Wednesday, May 10
Pittsburgh, PA
6 PM
Pitt
21-25
8
vs
9
West Virginia
37-12
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
West Virginia
0
3
0
0
6
0
0
0
0
9
11
2
Pitt
2
0
0
1
2
0
3
0
0
8
12
0
Pitt Falls in Nailbiter to No. 12 West Virginia
5/10/2023 10:23:00 PM | Baseball
PITTSBURGH, PA -- Pitt (21-25, 9-13 ACC) strands the tying run on second base in the ninth inning as they fall to rival No. 12 West Virginia (37-12, 13-5 BIG-12) in the third and final Backyard Brawl of the 2023 season.
Despite a strong offensive effort, the Panthers could never regain their early lead. Jack Anderson (4-5, 2B), Noah Martinez (2-4, RBI), Kyle Hess (2-5, 2 RBI), and Justin Acal (2-5, 2B, 2 RBI) all recorded multiple hits for the Pitt offense, Jayden Melendez went 1-5 with a solo homerun in the first inning. Jack Anderson recorded his fourth four-hit game of the season and first since their series-opener against Duke on March 31st. With his performance today, Noah Martinez reached base safely for the 20th consecutive game.
Ethan Firoved was lights out in his relief appearance, helping keep the Panthers within striking distance. He threw 2.2 innings out of the bullpen, gave up two hits, did not allow a run, and struck out four.
Jayden Melendez started this game off with a bang as he launched his eighth home run of the year over the leftfield wall in the bottom of the first inning. The Panthers followed that up with back-to-back knocks as Noah Martinez doubled to center and Jack Anderson singled through the right side. Kyle Hess came to the dish with one out and runners on the corners. He beat out what could have been an inning ending double play, scoring Martinez from third and putting Pitt up 2-0 after one.
In a position where you need a shutdown inning, the Mountaineers came right back and took a lead of their own as Cam McNeely hit a three-run shot in the top of the second inning to take a 3-2 lead.
Jack Anderson led off the bottom of the fourth with a double into right-center gap, over the head of the right-fielder who was playing him very shallow. Justin Acal knocked a two-out single into shallow right field, Anderson raced home from second, and just beat the throw from the outfield to tie this game up at three apiece.
West Virginia put up a six-spot the very next inning, which was highlighted by a JJ Wetherholt two-run home run to left center. The Sophomore finished the day 3-4 and is now hitting .470, the highest batting average in all of Division I.
Pitt began to chip away in the bottom half of the inning. Anthony LaSala led off the bottom of the fifth with a walk. A Sky Duff single to center put runners at first and second with nobody out. Jayden Melendez grounded into a fielder's choice, nabbing Duff at second, but getting LaSala over to third. With runners on the corners and nobody out, Pitt's hits and RBI leader Noah Martinez pulled a single through the right side of the infield and scored LaSala from third, Melendez moved up to second on the single. After a Jack Anderson strikeout, Kyle Hess shot a ball the other way into the leftfield, bringing home Melendez from second. CJ Funk would walk to load the bases with two outs, however Justin Acal struck out to end the threat. West Virginia led 9-5 after five.
The Panthers continued to claw back as they added three more runs in the bottom of the seventh. A Noah Martinez walk followed by back-to-back singles by Jack Anderson and Kyle Hess loaded the bases with one out for CJ Funk who played in his 100th career game this evening. Funk grounded a ball to the shortstop, who made a great play just to get an out at second, however on the turn the second baseman Wetherholt threw the ball away allowing not one, but two Panther runs to score. Martinez would have scored no matter what, but because of the errant throw Jack Anderson was able to score all the way from second, Funk moved up to second on the throw as well. Justin Acal came up again in a big spot and pulled a ball just fair down the third base line, scoring Funk from second and bringing the Panthers within one. They trailed 9-8 heading into the final two frames.
West Virginia threatened again in the top of the eighth inning. After surrendering a one-out double, Dylan Simmons came in to relieve Ethan Firoved, who was dealing up to that point. After a wild pitch and an intentional walk to JJ Wetherholt, the Mountaineers had runners on the corners with two out. Wetherholt stole second to now have two runners in scoring position in a key moment of this game. Simmons gassed a fastball past Landon Wallace to end the threat and keep this a one-run game.
Down to their final three outs, the Panthers' offense never blinked. Jack Anderson poked his fourth hit of the day into right field as Pitt tried to mount some late-inning heroics. Redshirt Junior Cameron Barto would come in to pinch-run for Anderson, trying to gain any advantage on the basepaths that they could. CJ Funk worked a full count walk, his second walk of the night, to put runners on first and second with two outs. Justin Acal came to the plate looking to tie, if not win this ballgame with one swing of the bat. He struck out swinging to end this thriller of the game.
Pitt returns to action this Friday, May 12, at 6 p.m. as they host Miami at Charles L. Cost Field.
Despite a strong offensive effort, the Panthers could never regain their early lead. Jack Anderson (4-5, 2B), Noah Martinez (2-4, RBI), Kyle Hess (2-5, 2 RBI), and Justin Acal (2-5, 2B, 2 RBI) all recorded multiple hits for the Pitt offense, Jayden Melendez went 1-5 with a solo homerun in the first inning. Jack Anderson recorded his fourth four-hit game of the season and first since their series-opener against Duke on March 31st. With his performance today, Noah Martinez reached base safely for the 20th consecutive game.
Ethan Firoved was lights out in his relief appearance, helping keep the Panthers within striking distance. He threw 2.2 innings out of the bullpen, gave up two hits, did not allow a run, and struck out four.
Jayden Melendez started this game off with a bang as he launched his eighth home run of the year over the leftfield wall in the bottom of the first inning. The Panthers followed that up with back-to-back knocks as Noah Martinez doubled to center and Jack Anderson singled through the right side. Kyle Hess came to the dish with one out and runners on the corners. He beat out what could have been an inning ending double play, scoring Martinez from third and putting Pitt up 2-0 after one.
In a position where you need a shutdown inning, the Mountaineers came right back and took a lead of their own as Cam McNeely hit a three-run shot in the top of the second inning to take a 3-2 lead.
Jack Anderson led off the bottom of the fourth with a double into right-center gap, over the head of the right-fielder who was playing him very shallow. Justin Acal knocked a two-out single into shallow right field, Anderson raced home from second, and just beat the throw from the outfield to tie this game up at three apiece.
West Virginia put up a six-spot the very next inning, which was highlighted by a JJ Wetherholt two-run home run to left center. The Sophomore finished the day 3-4 and is now hitting .470, the highest batting average in all of Division I.
Pitt began to chip away in the bottom half of the inning. Anthony LaSala led off the bottom of the fifth with a walk. A Sky Duff single to center put runners at first and second with nobody out. Jayden Melendez grounded into a fielder's choice, nabbing Duff at second, but getting LaSala over to third. With runners on the corners and nobody out, Pitt's hits and RBI leader Noah Martinez pulled a single through the right side of the infield and scored LaSala from third, Melendez moved up to second on the single. After a Jack Anderson strikeout, Kyle Hess shot a ball the other way into the leftfield, bringing home Melendez from second. CJ Funk would walk to load the bases with two outs, however Justin Acal struck out to end the threat. West Virginia led 9-5 after five.
The Panthers continued to claw back as they added three more runs in the bottom of the seventh. A Noah Martinez walk followed by back-to-back singles by Jack Anderson and Kyle Hess loaded the bases with one out for CJ Funk who played in his 100th career game this evening. Funk grounded a ball to the shortstop, who made a great play just to get an out at second, however on the turn the second baseman Wetherholt threw the ball away allowing not one, but two Panther runs to score. Martinez would have scored no matter what, but because of the errant throw Jack Anderson was able to score all the way from second, Funk moved up to second on the throw as well. Justin Acal came up again in a big spot and pulled a ball just fair down the third base line, scoring Funk from second and bringing the Panthers within one. They trailed 9-8 heading into the final two frames.
West Virginia threatened again in the top of the eighth inning. After surrendering a one-out double, Dylan Simmons came in to relieve Ethan Firoved, who was dealing up to that point. After a wild pitch and an intentional walk to JJ Wetherholt, the Mountaineers had runners on the corners with two out. Wetherholt stole second to now have two runners in scoring position in a key moment of this game. Simmons gassed a fastball past Landon Wallace to end the threat and keep this a one-run game.
Down to their final three outs, the Panthers' offense never blinked. Jack Anderson poked his fourth hit of the day into right field as Pitt tried to mount some late-inning heroics. Redshirt Junior Cameron Barto would come in to pinch-run for Anderson, trying to gain any advantage on the basepaths that they could. CJ Funk worked a full count walk, his second walk of the night, to put runners on first and second with two outs. Justin Acal came to the plate looking to tie, if not win this ballgame with one swing of the bat. He struck out swinging to end this thriller of the game.
Pitt returns to action this Friday, May 12, at 6 p.m. as they host Miami at Charles L. Cost Field.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Short, Noah (4-0)
L: Candelario, Erubiel (2-3)
S: Reed, Carlson (6)
Batting:
2B: Wetherholt, J.J. 1 ; Barry, Braden 1 ; Hussey, Grant 1 ; Sauve, Logan 1
HR: Wetherholt, J.J. 1 ; McNeely, Caleb 1
RBI: Wetherholt, J.J. 2 ; McNeely, Caleb 3 ; Garcia, Ellis 2 ; Sauve, Logan 1
SH: Barry, Braden 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Tucker, Tevin 1 ; Wetherholt, J.J. 1 ; Wallace, Landon 1 ; Leonard, Dayne 2 ; Hussey, Grant 2 ; McNeely, Caleb 1 ; Garcia, Ellis 1
SB: Wetherholt, J.J. 1 ; Wallace, Landon 1 ; Barry, Braden 1 ; Leonard, Dayne 1 ; Sauve, Logan 1
CS: Wetherholt, J.J. 1
HBP: Hussey, Grant 1
Batting:
2B: Martinez, Noah 1 ; Anderson, Jack 1 ; Acal, Justin 1
HR: Melendez, Jayden 1
RBI: Melendez, Jayden 1 ; Martinez, Noah 1 ; Hess, Kyle 2 ; Funk, C.J. 1 ; Acal, Justin 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Melendez, Jayden 2 ; Martinez, Noah 2 ; Anderson, Jack 2 ; Funk, C.J. 1 ; LaSala, Anthony 1
SB: Hess, Kyle 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
5
R
2
H
4
RBI
0
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
AB
5
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Baseball
1B/C
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
C/INF
/ Baseball
RHP
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