Zuckerman and the Panthers Walk-Off the Huskies

Friday, February 23

Corpus Christi, TX

2 PM CDT

Pitt

4-0

Washington

0-3-1

Washington

Pittsburgh

Zuckerman and the Panthers Walk-Off the Huskies

2/23/2024 7:32:00 PM | Baseball

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CORPUS CHRISTI, Tx. – The Pitt Panthers improved to 4-0 on the season behind a walk-off home run from freshman Ryan Zuckerman on Friday afternoon.

Zuckerman launched a 1-1 curveball well over the left field wall to end this game in the bottom of the ninth. He showed power to all fields today, as he hit an opposite-field home run in the bottom of the third also.

Zuckerman was not the only Ryan to shine this afternoon for the Panthers, as starting pitcher Ryan Andrade struck out a career-high nine batters in a quality start on the mound. Catcher Jayden Melendez picked up his second multi-hit game of the season in the win.

It was a pitchers' duel for most of this contest, as both offenses were both slow at the start. Junior Ryan Andrade struck out the side in the second inning and had seven strikeouts through the first three innings.

Ryan Zuckerman sent an opposite-field solo home run, the second of his career, onto the hill in right-centerfield to give Pitt their first lead of the ballgame.

Andrade continued to deal and did not allow a Huskie hit until the fifth inning. He threw 4.2 innings while surrendering only three hits, one run, three walks and a finished with a career-high nine strikeouts.

Washington tied it in the top of the fifth inning on an RBI single by Colin Blanchard.

In the bottom of the sixth, C.J. Funk and Justin Fogel both drew walks to put runners on first and second with nobody out. Jayden Melendez laid a bunt single down the third base line to load the bases for the left-handed hitting Turner Grau. Grau sent a sacrifice fly into right field to put Pitt up 2-1 after six.

The Panthers and Huskies would trade sac flies as Washington would tie it right back up in the top of the seventh with a sac fly of their own, making it 2-2.

Redshirt-Sophomore Phil Fox came out of the bullpen in the top of the seventh and retired all eight of the batters he faced for the remainder of the game and picked up the win.

Following a Jayden Melendez two-out single to center in the bottom of the eighth, Turner Grau ripped a double down the left field line. Melendez rounded third in hopes of giving the Panthers the lead heading into the ninth but was thrown out at the plate to end the inning.

True freshman Ryan Zuckerman came up the plate with nobody on and one out and ended the game with one swing of the bat. It was Zuckerman's first career multi-home run game and the first walk-off home run of his career.

The Panthers return to play tomorrow afternoon, Saturday, February 24 against Maryland at Whataburger Field. First pitch is set for 2 PM CST/3 PM EST.