
Panthers Begin 2019 Campaign at Sunshine State Series
2/14/2019 7:03:00 PM | Baseball
Pitt to Face Villanova, Iowa, Marshall, Milwaukee
KISSIMEEE, Fla. – The University of Pittsburgh baseball team will open the 2019 season at the Sunshine State Classic Series in Kissimmee, Fla., taking on Villanova, Iowa, Marshall and Milwaukee.
The Panthers kick off the season Friday at 3 p.m., facing off against former Big East rival Villanova before moving on to face Iowa at 11 a.m. Saturday and Marshall at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. The weekend will come to a close Sunday at 1 p.m. versus Milwaukee.
HOW TO FOLLOW LEADING OFF
The Panthers kick off the season Friday at 3 p.m., facing off against former Big East rival Villanova before moving on to face Iowa at 11 a.m. Saturday and Marshall at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. The weekend will come to a close Sunday at 1 p.m. versus Milwaukee.
HOW TO FOLLOW LEADING OFF
- Pitt (0-0, 0-0 ACC) opens the 2019 campaign at the Sunshine State Classic Series at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee, Fla. The Panthers will meet Villanova (Friday), Iowa (Saturday), Marshall (Saturday) and Milwaukee (Sunday).
- The Panthers' offense took a hit with the departure of Frank Maldonado and Liam Sabino, who contributed a majority of the team's scoring last season. Redshirt junior David Yanni will look to lead a group that will be highlighted by the return of Chris Cappas and Ron Washington Jr., a pair that put up impressive numbers in their rookie campaigns. Cappas finished second on the team with a.298 average, while Washington Jr. hit at a .284 clip. Juniors Nico Popa and Alex Amos are expected to return to the lineup after missing the final half of the season due to injury. Freshmen Kyle Hess and Zach Klapak are also expected to be offensive threats.
- On the mound, ace Dan Hammer will get the call in the season opener, followed by junior college transfer Christian Camacho on Saturday versus Iowa. Starters for Saturday's meeting with Marshall and the weekend finale against Milwaukee are yet to be announced.
- Villanova (0-0, 0-0 Big East) wrapped up the season with a mark of 9-39 (1-17 Big East). The group conclude the year losers of 10 of their final 11 games, capturing the lone conference victory in the second game of a three-game series with Xavier.
- The Wildcats hit just .227 as a team last year, led by Ryan Toohers (.298). The junior collected 53 hits, including a team-leading 14 doubles and five homers. He led the squad with 31 RBI, a .472 slugging percentage and .403 on base mark.
- Right-hander Jonathan Rosero will get the call on the mound for the Wildcats. The senior tallied a 6.15 ERA with a 1.70 WHIP last season, making an appearance in 16 games, including 11 starts. He threw 52.2 innings, allowing 44 runs (36 earned) off 60 hits and 29 walks, fanning 35.
- This will be the 91st all-time meeting between the two programs in a series dating back to the 1985 season. Villanova holds a 52-38 all-time advantage.
- The contest will mark the first time the two teams meet at a neutral site.
- Pitt has won nine straight over the Wildcats, sweeping three-game series in 2010, 2011 and 2013.
- Iowa (0-0, 0-0 BIG 10) put together a record of 33-20 (13-9 BIG 10) last season, falling short in the BIG 10 Tournament with back-to-back losses to Michigan and Ohio State. The Hawkeyes' season was highlighted by a series victories over No. 7 Michigan, No. 12 Oklahoma State and No. 22 Illinois.
- The Iowa offense looks to recover from the loss of its top four hitters from the 2018 season. Redshirt senior Chris Whelan is the top returner, having hit .308 in 38 starts in 2018. He collected 48 hits, including four doubles and four homers, recording 10 RBI.
- Sophomore Jack Dreyer will get the start for the Hawkeyes, just the second weekend start of the left-handers career. Last season, he went 5-2 in 14 appearances, four of which were starts, posting a 3.69 ERA in 31.2 innings. He let up 18 runs off 26 hits and 15 walks, striking out 42.
- This will be the third all-time meeting between the two teams in a series dating back to the 2011 season.
- The series is tied at 1-1, with both contests coming in neutral site play.
- Pitt earned a 3-2 extra inning victory in the inaugural contest before Iowa would capture a 7-5 decision in 2012.
- Marshall (0-0, 0-0 C-USA) posted a record of 19-30 (7-21 C-USA) last season, concluding the season on a nine-game losing streak.
- Senior catcher Reynaldo Pastrana anchored the 2018 offense and will return to the lineup for his senior season. The Miami native hit .355 last season, staring all 49 games. He collected 71 hits, including 14 doubles and 13 home runs, tallying 50 RBI, a .620 slugging percentage and .406 on base mark.
- The Herd will call on left-hander Joshua Shapiro, the team's top returning starter from the 2018 campaign. Shapiro posted a 4.84 ERA last season, appearing in 15 games, nine of which were starts, competing to a 2-5 record. He allowed 39 runs off 65 hits and 35 walks, fanning 48 and allowing opponents a .275 average.
- The game will mark the third all-time meeting between the two teams in a series dating back to the 1994 season.
- The Panthers own a 2-0 record over the Thundering Hurd, winning the inaugural contest 14-4 and capturing a 6-5 victory the following season.
- The two teams have not met since 1995.
- Milwaukee (0-0, 0-0 Horizon League) surged late, winning four of its last five games, and going 2-2 in the Horizon League Tournament.
- Redshirt senior Devin Rybacki returns after leading the Panther offense in 2018. The outfielder hit at a .336 clip, collecting 49 hits, including five doubles, two triples and one home run. Junior Trevor Schwecke led the squad in RBI last season, as the infielder brought 39 runners around, hitting .318 with 11 doubles, one triple and three homers.
- The Panthers will call upon right-hander Mike Edwards to conclude the Sunshine State Classic Series. The sophomore was impressive in his rookie campaign, appearing in 11 contests, including two starts. He battled to a record of 2-0, collecting one save. In 29.1 innings of work, he let up just 11 runs off 27 hits and eight walks, fanning 24.
- The contest will be the first ever meeting between the two programs.
- Sophomore Chris Cappas carries the program's longest active hit streak, sitting at six. Both Ron Washington Jr. and David Yanni carry two-game hit streaks from the 2018 season, while Nico Popa sits at one.
- Cappas' six-game reached base streak paces the Panther offense, while Washington Jr. sits at three. Yanni, Cole MacLaren and Bryce O'Farrell have each reached safely in two straight games.
- Pitt is 37-40 all-time on Opening Day, having won six straight, dating back to the 2013 season.
- The game will mark the second time in program history that Pitt has faced off with Villanova to open the season, the only other time suffering an 8-4 loss in 1988.
- The series will mark the third straight year in which the Panthers open the season at Osceola County Stadium.
- The Panthers own a record of 11-2 at the former Spring Training home of the Houston Astros, which now serves as the home of the Florida Fire Frogs, the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Atlanta Braves.
- The Panthers own an all-time mark of 3-1 in games played on Feb. 15.
- The Panthers own an all-time mark of 2-2 in games played on Feb. 16.
- The Panthers own an all-time mark of 5-5 in games played on Feb. 17.
- The Panthers will continue their regular season next weekend at the Wofford-USC Upstate Tournament in Spartanburg, South Carolina, facing off with USC Upstate, Radford and Bucknell.
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