Pitt
12-12, 2-9
Virginia Tech
20-5, 9-2
Three-Homer Inning Helps Propel Pitt Over No.13 Virginia Tech
3/29/2024 8:21:00 PM | Baseball
BLACKSBURG, Va. – The Panthers topped the No. 13 Hokies in Friday night's matchup in Blacksburg. Pitt's six-run, three-home run, third inning was instrumental in their first win over a ranked opponent this season.
The Panthers three home runs in the third inning were their most in a single inning since February 28, 2016, when they hit three home runs in the seventh inning against Grambling State.
Jayden Melendez hit his second home run of the series today with his two-run shot in the second inning. Justin Fogel went 2-4 with a three-run home run and four RBI. Jake Kendro launched his fourth home run of the year and finished the day 1-4. C.J. Funk notched his ninth multi-hit game of the year, going 2-5 with a run scored. In the third start of his career, freshman Keeton Burroughs went 1-3 with a double to right and made a pair of stellar plays at third.
Jack Sokol earned his third win of the year, throwing five solid innings, striking out two while not allowing a single walk. Matt Fernandez was phenomenal out of the bullpen, inheriting a bases loaded jam and minimizing the damage by allowing just one run. Phil Fox closed it out for the Panthers, earning his second save of the season. Fox didn't allow a hit or a run over his two innings pitched this evening, he now has eight scoreless appearances this year.
The Panthers bats got off to a blazing start, hitting three home runs in the top of the second inning. C.J. Funk and Tyler Bischke led off the inning with singles and Pitt had runners at the corners with no one out when Justin Fogel came to the dish. Fogel launched a three-run shot to right-center and gave Pitt an early 3-0 lead. Jake Kendro sent the very next pitch 411 feet to left as the Panthers hit back-to-back jacks to lead 4-0. Turner Grau then singled to left, notching Pitt's fifth-consecutive hit to start the inning. After Keeton Burroughs laid down a sacrifice bunt that moved Grau to second, Jayden hit his second home run in as many games and the Panthers third home run of the inning as he launched a two-run blast to left. For Pitt, it was the first time since February 28, 2016 that they hit three home runs in an inning.
Virginia Tech got one run back in the bottom half of the inning and Pitt led 6-1 after two.
The Hokies would get three more in the bottom of the fourth on a double and a pair of sacrifice flies, but the Panthers still led 6-4 after four innings.
Pitt answered with one in the top of the fifth, leading 7-4 after five. Luke Cantwell and Tyler Bischke each drew walks to put two runners on with two outs. Justin Fogel drove in his fourth run of the day as Cantwell scored from second on a single to right-center.
Virginia Tech did not go away quietly, scoring a run in each of the sixth and seventh innings. With the Hokies threatening again in the bottom of the eighth, Phil Fox induced a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning. Pitt led 7-6 through eight innings.
Fox shut the door on the Hokies in the bottom of the ninth and the Panthers evened the series winning game two 7-6.
The rubber match is set for 4 PM tomorrow evening and will be televised on the ACC Network.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Sokol, Jack (3-2)
L: Wyatt Parliament (3-1)
S: Fox, Phil (2)
Batting:
2B: Burroughs, Keeton 1
HR: Melendez, Jayden 1 ; Fogel, Justin 1 ; Kendro, Jake 1
RBI: Melendez, Jayden 2 ; Fogel, Justin 4 ; Kendro, Jake 1
SH: Burroughs, Keeton 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Melendez, Jayden 1 ; Cantwell, Luke 1 ; Funk, C.J. 1 ; Bischke, Tyler 1 ; Fogel, Justin 1 ; Kendro, Jake 1 ; Grau, Turner 1
Batting:
2B: Ben Watson 2
HR: Carson DeMartini 1
RBI: Carson DeMartini 1 ; Ben Watson 1 ; Gehrig Ebel 2 ; David McCann 1 ; Clay Grady 1
SF: Gehrig Ebel 1 ; David McCann 1 ; Clay Grady 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Carson DeMartini 1 ; Eddie Micheletti Jr. 1 ; Chris Cannizzaro 2 ; Ben Watson 2
