Panthers Lose Series Finale Against No. 14 Virginia

Sunday, March 24

Pittsburgh, PA

1 PM

Pitt

11-10, 1-8

Virginia

20-4, 6-3

Virginia

Pittsburgh

Panthers Lose Series Finale Against No. 14 Virginia

3/24/2024 5:16:00 PM | Baseball

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PITTSBURGH – Pitt fell in the series finale 8-2 on Sunday afternoon. Catcher Jayden Melendez hit his team-leading sixth home run of the year and threw out a base runner in the loss.

Josh Spiegel pinch-hit in the bottom of the ninth inning and lined a single to left. He's had two pinch-hit singles this year. Jayden Melendez hit a solo home run in the bottom of the second, he finished the day 1-3. Turner Grau and Luke Cantwell also went 1-3 today, both lined singles the other way into left field.

Dom Popa's ACC-best 19-game hitting streak came to an end this afternoon. Popa still has a reached base streak of 21 games, having reached safely in every game this season.

Ryan Reed gave the Panthers a strong start, allowing just one earned run and four hits over the first four innings today. Ethan Firoved was solid in a middle relief roll this afternoon and provided quality innings out of the bullpen over his 2.2 innings pitched. Phil Fox threw his sixth scoreless outing of the year, he has allowed just two runs all year.

The Panthers grabbed their first lead of the weekend on Jayden Melendez's solo home run in the bottom of the second inning. Melendez's now team-leading sixth home run of the year went 447 feet over the left-centerfield wall.

The Cavaliers immediately answered and scored two runs on one hit in the top of the third inning. They got two more in the top of the fourth on an RBI groundout and RBI double to lead 4-1 after four.

Virginia scored two in the seventh and two in the ninth to lead the Panthers by seven heading into the final frame.

Josh Spiegel led off the bottom of the ninth inning with a pinch-hit single to left. Pitt then loaded the bases on hit by pitch by Dom Popa and walk by Luke Cantwell. Tyler Bischke drove in Spiegel on a sacrifice fly to center and brought home Pitt's final run of the game. The Panthers dropped the series finale 8-2.

Pitt returns to play Tuesday evening when they travel to State College to clash against instate rival Penn State. First pitch is slated for 5:30 PM.