Panthers Down Rival Penn State, 7-2

Wednesday, April 10

University Park, PA

6:30 PM

Pitt

9-22

Penn State

17-12

Pittsburgh

Penn State

Panthers Down Rival Penn State, 7-2

4/10/2019 11:50:00 PM | Baseball

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

Pitt Uses Late Offensive Success to Snap Skid

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – The University of Pittsburgh baseball team used a late offensive surge to take down rival Penn State Wednesday evening, as the Panthers captured a 7-2 victory over the Nittany Lions at Medlar Field in State College, Pa.

Trailing 2-0 through two innings, the Panther pitching staff shut down the Nittany Lions, as the Pitt offense came alive in the final frames, scoring at least one run in each of the final four innings to secure the win.

"Overall, I thought we had a great team win today," said head coach Mike Bell. "Our offense continued to put pressure on them for the entire game and came up with some big hits late. Our pitchers did a good job of attacking their hitters, kept us in the game early and pitched with a lead late by attacking the zone."

The Panthers got things started offensively in the sixth, tying things up after Penn State held the lead for nearly four innings. With Luca Lotito on first after a fielder's choice, a double from Sky Duff put runners in scoring position. Bryce O'Farrell would single through the right side, plating the pair to tie things up.

Pitt took its first advantage of the game in the seventh, as a bases loaded walk to O'Farrell made it 3-2 in favor of the visitors. The Panthers would keep it going in the eighth, scoring three to jump out to a comfortable lead. Ron Washington Jr. was struck by a pitch to lead off the inning, moving to second on a single from Nico Popa. David Yanni would draw a walk to load the bases before a two-run single to left from Cole MacLaren gave Pitt a 5-2 lead. An RBI groundout from Gregory Ryan Jr. added another as the Panthers took a four-run advantage.

The Panthers would add another in the final inning as a sacrifice fly from Kyle Hess made it 7-2.

The Pitt bullpen was solid in relief, with Chase Smith earning his third save of the season, going 3.0 innings, allowing just two hits and one walk, striking out a career-best seven. Brady Devereux (2-0) earned the victory after going 2.0 innings, letting up one hit and one walk while striking out four.

Chris Cappas got the start, allowing a pair of runs off two hits and one walk in 2.0 frames, striking out two. Junior Chris Gomez also tossed 2.0 innings, allowing two hits and whiffing one.

O'Farrell's three-RBI performance led the way as the sophomore went 1-3 with a run scored and a walk. Popa wrapped up the night 3-4 with two runs scored, while MacLaren was 1-3 with two RBI and two walks.

The Panthers return to action this weekend, taking the diamond at Charles L. Cost Field for a three-game slate with Wake Forest. Pitt gets things started Friday at 6 p.m., returning to action Saturday at 1 p.m. before closing it out Sunday at 1 p.m.

#H2P | Twitter | Instagram