Panthers Clinch Series With 6-4 Win at No. 7 Virginia

Saturday, April 15

Charlottesville, VA

6 PM

Pitt

16-17, 7-8

Virginia

30-6, 11-6

Pittsburgh

Virginia

Panthers Clinch Series With 6-4 Win at No. 7 Virginia

4/15/2023 9:35:00 PM | Baseball

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- Pitt (16-17, 7-8 ACC) took game two, and the series, from No. 7 Virginia (30-6, 11-6 ACC) with a final score of 6-4 behind another dominant offensive performance and a career day from junior RHP Logan Evans Saturday evening a Disharoon Park.

Evans allowed just four hits over seven innings of work with a career-high nine strikeouts to get the win. He retired 21 of 24 batters after allowing three-run home-run to the third batter of the game.

The Pitt offense exploded for the second straight game, scoring six runs on 13 hits, however no long balls were needed in this one.  Every batter in the Panther lineup recorded a hit as center fielder Kyle Hess led the way with a 3-for-5 performance with a run scored and an RBI. Jack Anderson (2-for-4, RBI) and Johnny Long III (2-for-5, RBI) also collected mutlihit games for the Panthers.

"I think our guys showed a lot of heart today" said head coach Mike Bell. "They (Virginia) came out and punched us right away with a three-run home-run in the first...but Logan Evans settled in, and our guys chipped away with quality at-bats throughout"

With the win, the Panthers secured their 24^th win and sixth series win over a ranked opponent under Bell. The win Saturday also gave the Panthers a series win over the Cavaliers in each of the past three season. Pitt heads into Sunday's series finale winners in six of the last eight meetings with Virginia.

The Cavaliers jumped out in front early, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning, flipping the script from Friday's game one.  After a Griff O'Ferrall leadoff double and a Ethan O'Donnell walk, Jake Gelof hit a ball just over the left field wall to give Virginia an early 3-0 lead.

After an incredible diving catch to end Virginia's half of the second inning, left fielder Caleb Sturtevant led off the top of the third inning with a base knock to center field.  Sky Duff with a single to center of his own and Anderson walked load the bases for Noah Martinez. The left-handed hitting Martinez flared a ball to the opposite field, taking advantage of the Virginia defensive shift, and scoring Sturtevant and Duff.  Two batters later, Hess shot one through the right side of the infield past the second baseman, plating Anderson and knotting the game 3-3.

Evans settled in after giving up three runs to Virginia's top three batters in the first inning, holding the Cavaliers lineup to 1-for-15 from the second through six innings..

The Panthers gained their first lead of the day in the top of the sixth inning. Long III and shortstop Anthony LaSala reached on a walk and hit by pitch to start the inning before Anderson singlde down the left field line to score Long and put Pitt on top 4-3.

Hess, just like his teammate four innings prior, led the top of the seventh inning off with a single after making a phenomenal diving play in the outfield.  Hess stole second base and be moved up to third after a Justin Acal single to center. The Panthers executed a squeeze play for the second straight game in this contest. This time it was Long III who laid down a well-placed bunt to the pitcher, reaching first base in the process, scoring Hess and giving the Panthers a 5-3 lead.  With two outs, LaSala grounded a ball to the second baseman who attempted to tag Long out in the base path. The ball was jarred loose, keeping the inning alive and giving Pitt an insurance run and a 6-3 advantage after seven innings of play.

Pitt turned to the bullpen in the bottom of the eighth inning with Dylan Simmons striking out two and working a scoreless eighth.  Nash Bryan came on in the bottom of the ninth for the second consecutive night to earn his fourth save of the season for the Panthers. After giving up a leadoff home run, Nash induced a lfy out to left field before back-to-back strikeouts to close out the Cavaliers.

The Panthers look to complete the series sweep Sunday afternoon with a 1 p.m. first pitch. The projected matchup will be RHP Kyle Mosley for Pitt and RHP Jack O'Connor for Virginia.