Panthers Win in Extras Over Islanders

Monday, February 26

Corpus Christi, TX

10:30 AM CDT

Pitt

6-1

Texas A&M - Corpus Christi

3-7

Pittsburgh

A&M-Corpus Christi

Panthers Win in Extras Over Islanders

2/26/2024 4:03:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Gamebook

CORPUS CHRISTI, Tx. - The Panthers defeated the Islanders 9-6 in a ten-inning affair on Monday afternoon in Corpus Christi. Pitt escaped a bases loaded, no out, jam in the bottom of the ninth inning and would go on to win it with three runs in the tenth.

Justin Fogel kicked off the game with a grand slam in the top of the first inning, the first grand slam of his Division-I career. In his second start behind the dish this year, Josh Spiegel had two run-scoring knocks, as he drove in three runs. Jake Kendro went 3-4 with an RBI this afternoon, he has recorded a hit in each of the last three games. Second baseman Tyler Bischke collected his first multi-hit game of the year as he went 2-4 with two runs scored and a walk.

Phil Fox continued to shine out of the bullpen, throwing two scoreless innings and earning a win. He inherited a bases loaded, no one out, situation in the ninth and retired six of the seven batters he faced to improve his record to 2-0. Freshman Aidan Coleman made the first start of his collegiate career this afternoon, he went five innings allowing three runs on seven hits and struck out three batters. Matthew Fernandez provided quality middle inning relief, he threw 2.2 innings and allowed only one run on two hits.

For the second consecutive day, Dom Popa led off the game with a hit as he singled to shallow left field. The Panthers would have the bases loaded with one out for Justin Fogel following an error and a walk. Fogel launched a hanging breaking ball into the parking lot in right field to put Pitt up 4-0 in the top of the first inning.

After going scoreless in the bottom of the first, the Islanders scored a run in each of the next three innings to cut the Panther lead to just one. Pitt led 4-3 after four full innings.

They threatened again in the bottom half of the fifth inning, but Aidan Coleman and the Panthers would escape the jam as C.J. Funk made a shoestring catch in shallow right field to end the inning.

Pitt added insurance in the top of the sixth inning on a two-run double by catcher Josh Spiegel. Jayden Melendez led off the inning with a single to left and advanced to third on a dirt ball read and a wild pitch in the preceding at-bats. Following a Tyler Bischke walk, the Panthers had runners at the corners with one out. Josh Spiegel shorthopped the fence in right-centerfield and drove in Melendez and Bischke.

Ryan Partridge relieved Aidan Coleman of his duties in the bottom half of the inning. The freshman threw five quality innings with three strikeouts while only allowing three runs on seven hits in his first collegiate start. The Islanders would match Pitt's two spot on the top of the six to make it a one run ballgame again. Pitt led 6-5 after six.

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi got runners on in the bottom of the seventh inning and tied it up on a sacrifice fly to right field.

The Islanders threatened in the bottom of the ninth when they started the inning with two singles and a walk and loaded the bases with nobody out. Phil Fox inherited a seemingly impossible situation but retired to next three batters to escape the jam.

In extras, Justin Fogel drew a walk to lead off the top of the 10^th inning. The speedy Austyn Winkleblech made his collegiate debut, replacing Fogel as a pinch-runner. Pitt flawlessly executed a hit-and-run as Tyler Bischke shot a ball the other way into right field, advancing Winkleblech to third. With runners on the corners and nobody out, Josh Spiegel lined his second RBI knock of the day into right and put the Panthers up one in the top of the 10^th. Jake Kendro collected his first career three-hit game with an RBI single to left field that put Pitt up 8-6. Freshman Keeton Burroughs pinch-ran for Spiegel and eventually scampered home on a wild pitch to score Pitt's third run of the inning.

Phil Fox stayed on the mound in the bottom of the 10^th inning, struck out two batters, and closed this one out.

The Panthers return to Charles L. Cost Field for this first time in 2024 this Wednesday, February 28, at 3 PM against Youngstown State. Gates open at 2 PM.