Pitt Defeats Indiana State 8-2 for First Win of 2021

Saturday, February 20

Port Charlotte, Fla.

2 PM

Pitt

1-1

Indiana State

1-1

Pitt

Indiana State

Photo by: Simone Amaduzzi

Pitt Defeats Indiana State 8-2 for First Win of 2021

2/20/2021 7:38:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – Pitt baseball (1-1) picked up its first win of the season, 8-2, over Indiana State (1-1) in the Snowbird Classic Saturday afternoon at Centennial Park. Trailing 2-1 after four innings, the Panthers six runs over the next three innings.

"I was really proud of the energy that our team brought today from the first pitch to the last," said head coach Mike Bell. "We played really sound baseball in all phases today: pitching, defense, base-running and quality at-bats. Just a great team effort today."

Sky Duff led off the fifth inning with a double to left field and scored on the very next at-bat, a single by Nico Popa, to tie the game.

T5| Pitt 2, Indiana State 2

Tie ball game! @nicopopa3 drops a single in left center to bring home @Sky_Duff3 with no outs.

??: https://t.co/dGX1A2NMiv #H2P pic.twitter.com/4XwALvtZ3T
— Pitt Baseball (@Pitt_BASE) February 20, 2021

The game-winning run came in the following inning. Bryce Hulett and Brock Franks both drew walks. With two outs, Jordan Anderson knocked in Hulett with a single to left field. Duff then hit another double to left center that brought home Franks and Anderson.

In the next inning, Pitt added two more runs. Popa led off with a single through the left side, and Ron Washington, Jr. singled to left center with one out. A wild pitch advanced both runners, allowing Popa to easily come home safely. After a fly out advanced Washington, Jr. to third base, he scored after a fielding error by the second baseman.

The Panthers added an insurance run in their last trip to the plate. David Yanni hit an inside the park home run down the right field line as the outfielder scrambled to get the ball.

Pitt produced the game's first run in the second inning. Washington, Jr. led off with a single through the right side, and Yanni walked. Hulett hit a one-run single to centerfield.

T2| Pitt 1, Indiana State 0@RWashingtonJr1 scores our first run of the year, coming home on @bryce_hulett RBI-single to CF! Still no outs.

??: https://t.co/dGX1A2NMiv #H2P pic.twitter.com/0QjpeN2kHq
— Pitt Baseball (@Pitt_BASE) February 20, 2021

Indiana State took the lead with two-out RBI-singles in the bottom of the second and fourth innings.

The rubber match between the two teams is Sunday at noon.

NOTES

Matt Gilbertson (1-0) started and went five innings for the win with four hits, one earned run, three strikeouts and no walks.
Stephen Hansen, a grad transfer from Iona, made his Panthers debut in relief and picked up his first collegiate save with four scoreless innings of relief, only allowing two hits and one walk with seven strikeouts.
Shortstop Brock Franks made his first collegiate start.
Duff went 2-3 with a pair of RBIs and walks.
Popa had a game-high three hits and also a walk.
Washington, Jr. was the other Panther who racked up multiple hits, going 2-5 with a game-high two runs.
The Panthers had a total of 10 hits and six walks.