to just one, 7-6.

Virginia Tech came out ready for battle in the top of the eighth, as the game changed its tenor completely. With one runner on, Payne tallied his second home run of the game to give the Hokies an 8-7 lead. Back-to-back singles and hit batsmen loaded the bases for Tufts. An RBI single from Tufts extended their lead. The following batter, Mogg, cranked the ball over the left field wall for a no-out grand slam and giving Virginia Tech a 13-7 lead. Pitt's defense sat down the last three batters to end the inning.

Looking to make a comeback, Pitt recorded multiple hits but left three men on base over the final two innings.

With today's win, the Hokies clinched the ninth-seed and will head to the 2015 ACC Baseball Championships next week in Durham, N.C.

The Panthers would like to thank all of those that supported the team this season.