Pitt Comes Back for 9-7 Road Win in 13 Innings to Sweep No. 9 Florida State

Sunday, February 28

Tallahassee, FL

2 PM

Pitt

6-1, 3-0

Florida State

2-4, 0-3

Pitt

Florida State

Photo by: Elliott P Finebloom

Pitt Comes Back for 9-7 Road Win in 13 Innings to Sweep No. 9 Florida State

2/28/2021 9:59:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Pitt baseball (6-1, 3-0) scored six unanswered runs to rally for a 9-7 win in 13 innings and capture its first ever sweep of No. 9 Florida State (2-4, 0-3) Sunday at Dick Howser Stadium. Kyle Hess drove in the winning-runs with a two-out double to centerfield, and Jordan McCrum retired the side to close out the game and earn his second save of the series.

Pitt registered its first series-sweep over a top-10 opponent since joining the ACC for the 2014 season and just the second sweep over a ranked ACC team (No. 23 Georgia Tech on March 28-30, 2014). It was also the first road sweep in ACC play and just the fourth overall conference sweep.

After not putting any runners in scoring positon in extra innings, Sky Duff doubled to left center with two outs in the 13th inning, and Nico Popa was hit by a pitch afterwards to set the stage for Hess.

Florida State placed five runners on bases in extra innings, but the Panthers' bullpen worked their way out of the jams. Dylan Lester let up a one-out walk in the 10th but got two-straight outs. David Ferguson committed a throwing error with two outs to allow a runner to second base, but produced another groundball to shortstop David Yanni two pitches later.

In the bottom of the 12th inning, Florida State managed to load the bases up with just one out. Chase Smith (1-0) came in and got a groundball to Yanni, who threw home for the force out, and then a fly out to right fielder Popa.

The historic comeback started in the seventh inning trailing 7-3. Hess singled to right field with two outs, and Ron Washington, Jr. walked. Both scored on Yanni's double to left field.

The Panthers tied it up in the ninth inning. Pinch-hitter Dom Popa led off and was hit by a pitch. Older brother Nico then followed with a two-run blast over the left field fence, his third homer of the season and second in the series.

Pitt had the game's first lead, scoring three runs in their first trip to the plate. Duff led off with a double to left field. With two outs, Washington, Jr. knocked Duff in with a single to right field. Yanni followed with a two-run shot over the tall right field fence, his second homer of the season.

Florida State tied it up in the third inning with a two-run homer followed by a two-out RBI-single to right field. The Seminoles took their first lead the next inning, capitalizing on four-straight walks and then a fielding error with two outs.

The Seminoles added another two-run homer to centerfield in the sixth inning.

Pitt is back in action with another road ACC series against Duke starting Friday at 4 p.m.

NOTES

The Panthers picked up their fifth-ever win over the Seminoles. Four of the victories have come under the guidance of third-year head coach Mike Bell with the weekend's sweep and a 10-0 victory on May 3, 2019 also in Tallahassee.
Florida State suffers its first home sweep since May 14-16, 2015 versus Clemson.
Registering the last three outs in Saturday's win, Stephen Hansen threw two scoreless innings with no hits, one walk and two strikeouts.
The Panthers used 10 pitchers in the game and limited the Seminoles to just six hits. Chris Gomez notched the most outs with three scoreless innings with no hits or walks and one strikeout. Lester had two scoreless innings with a team-high five strikeouts
Josh Collett made his Panthers' debut, and C.J. McKennitt made his season debut.
Ramon Padilla led off both the second and fourth innings with a double.
Five Panthers finished with two hits: Duff, Popa, Hess, Yanni and Padilla.
Yanni racked up a game-high four RBI.
Popa reached base a game-high four times with two hit-by pitches in addition to his homer and single.
Washington, Jr. had a team-high two walks.