Panthers’ Late-Inning Rally Not Enough as They Fall at Kent State

Tuesday, April 9

Kent, OH

6 PM

Pitt

13-16

Kent State

15-15

Pittsburgh

Kent State Baseball

Panthers’ Late-Inning Rally Not Enough as They Fall at Kent State

4/9/2024 10:24:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Gamebook

PITTSBURGH – Pitt put multiple runners on base in the later innings but were never able to capitalize as they fell 5-4 at Kent State on Tuesday night. Luke Cantwell hit a two-run home run while Pitt's bullpen allowed just three hits over six innings.

Luke Cantwell went 2-4 with a single and a home run which was sixth long ball of the year and second in the last three games. Tyler Bischke went 2-5 with a double as he notched his tenth multiple-hit game of the season tying C.J. Funk for the team lead. Funk would go 1-4 with a double, a walk and a run scored. Justin Fogel and Jake Kendro each went 1-4 and each extended their team-leading hitting streaks to seven games.

Matt Porter, Gavin Chillot and Ryan Partridge each gave the Panthers quality innings in relief, allowing just one run in their six innings of work. Porter allowed just one run on one hit in his 2.1 innings while striking out six, which included the first five batters he faced. Chillot threw his second consecutive scoreless outing, surrendering just one hit in his one innings tonight. And Partridge was phenomenal, striking out six batters in 2.2 innings while allowing no walks and only one hit.

Pitt starter Aidan Coleman worked swiftly through the Kent State lineup in the bottom of the first inning, retiring the side in just eight pitches.

Coleman would however find himself in trouble in bottom of the second, hitting two batters and loading the bases with nobody out. Kent State hit a grand slam and led 4-0 after two.

The Panthers got two back in the top half of the fourth, scoring two runs on one hit. After two quick outs, C.J. Funk worked a four-pitch walk to give Pitt their first base runner of the inning. Jake Kendro followed that up with a single down the left field line and would advance to second on the left fielder's throw to third. With two runners in scoring position and two outs, Josh Spiegel reached on a throwing error by the shortstop that allowed both Funk and Kendro to score. Pitt trailed by two after four.

The Golden Flashes got one back in the bottom of the fifth inning and led 5-2.

Ryan Zuckerman led off the top of the seventh by advancing all the way to third base on a dropped fly ball by Kent's right fielder. Three pitches later, Luke Cantwell launched his sixth home run of the season over the wall in right center and cut the Panther deficit to just one. In the very next at-bat, Tyler Bischke doubled down the right field line but would be thrown out at third when trying to stretch it into a triple. Pitt trailed 5-4 after seven.

Gavin Chillot and Ryan Partridge kept the Panthers in it late, combining for just two hits allowed over 3.2 scoreless innings out of the bullpen. Partridge struck out five in 2.2 innings of work.

Pitt would threaten again in the top of the eighth inning as Josh Spiegel lined a one-out single up the middle. In his first at-bat of the day, after resting for the first time all year, Dom Popa lined a single to left and Pitt had runners at first and second with one out. The Panthers would however hit into a double play to end the inning and the threat.

The Panthers got more base runners on the top of the ninth as they continued to fight until the last out. After Luke Cantwell lined out to deep center field, Tyler Bischke singled to right center. Jayden Melendez singled down the left field line but was thrown out trying to leg it into a double. Bischke advanced to third on the play, putting himself in scoring position with two outs for Justin Fogel. Fogel was hit by the first pitch offered to him which gave Pitt runners at the corners. C.J. Funk would line out to short to end the game as the Panthers fell 5-4 at Kent State.