Panthers’ Season Comes to an End at ACC Baseball Championship in Charlotte

Thursday, May 23

Charlotte, NC

3 PM

Pitt

26-29

North Carolina

42-12

North Carolina

Pitt

Panthers’ Season Comes to an End at ACC Baseball Championship in Charlotte

5/23/2024 7:40:00 PM | Baseball

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CHARLOTTE, Nc. – The Panthers' lost their second and final game of pool play at the ACC Baseball Championship, 12-2, to No. 7 North Carolina (#1 Seed) on Thursday afternoon.

Fourth-year Panthers, C.J. Funk and Dom Popa, each ended their careers on high notes as they both collected extra base hits in the final game of their collegiate careers. C.J. Funk hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning for the 29^th and final home run of his career. On top of going deep in his final game, Funk threw out a runner at the plate to save a run for the Panthers in the top of the sixth inning. Dom Popa doubled down the line in the third inning for his 72nd hit of the season. Popa's 72 hits were the most in a single season by a Panther since his brother, Nico Popa, had 76 hits in 2019. Senior Tyler Bischke drove in the Panthers' other run in the bottom of the fourth inning on a double off the wall in the final game of his collegiate career as well.

Three seniors had scoreless outings in their final appearances on the mound as Panthers this afternoon. Ryan Partridge, Erubiel Candelario and Ben Kovel each did not allow a run in their final collegiate outings on the mound. Senior Jack Sokol allowed just one run over his two innings, in what would also be the final appearance of his collegiate career. Second Team All-ACC selection, Phil Fox, struck out two and tossed a scoreless eighth inning for Pitt.

North Carolina hit four solo home runs in the top of the first inning and got out to a 4-0 lead in the early frames. They added one more run in the top of the fourth inning and extended their lead to five.

Pitt got on the board courtesy of C.J. Funk who, in his final collegiate game, hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning. It was Funk's 11^th home run of the season and seventh in the month of May. Freshman Ryan Zuckerman would bang a triple off the wall in left center and put himself in scoring position for senior Tyler Bischke. Bischke, also playing in his final collegiate game, doubled off the base of the wall in right center and drove home Zuckerman from third.

The Tar Heels scored three runs in the fifth inning and four runs in the top of the ninth as the Panthers' season ended in Charlotte at the ACC Baseball Championship.