Panthers Down Peacocks in 17-7 Victory

Saturday, March 2

Kissimmee, FL

11 AM

Pitt

5-3

Saint Peter's

0-5

Saint Peter's

Pittsburgh

Panthers Down Peacocks in 17-7 Victory

3/2/2019 3:27:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Season Statistics (PDF)Box Score (PDF)

Kris Soto Tallies First Career Homer in Victory

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The University of Pittsburgh baseball team used 17 hits to tally a 17-7, eight inning victory over Saint Peter's in the first of two games Saturday afternoon at Osceola County Stadium.

Pitt (5-3, 0-0 ACC) scored at least one run in each of the first five innings, capping things off with a four-run eighth frame to secure its fourth consecutive victory.

The Panthers got things started with a three-run first inning, as RBI singles from David Yanni and Zach Klapak, as well as an RBI groundout from Nico Popa gave the Panthers the early advantage. Pitt would add to its total in the next inning, with Ron Washington Jr., Kris Soto and Sky Duff collecting five RBI to extend the Pitt lead to 8-0.

Saint Peter's would cut the lead in half with a four-run third inning, but Pitt would continue to add to its advantage with an RBI single by Yanni in the third that gave the Panthers the 9-4 lead.

A two-run double from Cole MacLaren in the fourth put Pitt on top 11-4 before Saint Peter's made it 11-5 in the fifth. Duff would connect on his fourth and fifth RBI of the game in the bottom of the fifth, sending a single to right that would give Pitt a 13-5 advantage.

The Peacocks scored their final two runs of the game in the seventh, before Pitt ended things in the eighth. Yanni bounced a ground rule double over the wall in right, followed by a triple off the bat of Popa that put things at 15-7 in favor of the Panthers. Soto would end the game in the next at bat, launching his first career home run over the wall in left to give Pitt the 17-7 win.

William Kirwan (1-0) earned his first career victory in a strong relief performance, going 3.0 innings, allowing one unearned run and one walk, holding the Peacocks hitless and striking out eight. Starter Chris Gomez went 3.0 innings, letting up four unearned runs off five hits, striking out three. Mason Ronan tossed the final two innings of the game, allowing two unearned runs off one hit and three walks, striking out six.

Offensively, Duff led the way with his first career five-RBI outing, going 3-4 with a run scored and a walk. Yanni concluded the afternoon 3-5 with three RBI, three runs scored and a walk, while Soto tallied three RBI, going 2-3 with three runs scored and three walks.

The Panthers return to action Saturday evening, taking on Butler in the nightcap at Osceola County Stadium.

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