University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt
Georgia Tech
Panthers Welcome Yellow Jackets for Fifth ACC Series of Season
4/4/2024 2:43:00 PM | Baseball
PITTSBURGH - Pitt hosts Georgia Tech in their third home ACC series of the season.
The Panthers are coming off a closely contested weekend at No. 13 Virginia Tech where they took one game and held leads in the late innings of the other two.
Last season in Atlanta, GA, Pitt shutout Georgia Tech in game two but would ultimately lose the series. The Yellow Jackets swept the Panthers the last time they visited Pittsburgh.
Games one and two of this series will begin at 3 PM while the series finale will start at 2 PM and be aired on the ACC Network. This is the Panthers' second consecutive series finale that will be televised on the ACC Network.
Pitt's pitching staff did not allow a single walk in Thursday's game at No. 13 Virginia Tech last weekend. That marked the first time Pitt did not allow a walk in a game since their ACC Tournament win over Louisville in 2022. The Panthers only allowed six walks in Blacksburg, VA last weekend.
Justin Fogel, Jake Kendro and Jayden Melendez all hit home runs in the second inning of their win at No.13 Virginia Tech last Friday. It was the first time Pitt had hit three home runs in a single inning since 2016.
Fogel is also one of the toughest batters to strikeout in the country. He ranks 17th in the country in strikeout average (15.6), striking out only five times in his 78 at-bats.
B.A.M.
• Pitt and it's top of the order has been reaching base By Any Means.
• Luke Cantwell leads the team in walks (27) and OBP (.488). He is fifth in the ACC in walks (27) and walks/game (1.08) and ninth in the ACC in HBPs (7) and OBP (.488).
• Dom Popa has been hit by nine pitches so far this season, the most by a Panther and tied for the fourth-most by any player in the ACC.
• Pitt is tied for sxith in the ACC in HBPs with 35.
DOM-INATING AT THE DISH
• Senior OF Dom Popa is off to the best start of his career, hitting .303 with 25 runs scored and a .425 on-base percentage. He leads the team in triples (1), is second in hits (30), runs scored (25) and doubles (8) and is third on on-base percentage (.425).
• He's recorded a team-high nine multiple-hit games so far this season, including a three-hit game against Maine on Opening Weekend.
• Popa took over as Pitt's leadoff man during the second week
of the season and is flourishing in his new role.
FLAMIN' PHIL FOX
• Phil Fox has emerged as Pitt's go-to late-inning arm out of the bullpen. He has appeared in 10 games and has given up just two runs. Fox is 2-1 with two saves.
• He has a sub-one ERA (0.96) in his 18.2 innings pitched.
• Fox has struck out 22 batters so far this season.
MIDSEASON PLAYER RANKINGS (D1BASEBALL.COM)
• Three Panthers were named in D1baseball's midseason player rankings after week seven of the season.
• Phil Fox was named as the 14th best relief pitcher in the country. He is 2-1 with two saves and a 0.96 ERA. Fox has given up just two runs all year.
• Luke Cantwell was No. 25 in their first basemen rankings. Cantwell leads the team in walks (27) and on-base percentage (.488) while hitting .295 with 26 hits and 19 RBI.
• Tyler Bischke was No. 44 in the second basemen ranking. Bischke leads the team in batting average (.333), hits (33) and doubles (9).
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Friday, April 5
Pitt vs. Georgia Tech at 3 PM on ACCNX
Saturday, April 6
Pitt vs. Georgia Tech at 3 PM on ACCNX
Saturday, April 7
Pitt vs. Georgia Tech at 2 PM on ACC Network
