Pitt Wins 9-4 in Home Series-Opener Over No. 5 Virginia

Friday, April 15

Pittsburgh, Pa.

6 PM

Pitt

20-12, 0

Virginia

26-8, 0

Virginia

Pitt

Photo by: Claire Emch/Pitt Athletics

Pitt Wins 9-4 in Home Series-Opener Over No. 5 Virginia

4/15/2022 11:17:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

PITTSBURGH – Pitt baseball (20-12, 8-7) opened its series against No. 5 Virginia (26-8, 9-7) with a 9-4 win Friday night at Charles L. Cost Field. The Panthers improve to 5-1 at home in ACC play, all against ranked teams (8-0 and 10-7 over then-No. 20 Clemson March 25 and 8-7 and 6-3 against then-No. 5 Louisville April 2-3).

Starting pitcher Matt Gilbertson (6-2) won his fifth-straight ACC start, throwing eight innings with eight hits, four runs, no walks and eight strikeouts.

Pitt broke open a scoreless game in the third inning. Nick Giamarusti singled to right field with one out. Tatem Levins hit a two-out homer to right center, his team-leading 11th of the year.

Already putting that new hoop ?? to use, @Pitt_FB!

??: https://t.co/aJCZJ70BH2 #H2P https://t.co/QOsaEN6cqi pic.twitter.com/ocQp0ZLoyN
— Pitt Baseball (@Pitt_BASE) April 15, 2022

Virginia would tie it up with a run each in the next two innings, but Pitt took the lead for good in the sixth. The bases were loaded with a leadoff walk from Ron Washington, Jr., a fielding error by the second baseman and Jack Anderson single. Tommy Tavarez walked for the go-ahead RBI. With two outs, the right fielder dropped a fly ball against the wall from Jeffrey Wehler as all three Panthers on base scored. Levins knocked in Wehler with a single through the left side. After a double to right field from Sky Duff, Levins raced home on a wild pitch for the sixth run of the frame.

The Panthers added its final run in the eighth inning on a two-out solo homer to left center from Tavarez, his fourth in the last six games.

That's now 4? homers in the last six games for @TavarezTommy ??

??: https://t.co/aJCZJ70BH2 #H2P https://t.co/2FfRucwgjy pic.twitter.com/LN34mY9dYi
— Pitt Baseball (@Pitt_BASE) April 16, 2022

Pitt looks to clinch the series with game two Saturday at 3 p.m.

NOTES

Pitt is 10-2 in its last 12 games, including seven league wins.
Pitt has defeated a top-five Virginia squad three times (2-1 April 5, 2014 (No. 1) and 1-0 on March 7,2015 (No. 1)).
Gilbertson has gone at least seven innings in his last four appearances.
In his five ACC victories, he's allowed just two walks with 33 strikeouts.
Baron Stuart retired the side in the ninth inning with a strikeout.
Duff extended his reached-base streak to 54 games with a double and walk.
Levins had game-highs of three RBI and four times reaching base with three hits and a walk.
Anderson went 3-5.
The Panthers didn't give a walk for the fourth game this season.