University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt
16-22
Bryant
27-12
Pitt Drop Series Opener to Bryant
4/26/2024 10:39:00 PM | Baseball
PITTSBURGH – The Panthers fell to Bryant, 11-8, in Friday night's series opener with the game-tying run at the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Josh Spiegel went 3-3 with three RBI on a two-run home run, an RBI triple and a single. Spiegel is 7-7 with eight RBI in his last two home games. Jayden Melendez hit his team-leading 12th home run of the season in the bottom of the third inning and would also drive in a run on a single in the eighth, finishing the day 2-5 with 2 RBI.
Tyler Bischke went 2-5 with an RBI single in the seventh while Ryan Zuckerman went 2-4 with two singles. Luke Cantwell drew three walks for the third time this season, he leads the team with 43 walks.
Bryant added two runs in the second and third innings and led the Panthers 4-0 after the first two and a half innings.
The Panthers' home run leader Jayden Melendez got Pitt on the board with a solo shot in the bottom of the third inning. They trailed 4- after three full frames.
With Bryant threatening again, Pitt turned an unconventional 3-2 double play in foul territory to end the top of the fifth. Pitt's first baseman, Luke Cantwell, caught a pop up on the warning track near the wall on the first base side and fired a strike to Jayden Melendez at home to nab the runner tagging from third.
Bryant's offense scored five runs on two hits in the top of the sixth inning and led 9-1 through six innings.
The Panthers scored runs in each of the last three innings to give themselves a chance at the end of this game.
Zuckerman led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a single to left center for his second hit of the ballgame. Cantwell grounded into a fielder's choice as Melendez and Fogel each drew walks to load the bases with one out. Bischke lined a single into the left centerfield gap to drive in Cantwell from third. Melendez was held at third but both Fogel and Bischke were trying to advance to the next base and Bischke got nabbed on the base paths.
C.J. Funk drew a walk to lead off the bottom of the eighth inning. Josh Spiegel drilled an RBI triple into the left center gap and drove in Funk from third. Spiegel would score on a balk and the Panthers would cut into the Bulldog lead. Zuckerman and Cantwell would each walk and put runners at first and second for Jayden Melendez who lined an RBI single up the middle. With runners now at the corners, Justin Fogel grounded into a fielder's choice up the middle that scored Cantwell from third. Pitt cut the lead to just five heading into the ninth inning.
Dom Popa extended his hitting streak to 14 games with his leadoff single in the bottom of the ninth inning. With one out and Popa still at first, Josh Spiegel sent a towering drive over the scoreboard in left and cut the Bryant lead to just three. Jake Kendro and Luke Cantwell each walked as the Panthers brought the game-tying run to the plate. With runners at first and second, Jayden Melendez put a charge into a ball and lined a two-out fly ball to deep center field. The centerfielder was tracking back to the center field wall and caught the final out on the warning track as the Panthers came up short and fell in the series opener, 11-8.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: WAINER, Austin (4-1)
L: Andrade, Ryan (0-4)
Batting:
2B: PETOSA, Carmine 1 ; PHINNEY, Jackson 2 ; GREGER, Gavin 1
HR: DURAND, Brandyn 1 ; PETOSA, Carmine 1
RBI: DURAND, Brandyn 2 ; PETOSA, Carmine 4 ; GREGER, Gavin 2 ; HACKETT, Justin 1
SH: BARUCH, Daniel 1 ; GREGER, Gavin 1
Base Running:
RUNS: ZYONS, Zac 2 ; NORIEGA, Gavin 2 ; DURAND, Brandyn 1 ; PETOSA, Carmine 1 ; PHINNEY, Jackson 1 ; BARUCH, Daniel 1 ; GREGER, Gavin 1 ; GRADY, Shea 1 ; HACKETT, Justin 1
SB: ZYONS, Zac 1 ; DURAND, Brandyn 1
HBP: ZYONS, Zac 2
Batting:
3B: Spiegel, Josh 1
HR: Melendez, Jayden 1 ; Spiegel, Josh 1
RBI: Melendez, Jayden 2 ; Fogel, Justin 1 ; Bischke, Tyler 1 ; Spiegel, Josh 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Cantwell, Luke 2 ; Melendez, Jayden 1 ; Popa, Dom 1 ; Funk, C.J. 1 ; Spiegel, Josh 2 ; Zuckerman, Ryan 1
HBP: Spiegel, Josh 1
