University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Panthers Win 10-8 in Fall Opener Over Toledo in Ten-Inning Exhibition
10/13/2023 10:04:00 PM | Baseball
PITTSBURGH – The Pitt baseball team won its fall season opener this evening against Toledo by a score of 10-8 in their ten-inning exhibition.
Transfer Tyler Bischke led the offensive attack for the Panthers as he went 3-3 with a walk and four RBI on the evening while graduate transfer Chris Baker would go 2-4 with three RBI. Penn State transfer Josh Spiegel hit a pinch-hit solo shot in the bottom of the sixth off of the first pitch he saw in the ballgame.
Senior Jack Sokol had perhaps the cleanest outing of the Panthers' pitching staff in the ballgame. Sokol faced the minimum three batters, struck out two and did not allow a hit.
A total of 28 Panthers saw game action against the Rockets of Toledo tonight including five true freshman who were middle-inning replacements. Jonah St. Antoine, who relieved Tyler Bischke of his duties at second base at the top of the eighth inning, would go 1-1 with a single to shortstop.
Offensive Highlights
- The Panthers drew 10 walks (Dom Popa, Luke Cantwell, and Anthony LaSala each drew two)
- Five Panther hitters recorded multiple-hit games (Tyler Bischke, CJ Funk, Jayden Melendez, Chris Baker, Justin Fogel)
- Transfer second baseman Tyler Bischke went 3-3 with 4 RBI and a walk in his Panther debut
- Graduate Transfer Chris Baker went 2-4 with a bases loaded walk as he knocked in 3 runs
- Senior outfielder CJ Funk drove in a run as he went 2-4
- Transfer Josh Spiegel sent the first pitch he saw over the 375 ft. mark in left centerfield for a pinch-hit home run in the bottom of the sixth inning. The ball had an exit velocity of 109 MPH off the bat
- Junior Jayden Melendez got the start behind the plate and went 2-3 in his first action of the fall
Pitching Highlights
- Pitt's pitching staff combined for 17 strikeouts
- Ryan Andrade, Ethan Firoved, Jack Sokol and Ben Kovel each had scoreless outings with at least two strikeouts in their respective innings
- Ethan Firoved and Phil Fox each struck out the side in their respective innings
- Seven of the Panthers' ten pitchers in the game struck out multiple batters
The Panthers return to play next Friday, October 20 as they take on Akron at Charles L. Cost Field. First pitch is slated for 5 p.m.
