Panthers Even Series Against No. 11 Miami On Senior Day

Saturday, May 13

Pittsburgh, PA

3 PM

Pitt

22-26, 10-14

Miami

33-16, 15-11

Miami

Pitt

Panthers Even Series Against No. 11 Miami On Senior Day

5/13/2023 7:24:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Gamebook Photo Gallery

PITTSBURGH, PA -- The Pitt Panthers (22-26, 10-14 ACC) take down the No. 11 Miami Hurricanes (33-16, 15-11 ACC) 7-4 in game two Saturday afternoon to even up the series at one win apiece.  Senior Kyle Hess shined on senior day as he hit a grand slam in the bottom of the third inning and a two-run triple down the right field line in the bottom of the fourth. He accounted for six of the Panthers seven runs today.

"What a better way for Kyle Hess to go out this weekend, with a grand slam as well as a two-RBI triple, to really put us on his back." said coach Mike Bell post game.

This is the Panthers' 21^st win over a top-15 opponent under head coach Mike Bell and the fourth win over a ranked team this season.

Despite only having four hits throughout the ballgame, the Panthers managed to top the No. 11 team in the country.  Pitt was able to capitalize on the Miami's miscues in the field and on the mound, Hurricane pitching issued 10 walks and hit two batters on the afternoon.

Pitt's seniors showed out today, Kyle Hess of course leading the way. He finished the day 2-4 with 6 RBI and a walk, Sky Duff worked three walks and brought home Caleb Sturtevant on a sac fly to left. Noah Martinez worked three walks as well, Johnny Long III shot an opposite field single in right field in the bottom of the second inning, and Nash Bryan came on in the bottom of the ninth and earned his seventh save of the year.

Logan Evans provided a quality start for the Panthers today, going at least six innings for the fifth time this season.  He gave up four runs on six hits, allowed one walk, and struck out six batters.  Dylan Simmons was the first Panther out of the bullpen again and striking out four in two scoreless innings in relief.  Nash Bryan closed it out in the ninth for the seventh time this season, striking out two of the five batters he faced.

Miami took the first lead of the ballgame for the second consecutive day on CJ Kayfus two-run home run in top of the third.

The Panthers batted around and came right back to take their first lead of the series in the bottom half of the inning. Three walks to Sky Duff, Noah Martinez, and Jack Anderson loaded the bases for the Panthers with one out.  Senior Kyle Hess came to the plate and sent an opposite field home run over the left field wall for a grand slam, the first of his career. Pitt was up 4-2 after three innings.

In the top half of the fourth Miami had runners on first and second with one out after a hit by pitch and a bunt single to third.  CJ Kayfus hit what looked like his second home run of the game and a go-ahead one at that in the next at-bat, except for the fact that the Panthers have Kyle Hess patrolling the outfield in center.  Following his grand slam in the bottom of the third he leaped up against the wall and robbed what could have been a three-run home run from Kayfus.

Sky Duff led off an inning for the third time in the ballgame in the bottom of the fourth inning and worked his second walk of the game.  Justin Acal reached on a fielder's choice that nabbed Duff at second.  Following a Noah Martinez walk, and a Jack Anderson fly out, the man of the hour Kyle Hess came to the dish.  He roped a two-run triple down the right field line that short hopped the wall scoring both Acal and Martinez. Panthers led 6-2 after four.

Miami came right back though in the top of the fifth and cut into the deficit by hitting their fifth home run already of the weekend as Zach Levenson hit his 10^th home run of the season. Pitt now led 6-4.

Pitt took advantage of back-to-back errors in the bottom of the seventh inning to add some late insurance. Caleb Sturtevant reached on an error by the second baseman and Anthony LaSala would lay down a sacrifice bunt to the first baseman.  As the first baseman threw the ball to second, it ricocheted off of Sturtevant's helmet and into shallow left field. Both he and LaSala would move up a base, leaving runners in second and third with nobody out.  That brought up the top of the order, more importantly Sky Duff.  Duff hit a sac fly the opposite way, into foul territory in left field, bringing home Sturtevant and moving LaSala up to third.  He would be stranded there and the Panthers would lead 7-4 after seven.

Dylan Simmons and Nash did what they have done all year, close out games.  Simmons threw two shutout innings in relief, being the set-up man for another Panther win.  Bryan came in in the top of the ninth and earned his seventh save of the season while striking out two.

The rubber match is set for 12 p.m. tomorrow afternoon.  The Panthers will be throwing their usual Sunday starter RHP Kyle Mosley, and the Hurricane's starter is still TBD.