Pitt
8-1
California
7-3
Pitt Wins Las Vegas College Baseball Classic With 19-Run Output Over Cal
3/4/2024 1:29:00 AM | Baseball
LAS VEGAS, Nv. – The Pitt Panthers improve to 8-1 as they defeated the Cal Golden Bears 19-7 on Sunday evening to win the Las Vegas College Baseball Classic. Pitt scored 38 runs in just 16 innings this weekend and tied a program record for most runs ever in a two-game span.
All nine of the Panthers' bats recorded hits today, with seven of them collecting two or more. Catcher Jayden Melendez hit two home runs in the Panthers' finale in Las Vegas and drove in three runs. Luke Cantwell and Josh Spiegel each went 3-4 and drove in two runs this evening. Freshman Ryan Zuckerman hit his fifth home run of the season and his second in as many games, he finished with four RBI. Shortstop Jake Kendro also hit his second home run in as many games with his two-run home run in the top of the ninth, he finished 2-4.
Starter Jack Sokol shined in his third start of the year. He threw six innings of three hit, one run baseball and struck out eight batters en route to earning his second win this season.
Cal led early, getting a run in the bottom of the first. The Panthers would come right back with a run of their own in the top of the second.
Turner Grau drew an eight-pitch walk and would advance to third on a Josh Spiegel single with aggressive base running. Grau scored on an RBI groundout by Ryan Zuckerman in the very next at-bat to tie the ballgame up at one run a piece.
The Panthers plated three in the top of the third to take their first lead of the game. After a leadoff walk by the leadoff man, Popa, Jayden Melendez launched his second home run of the year off the advertisements way above the wall in left field to put Pitt up 3-1. Luke Cantwell drew a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch, putting himself in scoring position for Turner Grau. Grau skied a ball behind second base and into center field that no one was able to play on. Cantwell was able to score on the play and Grau slid into second for an RBI double. Pitt led 4-1 after three.
Pitt pounced on Cal's pitching again in the top of the fifth inning as they plated four more. With runners on first and third, Josh Spiegel hit an RBI single to the shortstop who was not able to make a play as Bischke scored from third. Ryan Zuckerman cleared the bases in the next at-bat with a three-run opposite field home run, his team-leading fifth of the year, to put Pitt up 8-1.
The Panthers got one more in the top of the sixth when Jayden Melendez hit his second towering home run of the game. Pitt led 9-1 after six.
The Panther offense put up another four-spot in the top of the seventh, extending their lead 13-1. With a runner on first, Jake Kendro and Dom Popa each drew two-out walks to load the bases. With Jayden Melendez at the dish, Ryan Zuckerman would take home on a wild pitch and put Pitt up 10-1. Melendez would work a walk to load the bases again as Luke Cantwell worked a bases loaded walk and plated another run. C.J. Funk knocked a two-run single inot the center and Pitt led by 12 runs heading into the bottom of the seventh.
Cal scored three runs in each of the next two innings as they avoided being run-ruled in the Vegas Finale.
Pitt however put an exclamation point on their weekend by scoring five more runs in the bottom of the ninth and scoring 19 runs for the second consecutive game.
Luke Cantwell and Jake Kendro each homered in the top of the ninth, Turner Grau had an RBI groundout and Josh Spiegel lined an RBI single to center as Pitt won 19-7 and claimed the inaugural Las Vegas College Baseball Classic.
Five Panthers were recognized in the All-Tournament Team selection, the most of any team in the tournament. LF Turner Grau, 2B Tyler Bischke, 1B Luke Cantwell, 3B Ryan Zuckerman and C Jayden Melendez were the honorees.
Following his two-home run performance this evening, Jayden Melendez was named the Tournament MVP.
The Panthers open up their home schedule against St. Bonaventure this Wednesday, March 6 at 3 PM. They will then travel to Chapel Hill, NC for their first ACC series of the year.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Sokol, Jack (2-0)
L: Mayer,Tom (0-1)
S: Reed, Ryan (1)
Batting:
2B: Grau, Turner 1 ; Spiegel, Josh 1
HR: Melendez, Jayden 2 ; Cantwell, Luke 1 ; Zuckerman, Ryan 1 ; Kendro, Jake 1
RBI: Popa, Dom 1 ; Melendez, Jayden 3 ; Cantwell, Luke 2 ; Funk, C.J. 2 ; Grau, Turner 2 ; Spiegel, Josh 2 ; Zuckerman, Ryan 4 ; Kendro, Jake 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Popa, Dom 2 ; Melendez, Jayden 3 ; Cantwell, Luke 2 ; Funk, C.J. 1 ; Bischke, Tyler 2 ; Grau, Turner 2 ; Spiegel, Josh 3 ; Zuckerman, Ryan 2 ; Kendro, Jake 2
Batting:
2B: Handron,Max 1 ; Lomavita,Caleb 1 ; Schulze,Peyton 1
HR: Moutzouridis,PJ 1
RBI: Lomavita,Caleb 1 ; Schulze,Peyton 3 ; Moutzouridis,PJ 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Handron,Max 1 ; Lomavita,Caleb 2 ; Gwynn,Seth 1 ; Ritch,Alec 2 ; Moutzouridis,PJ 1
SB: Lomavita,Caleb 1
