No. 14 Pitt Beats Bucknell 17-9 in Home-Opener

Wednesday, March 24

Pittsburgh, Pa.

3 PM

Pitt

12-5

Bucknell

4-7

Bucknell

Pitt

Photo by: Katie Meyers/Pitt Athletics

No. 14 Pitt Beats Bucknell 17-9 in Home-Opener

3/24/2021 10:07:00 PM | Baseball

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PITTSBURGH – David Yanni racked up seven RBIs to lead No. 14 Pitt baseball (12-5) to a 17-9 victory over Bucknell (4-7) in the home-opener at Charles L. Cost Field Wednesday evening. Yanni hit a grand slam in the first inning, was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded again in the seventh inning and notched a two-run triple in the eighth.

Yanni recorded the most RBIs by a Panther since May 18, 2019 when he collected eight on three homers in a win at No. 7 Georgia Tech. The grand slam was his team-leading eighth homer of the year.

The Panthers scored in all but one trip to the plate.

With Bucknell scoring in the game's first frame, the Yanni grand slam in the bottom of the inning gave Pitt its first lead. Sky Duff and Nico Popa both walked, and Ron Washington, Jr. singled to right center to load the bases for Yanni.

When the bases are juiced, @dyanni2 will take advantage ????

??: https://t.co/NNal2cvQbi #H2P pic.twitter.com/b6R9OE43gO
— Pitt Baseball (@Pitt_BASE) March 24, 2021

The Bison responded by taking back the lead in the next inning on a pair of two-run doubles.

The Panthers tied the game up in the third inning. Washington, Jr. led off with a single to left field, Yanni walked and Samuel Frontino singled to left field to load the bases. Jackson Phinney hit a deep ball to right field to bring home Washington, Jr. with the sac fly.

Pitt took the lead for good in the following inning. Duff drew a leadoff walk, and then Kyle Hess hit a one-out homer to right field.

This time it's @Hessy21Kyle with the homer to RF!

??: https://t.co/NNal2cefjK #H2P pic.twitter.com/5qob3T0TPN
— Pitt Baseball (@Pitt_BASE) March 24, 2021

Phinney added another RBI on his first collegiate hit in the fifth inning. Leadoff hitter Bryce Hulett walked, advanced to second base on a wild pitch and scored on Phinney's double down the left field line.

With two outs in the sixth inning, Frontino and Hulett both singled. Consecutive errors by the Bison infield produced two Panthers runs.

Pitt had a second four-run inning in the seventh. Popa, Hess and Washington, Jr. hit consecutive singles to start the frame. After Yanni's RBI-hit by pitch, Frontino also got an RBI on a walk. Hulett and Brock Franks then both got sac flies as a walk by Phinney moved up the baserunner to third base for Franks.

The last two Pitt runs came in the eighth. Popa earned an infield single, and Hess walked. After both advanced a base on a sac bunt by Jordan Anderson, they scored on Yanni's one-out triple.

.@dyanni2 now has 7?? RBI after this 2-run triple ??

??: https://t.co/NNal2cvQbi #H2P | #Gritsburgh pic.twitter.com/Bx4bKNyfrC
— Pitt Baseball (@Pitt_BASE) March 24, 2021

Pitt hosts No. 22 Virginia Tech for its first ACC series at home beginning Friday at 3 p.m.

NOTES

Chris Gomez picked up his first win of the season with 4.1 innings of relief, allowing one run, three hits and two walks with four strikeouts.
C.J. McKennitt (seventh inning) and Jordan McCrum (ninth) both struck out two batters in scoreless innings of relief.
The Panthers had 18 hits with six going for extra-bases.
Washington, Jr. had a game-high four hits.
Popa and Frontino both went 3-5.
Popa, Hess and Yanni each had three runs.
Duff was the only Panther to not record a hit, but he drew a game-high two walks.