University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt
Georgia Tech
Pitt Falls to Georgia Tech in Closely Contested Series Opener
4/5/2024 6:45:00 PM | Baseball
PITTSBURGH – Pitt dropped the series opener to Georgia Tech on Friday afternoon 6-3. C.J. Funk and Turner Grau each hit home runs while Matt Fernandez was phenomenal in relief for the Panthers.
Eight of Pitt's nine starters recorded a hit today, with C.J. Funk and Turner Grau going deep in consecutive innings. For Grau, it was his first of the season and first as a Panthers. Luke Cantwell went 1-4 with an RBI single to right and extended his on-base streak to 22 games.
Pitt's starting pitcher, Ryan Andrade, gave up five runs on five hits over his four innings. Matthew Fernandez came out of the bullpen to start the top of the fifth inning and was outstanding for the Panthers. Fernandez allowed just one run on three hits over his 4.2 innings in relief. The senior right-hander struck out four batters and induced two inning-ending double plays.
Ryan Andrade struck out four batters through his first two innings and kept the game scoreless through two frames.
Georgia Tech hit two two-run home runs in the top of the third and led 4-0 after three innings. They loaded the bases in the top of the fourth and scored one more on a walk, extending their lead to five.
C.J. Funk got the Panthers on the board with his fourth home run of the season, a solo shot the left, and Pitt trailed by four after four.
In the bottom half of the fifth inning, Turner Grau launched his first long ball of the season and first as a Panther to right. Pitt followed that up with back-to-back singles to put runners on first and second with one out as Keeton Burroughs lined a single through the right side and Dom Popa laid a bunt single down the third base line. With two outs, Luke Cantwell singled to right and drove in Burroughs from second. Pitt cut the Georgia Tech lead in half and trailed by just two after five.
The Panthers threatened again in the bottom of the sixth inning. After Justin Fogel worked a full-count walk, Jake Kendro lined a double off the center field wall. Georgia Tech executed a perfect relay to nab Fogel at the plate and deny Pitt of making it a one-run game.
Matt Fernandez induced, not one, but two inning-ending double plays in the sixth and seventh innings to help Pitt get out of a pair of jams. He finished his day in the top of the ninth, allowing three hits over 4.2 innings while surrendering just one run.
Georgia Tech got one more run in the top of the ninth and won the series opener 6-3.
