Friday, April 28
Pittsburgh, Pa.
4 PM
Pitt
vs
California
Panthers Host California on Alumni Weekend
4/27/2023 12:53:00 PM | Baseball
PITTSBURGH, PA -- The Pitt Panthers will host the California Golden Bears of the PAC 12 this weekend in a three-game set at Charles L. Cost Field.
This will be the second ever meeting between these two teams. The only prior meeting was on May 27, 1995 in the NCAA Tournament, Pitt would win 9-4 and advance to the Mideast Regional Semifinal Game.
Pitt is most recently coming off of a shutout win in their series opener against the No. 2 team in the country, Wake Forest, last Friday evening. The Panther pitching staff dominated on the mound in game one behind the likes of Jack Sokol, Dylan Simmons, and Nash Bryan.
Friday starter Jack Sokol went five strong innings, allowing no runs on three hits while striking out two. Dylan Simmons was the bridge from starter to closer that the Panthers needed out of the bullpen, he threw three innings in relief and only surrendered two hits. Nash Bryan came on in the ninth to shut the door on the Demon Deacons and earned his fifth save of the year.
Pitt hit multiple home runs in a game for the 18th time this year as Jayden Melendez and Justin Acal both hit solo shots in the early innings. Acal finished the day 3-3 and made a diving stop up the middle in the late innings to add to his spectacular day.
With the win over No. 2 Wake Forest, head coach Mike Bell earned his 100th win at Pitt and the 100th of his career. It was the sixth time he has led a Pitt team to a win over a Top 5 opponent, it was also the highest ranked win of his career.
SETTING RECORDS AND CHASING MORE
Sky Duff worked a walk in the eighth inning of their series finale win over Notre Dame, the 149th of his Pitt tenure, setting the program's new career record. His career total now stands at 155.
With 52 career doubles, Duff is also two shy of breaking Pitt's career record of 53 owned by John Shultz (2008-11). This season, Duff is tied for the team lead in hits (40) and leads the squad with 13 doubles.
HESS HASN'T MISSED A BEAT
After missing the first 12 games of the year with an injury, Kyle Hess has made an impact since his return to the lineup. Hess sports a team-best .336 batting average, ranks second in slugging percentage (.588) and fourth in on base percentage (.429). His three triples are tied with AJ Nessler for the team lead, ranking him second in all of the ACC.
TERRIFIC TRANSFER
A transfer from Central Connecticut State, Noah Martinez has made a massive impact for the Panthers this season. Martinez is leading the team in hits (44) and RBIs (39) and is sole second in on base percentage (.445), batting average (.308), and home runs (9).
PILING UP STRIKEOUTS
Jack Sokol has struck out at least five batters in six of his starts this season and has fanned at least nine in three of those games, including a season-high 10 in seven innings against Mount St. Mary's earlier this month. Sokol's 54 strikeouts this season are a team high and good enough to rank ninth in the ACC. He ranks tenth in the ACC in strikeouts looking with 17.
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN BEARS
California has won six of their last ten games but are recently coming off of a series loss to No. 23 Oregon at home. They are 18-19 overall, with a 6-16 conference record in the PAC 12.
At the plate for Cal, right fielder Kade Kretzschmar leads the team in almost every offensive category, his .333 batting average, .652 slugging percentage, 11 home runs, and 45 hits are all a team best. His 11 home runs puts him 4th in the PAC 12. Beware of Rodney Green Jr. on the basepaths as well if he gets on, he leads all of the PAC 12 in stolen bases with 25.
On the mound, they will roll out Christian Becerra, Paulshawn Pasqualotto, and Connor Sullivan as this weekend's starters. As for out of the bullpen they will go to an array of arms that includes Tyler Stasiowski (4.19 ERA in 19.1 innings), Tucker Bougie (30.2 innings in 12 appearances, and Austin Turkington (4.08 ERA in 14 appearances).
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
Friday April 28 RHP Jack Sokol (4-2) vs RHP Christian Becerra (1-2)
Saturday April 29 RHP Logan Evans (2-2) vs RHP Paulshawn Pasqualotto (2-0)
Sunday April 30 RHP Kyle Mosley (0-5) vs RHP Connor Sullivan (2-3)
This will be the second ever meeting between these two teams. The only prior meeting was on May 27, 1995 in the NCAA Tournament, Pitt would win 9-4 and advance to the Mideast Regional Semifinal Game.
Pitt is most recently coming off of a shutout win in their series opener against the No. 2 team in the country, Wake Forest, last Friday evening. The Panther pitching staff dominated on the mound in game one behind the likes of Jack Sokol, Dylan Simmons, and Nash Bryan.
Friday starter Jack Sokol went five strong innings, allowing no runs on three hits while striking out two. Dylan Simmons was the bridge from starter to closer that the Panthers needed out of the bullpen, he threw three innings in relief and only surrendered two hits. Nash Bryan came on in the ninth to shut the door on the Demon Deacons and earned his fifth save of the year.
Pitt hit multiple home runs in a game for the 18th time this year as Jayden Melendez and Justin Acal both hit solo shots in the early innings. Acal finished the day 3-3 and made a diving stop up the middle in the late innings to add to his spectacular day.
With the win over No. 2 Wake Forest, head coach Mike Bell earned his 100th win at Pitt and the 100th of his career. It was the sixth time he has led a Pitt team to a win over a Top 5 opponent, it was also the highest ranked win of his career.
SETTING RECORDS AND CHASING MORE
Sky Duff worked a walk in the eighth inning of their series finale win over Notre Dame, the 149th of his Pitt tenure, setting the program's new career record. His career total now stands at 155.
With 52 career doubles, Duff is also two shy of breaking Pitt's career record of 53 owned by John Shultz (2008-11). This season, Duff is tied for the team lead in hits (40) and leads the squad with 13 doubles.
HESS HASN'T MISSED A BEAT
After missing the first 12 games of the year with an injury, Kyle Hess has made an impact since his return to the lineup. Hess sports a team-best .336 batting average, ranks second in slugging percentage (.588) and fourth in on base percentage (.429). His three triples are tied with AJ Nessler for the team lead, ranking him second in all of the ACC.
TERRIFIC TRANSFER
A transfer from Central Connecticut State, Noah Martinez has made a massive impact for the Panthers this season. Martinez is leading the team in hits (44) and RBIs (39) and is sole second in on base percentage (.445), batting average (.308), and home runs (9).
PILING UP STRIKEOUTS
Jack Sokol has struck out at least five batters in six of his starts this season and has fanned at least nine in three of those games, including a season-high 10 in seven innings against Mount St. Mary's earlier this month. Sokol's 54 strikeouts this season are a team high and good enough to rank ninth in the ACC. He ranks tenth in the ACC in strikeouts looking with 17.
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN BEARS
California has won six of their last ten games but are recently coming off of a series loss to No. 23 Oregon at home. They are 18-19 overall, with a 6-16 conference record in the PAC 12.
At the plate for Cal, right fielder Kade Kretzschmar leads the team in almost every offensive category, his .333 batting average, .652 slugging percentage, 11 home runs, and 45 hits are all a team best. His 11 home runs puts him 4th in the PAC 12. Beware of Rodney Green Jr. on the basepaths as well if he gets on, he leads all of the PAC 12 in stolen bases with 25.
On the mound, they will roll out Christian Becerra, Paulshawn Pasqualotto, and Connor Sullivan as this weekend's starters. As for out of the bullpen they will go to an array of arms that includes Tyler Stasiowski (4.19 ERA in 19.1 innings), Tucker Bougie (30.2 innings in 12 appearances, and Austin Turkington (4.08 ERA in 14 appearances).
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
Friday April 28 RHP Jack Sokol (4-2) vs RHP Christian Becerra (1-2)
Saturday April 29 RHP Logan Evans (2-2) vs RHP Paulshawn Pasqualotto (2-0)
Sunday April 30 RHP Kyle Mosley (0-5) vs RHP Connor Sullivan (2-3)
Players Mentioned
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