Panthers Lose Back-and-Forth Rubber Match at No. 13 Virginia Tech

Saturday, March 30

Blacksburg, VA

4 PM

Pitt

12-13, 2-10

Virginia Tech

21-5, 10-2

Pitt

Virginia Tech

Panthers Lose Back-and-Forth Rubber Match at No. 13 Virginia Tech

3/30/2024 9:23:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score Gamebook

BLACKSBURG, Va. – Pitt lost a heartbreaker in Saturday's rubber match at No. 13 Virginia Tech, falling 6-5.

In a true back-and-forth game that saw five lead changes, the Panthers were unable to come out on top after the Hokies regained the lead for the final time in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Five different Panthers drove in a run today, four of which doing so on RBI singles. Tyler Bischke went 2-4 with an RBI, notching his team-leading ninth multi-hit game of the season. Jake Kendro would also go 2-4, driving in a run and scoring one too. Jayden Melendez went 1-3 with two walks and scored two of the Panthers five runs today. C.J. Funk, Dom Popa and Luke Cantwell each recorded a hit and drove in a run as well.

Left-hander Ryan Reed gave Pitt a quality start, allowing just three earned runs in his 4.1 innings. Despite earning the loss, Ethan Firoved was phenomenal in relief for the Panthers. Firoved gave up just two runs on four hits in 3.2 innings pitched and escaped a crucial jam in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Keeton Burroughs and the Panthers turned a pair of nifty double plays in the first two innings however the Hokie would get one in the bottom of the second on an RBI single to left and lead 1-0 after two.

The Panthers answered right back a couple runs of their own in the top of the third inning. Jake Kendro led off the inning with a bunt single down to third. Turner Grau reached safely on the fielder's choice that also advanced Kendro to second. With runners at first and second with one out, Dom Popa lined an RBI single to right that drove in Kendro and tied the game at one. After Jayden Melendez worked a four-pitch walk to load the bases, Luke Cantwell was beamed with a 1-0 heater and the Panthers grabbed their first lead of the day.

Virginia Tech tied it up in the bottom of the fourth with another RBI single to knot the game at 2 a piece.

Pitt immediately responded once again and scored in the top of the fifth inning to regain the lead. Jayden Melendez drew his second walk of the game, Luke Cantwell lined a single up the middle and C.J. Funk hit a blooper that landed just in front of the right fielder and the Panthers led 3-2.

The Hokies came back in the bottom half of the inning with two home runs to go up 4-3 after five.

For the third time today, after surrendering a run in the previous inning, Pitt immediately responded with one of their own. Justin Fogel shot a single into center for his fourth hit of the weekend to lead off the inning. Jake Kendro then lined a ball that looked to be caught by the left fielder but in fact ended over up over the wall for a two-run home run. Except, due to the confusion on if he caught the ball or not, Kendro passed up Fogel on the basepath and would be called out on the play. Kendro would be officially credited with an RBI single, as Fogel's run would still count, and the game was tied 4-4 after six.

Pitt regained their lead for the third time in the game as they got one more in the top of the seventh. Jayden Melendez led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a Luke Cantwell ground out to first. With Melendez at second, Tyler Bischke lined an RBI single through the left side that out Pitt back in front. The Panther led 5-4 after seven.

Virginia Tech threatened in the bottom of the eighth and score two runs on two squeeze to take the lead and ultimately win the game 6-5 and take the series.