University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Panthers Grab 21-3 Victory in Exhibition Opener
10/12/2018 9:18:00 PM | Baseball
Offense, Pitching Shine in Win over Toronto Mets
PITTSBURGH – The University of Pittsburgh baseball team took part in its first exhibition of the 2018 fall season, defeating the Toronto Mets 21-3 at Charles L. Cost Field Friday evening.
Pitt scored at least one run in six of its eight offensive innings, jumping out to an early lead that it wouldn't surrender. The Panthers homered four time in the game, as the offense finished the contest without any strikeouts.
"It was great to see the offensive approach that Coach Megahee and the other staff members have really been putting into place," said head coach Mike Bell. "Something that we really stressed here is that it's not about getting hits, it's about putting guys on base, getting opportunities to knock guys in. That comes from a lot of different things; it comes from the approach that we're putting in, it comes from the strike zone discipline, but it also comes from fighting through an at bat, not giving away at bats. I think in the first inning with the multiple runs that were scored you had some walks, you had some key hits and then you had some guys really driving the ball out of the yard over the next couple of innings."
The Panthers plated runs early, grabbing an 8-0 lead after the opening frame. After back-to-back walks to Bryce O'Farrell and Kyle Hess put men on early, Ron Washington Jr. would single into right field, plating O'Farrell for the first run of the game. A single from Nico Popa would score another before a bases loaded walk to Zach Klapak gave Pitt a 4-0 lead.
With the bases still loaded and no outs, senior Connor Perry would shoot a 378 foot grand slam over the wall in right. An infield single off the bat of Sky Duff would wrap up the scoring as the Panthers jumped out to an 8-0 lead.
Pitt would extend its advantage in the next inning as three straight walks loaded things up for Popa, who would bring home his second of the game. Back-to-back singles from Cole MacLaren and Klapak pushed the Panther lead to 11-0.
The Panthers would push four more across in the fourth. A leadoff homer from Washington Jr. got things going before back-to-back homers by Klapak and Perry gave the Panthers a 15-0 advantage. Three more runners would come across in the next inning, as an RBI single from Popa and an error in left field allowed Pitt to take a 18-0 lead.
Toronto would get one back in the sixth, but the Panthers would answer in the bottom of the frame, as a double by O'Farrell and a sac fly by Popa put the contest at a 20-1 advantage for the Panthers.
The visitors would grab single runs in the seventh and ninth, with Pitt plating its final run in the eighth on an RBI double by Kris Navarro, as the Panthers ran away with the 21-3 victory.
On the day, Perry led the offensive charge, going 2-2 with two runs scored and six RBI, including a pair of homers. Popa put together a 2-4 performance with three runs scored and four RBI, while Washington Jr. was a perfect 3-3 with three runs and two RBI and freshman Klapak added two runs and three RBI.
Nine pitchers saw work for the Panthers as Chris Cappas got the start on the bump. The two-way pitcher and outfielder tossed a clean opening frame, retiring all three batters he faced, highlighted by a pair of strikeouts. He would remain in the contest, working in center field.
Junior transfer Christian Camacho threw a solid second inning, allowing a walk but fanning a man, using just nine pitches to retire the side. Freshman Billy Corcoran saw his first action on the mound as a Panther, retiring the side in order before being replaced by junior ace Dan Hammer, who struck out one as he went three-up and three-down.
Derek West, Mason Ronan and Brady Devereux would combine to throw the next three frames, while David Moore and Lucas Maldonado closed things out.
The Panthers return to action next Friday, hosting Youngstown State in the final exhibition at Charles L. Cost Field. The Panthers and Penguins are set for a 5 p.m. first pitch in the second of three exhibitions on the Panthers' schedule this fall.
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Pitt scored at least one run in six of its eight offensive innings, jumping out to an early lead that it wouldn't surrender. The Panthers homered four time in the game, as the offense finished the contest without any strikeouts.
"It was great to see the offensive approach that Coach Megahee and the other staff members have really been putting into place," said head coach Mike Bell. "Something that we really stressed here is that it's not about getting hits, it's about putting guys on base, getting opportunities to knock guys in. That comes from a lot of different things; it comes from the approach that we're putting in, it comes from the strike zone discipline, but it also comes from fighting through an at bat, not giving away at bats. I think in the first inning with the multiple runs that were scored you had some walks, you had some key hits and then you had some guys really driving the ball out of the yard over the next couple of innings."
The Panthers plated runs early, grabbing an 8-0 lead after the opening frame. After back-to-back walks to Bryce O'Farrell and Kyle Hess put men on early, Ron Washington Jr. would single into right field, plating O'Farrell for the first run of the game. A single from Nico Popa would score another before a bases loaded walk to Zach Klapak gave Pitt a 4-0 lead.
With the bases still loaded and no outs, senior Connor Perry would shoot a 378 foot grand slam over the wall in right. An infield single off the bat of Sky Duff would wrap up the scoring as the Panthers jumped out to an 8-0 lead.
Pitt would extend its advantage in the next inning as three straight walks loaded things up for Popa, who would bring home his second of the game. Back-to-back singles from Cole MacLaren and Klapak pushed the Panther lead to 11-0.
The Panthers would push four more across in the fourth. A leadoff homer from Washington Jr. got things going before back-to-back homers by Klapak and Perry gave the Panthers a 15-0 advantage. Three more runners would come across in the next inning, as an RBI single from Popa and an error in left field allowed Pitt to take a 18-0 lead.
Toronto would get one back in the sixth, but the Panthers would answer in the bottom of the frame, as a double by O'Farrell and a sac fly by Popa put the contest at a 20-1 advantage for the Panthers.
The visitors would grab single runs in the seventh and ninth, with Pitt plating its final run in the eighth on an RBI double by Kris Navarro, as the Panthers ran away with the 21-3 victory.
On the day, Perry led the offensive charge, going 2-2 with two runs scored and six RBI, including a pair of homers. Popa put together a 2-4 performance with three runs scored and four RBI, while Washington Jr. was a perfect 3-3 with three runs and two RBI and freshman Klapak added two runs and three RBI.
Nine pitchers saw work for the Panthers as Chris Cappas got the start on the bump. The two-way pitcher and outfielder tossed a clean opening frame, retiring all three batters he faced, highlighted by a pair of strikeouts. He would remain in the contest, working in center field.
Junior transfer Christian Camacho threw a solid second inning, allowing a walk but fanning a man, using just nine pitches to retire the side. Freshman Billy Corcoran saw his first action on the mound as a Panther, retiring the side in order before being replaced by junior ace Dan Hammer, who struck out one as he went three-up and three-down.
Derek West, Mason Ronan and Brady Devereux would combine to throw the next three frames, while David Moore and Lucas Maldonado closed things out.
The Panthers return to action next Friday, hosting Youngstown State in the final exhibition at Charles L. Cost Field. The Panthers and Penguins are set for a 5 p.m. first pitch in the second of three exhibitions on the Panthers' schedule this fall.
#H2P | Twitter | Instagram
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