Pitt
11-12, 1-9
Virginia Tech
20-4, 9-1
Panthers Lose Two-Run Game at No. 13 Virginia Tech
3/28/2024 7:56:00 PM | Baseball
BLACKSBURG, Va. – The Panthers surrendered a late-inning lead to No. 13 Virginia Tech and fell 5-3 in the series opener on Thursday.
Pitt's pitching staff did not allow a walk for the first time in a game since May of 2022 when they beat Louisville in the ACC Tournament.
Jayden Melendez went 1-4 and hit his seventh home run of the season, a solo shot to left, in the top of the first inning. Justin Fogel went 1-3 with a two-run double in the fourth and Jake Kendro went 1-3 with a single in the seventh.
Ryan Andrade provided Pitt with one of the best starts of his career this afternoon. Andrade allowed two runs on five hits, struck out five batters and did not walk single batter over a career-high six innings pitched today. Matt Porter gave the Panthers another quality relief appearance as he struck out the side in the bottom of the eighth inning. Phil Fox threw his seventh scoreless outing of the year, allowing one hit in his 0.2 innings.
The Panthers got on the board first for the first time in four games as Jayden Melendez jumped on a 1-0 pitch in the bottom of the first inning and launched a solo home run to left.
Ryan Andrade and the Panthers escaped a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the first as Jake Kendro took it himself up the middle and turned an inning-ending double play. Pitt led 1-0 after one.
Pitt would add two more runs in the top of the fourth inning. Luke Cantwell and Tyler Bischke each worked walks and the Panthers had runners at first and second with two outs. Justin Fogel lined a two-run double into the right-centerfield gap and Pitt led 3-0.
The Hokies got those two runs back on a two-run shot to dead center and the Panthers led 3-2 after four.
After the home run, Ryan Andrade retired the next nine batters in order. He gave up just two runs and did not allow a walk in the longest start of his career.
Once Andrade left the game after the sixth inning, the Hokies scored three unearned runs in the bottom of the seventh and the led 5-3.
Matt Porter came out of the bullpen in the bottom of the eighth inning and struck out the side to keep it a two-run game.
Luke Cantwell drew a walk in the top of the ninth but was stranded at first as the Panthers fell in game one.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: David Shoemaker (2-0)
L: Firoved, Ethan (2-2)
S: Brady Kirtner (2)
Batting:
2B: Fogel, Justin 1
HR: Melendez, Jayden 1
RBI: Melendez, Jayden 1 ; Fogel, Justin 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Melendez, Jayden 1 ; Cantwell, Luke 1 ; Bischke, Tyler 1
CS: Kendro, Jake 1
Batting:
2B: Christian Martin 1 ; Carson DeMartini 1
HR: Henry Cooke 1
RBI: Carson DeMartini 1 ; Henry Cooke 2 ; Clay Grady 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Eddie Micheletti Jr. 1 ; Henry Cooke 1 ; Ben Watson 1 ; David McCann 1 ; Clay Grady 1
HBP: Eddie Micheletti Jr. 1 ; Henry Cooke 1
