Pitt
8-3, 0
North Carolina
13-2, 0
Pitt Drops Game Two in Chapel Hill After Four-Hour Rain Delay
3/9/2024 10:19:00 PM | Baseball
CHAPEL HILL, Nc. – The Panthers fell in game two at No. 16 North Carolina following a four-and-a-half-hour rain delay. Pitt had the game-tying run at the plate in the top of the ninth inning but ultimately fell 7-4.
Jack Sokol provided the Panthers with another strong start on the mound, throwing six full innings and allowing just two runs on six hits. He has surrendered just five runs in his last three starts.
Justin Fogel went 2-3 with a run scored and an RBI double. Tyler Bischke would score Fogel on an RBI double of his own, finishing the day 1-4 with an RBI. Dom Popa extended his team-best hitting streak to 10 games this evening on a double down the left field line, he has reached base safely in all 11 of Pitt's games this season. Josh Spiegel pinch-hit in the top of the ninth inning and drove in Keeton Burroughs on an RBI double to right field. It was the 100th RBI of his career.
North Carolina retired the first 11 Panthers, in order, to start tonight's delayed contest before Luke Cantwell was beamed with an 0-2 fastball in the top of the fourth inning, giving Pitt their first baserunner of the game. The Panthers could not take advantage and Cantwell was stranded at first to end the inning.
Pitt right-hander Jack Sokol allowed just two hits over his first four innings as the game was scoreless after four full frames.
Justin Fogel led off the top of the fifth inning with a single the left field, Pitt's first base knock of the ballgame. The Tar Heels turned an inning-ending 1-6-3 double play to keep this game scoreless.
The Tar Heels struck first and scored two runs on two hits in the bottom of the fifth innings to take the first lead of the game. A walk, a single and a sacrifice bunt set them up with two runners in scoring position with one out. A single through the left side broke the scoreless tie and they led 2-0 after five innings.
The Panthers finally broke through in the top of the seventh and knotted the game at two. C.J. Funk singled passed the diving third baseman and into left field for their first baserunner of the inning. On the very next pitch, Justin Fogel lined an RBI double down the right field line that scored Funk all the way from first. Pitt smacked back-to-back run-scoring doubles to tie it as Tyler Bischke roped a double into the right centerfield gap and plated Fogel to tie the game at two apiece.
Pitt's best bullpen arm, Ethan Firoved, relieved Jack Sokol top start the bottom of the seventh inning. Sokol allowed just two runs on four hits. He has only given up five runs over his last three starts (17 innings). North Carolina however scored four runs before the Panthers could record an out in the seventh inning. They added one more and put up a five spot in the bottom of the seventh and led 7-2.
Dom Popa doubled down the left field line in the top of the eight, extending his hitting streak to a team-high 10 games. C.J. Funk grounded a ball to third that scored Popa but Jayden Melenedez would run himself into an out at third and end the inning. Pitt trailed 7-4 after eight.
The Panthers threatened in the top of the ninth, scoring one and ending the game with the tying run at the plate. Freshman Keeton Burroughs reached on a pinch-hit fielder's choice that retired Justin Fogel at second after he worked a walk to lead off the inning. Josh Spiegel pinch-hit for Anthony LaSala and lined an RBI double to right that was lost in the lights by Carolina's right fielder. Burroughs scored all the way from first and the Panthers cut the lead to three. Jake Kendro singled to third and the Panthers and runners at the corners with two outs and the game-tying run at the plate in Dom Popa. Popa lined out to left on the first pitch he saw and the Panthers fell 7-4.
Ryan Reed will start the series finale in Chapel Hill, NC for the Panthers. First pitch is scheduled for 1 PM at Bryson Field at Boshamer Stadium.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Matthew Matthijs (6-0)
L: Firoved, Ethan (2-1)
Batting:
2B: Popa, Dom 1 ; Fogel, Justin 1 ; Bischke, Tyler 1 ; Spiegel, Josh 1
RBI: Funk, C.J. 1 ; Fogel, Justin 1 ; Bischke, Tyler 1 ; Spiegel, Josh 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Popa, Dom 1 ; Funk, C.J. 1 ; Fogel, Justin 1 ; Burroughs, Keeton 1
HBP: Popa, Dom 1 ; Cantwell, Luke 1
Batting:
HR: Casey Cook 1
RBI: Casey Cook 5 ; Alberto Osuna 1
SH: Alex Madera 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Alex Madera 1 ; Vance Honeycutt 1 ; Casey Cook 1 ; Anthony Donofrio 1 ; Johnny Castagnozzi 1 ; Colby Wilkerson 2
SB: Vance Honeycutt 1 ; Anthony Donofrio 1
