Pitt
8-2, 0
North Carolina
12-2, 0
Panthers Lose One-Run Game at No. 16 North Carolina
3/8/2024 7:43:00 PM | Baseball
CHAPEL HILL, Nc. – The Pitt Panthers dropped their first ACC contest of the season on Friday night at No. 16 North Carolina, 2-1. The Tar Heels edged out the Panthers in a pitchers' duel as they scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Ryan Andrade provided the Panthers with a quality start on the mound, going five innings and allowing just one run on four hits while striking out three batters.
Jayden Melendez recorded his fifth multiple-hit game of the year going 2-3 with a walk. Dom Popa extended his hitting streak to nine games with his RBI single to left field, he went 1-4 in game one. Jake Kendro extended his own hitting streak to six games as he went 1-3 with a run scored.
North Carolina began the scoring with an opposite field laser by Parks Harber that put them up 1-0 after two innings.
In the top of the fourth, Jayden Melendez reached on an infield single to the pitcher and advanced all the way to third after two consecutive passed balls. A Tyler Bischke walk left runners at the corners with two outs for Justin Fogel. He grounded out to second on the first pitch and ended the threat. Panthers trailed by one run after four.
Jake Kendro knocked a two-out single up the middle and into center field in the top of the fifth, extending his hitting streak to six games. With two strikes and two outs, Dom Popa lined a single the other way into left field and scored Kendro from second, knotting the game at one. Popa has recorded a hit in each the last nine games. Jayden Melendez poked a two-out single past the second baseman and into right field, advancing Popa to third. Luke Cantwell worked a full count walk and loaded the bases with two outs for C.J. Funk who would flyout to end the inning. The score was tied at one after five full innings.
Ryan Andrade and the Panthers found themselves in a jam in the bottom of the fifth as the Tar Heels loaded the bases with two outs trying to regain their lead. Andrade won the eight-pitch at-bat with Park Harber by striking him out to end the inning and the threat.
North Carolina led off the bottom of the eighth with a double down the third base line and after two sacrifice flies would regain their lead and go up 2-1 heading into the final frame.
Ryan Zuckerman would reach on a hit by pitch but did not advance any farther as Pitt dropped game one in Chapel Hill.
Game two is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon at 2 PM and will be streamed on ACC Network Extra.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Matthew Matthijs (5-0)
L: Fernandez, Matthew (1-1)
S: Matt Poston (2)
Batting:
RBI: Popa, Dom 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kendro, Jake 1
HBP: Zuckerman, Ryan 1 ; Kendro, Jake 1
Batting:
2B: Parks Harber 1
HR: Parks Harber 1
RBI: Parks Harber 1 ; Alberto Osuna 1
SH: Alex Madera 1
SF: Alberto Osuna 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Parks Harber 1 ; Kaleb Cost 1
