
Cooke Homers Again, Panthers Fall to Wolfpack in Series Opener
3/21/2025 6:37:00 PM | Baseball
PITTSBURGH – Pitt (13-8, 1-3) dropped game one of their three-game series to NC State on Friday afternoon, 6-2. Starting pitcher Patrick Gardner dazzled over 6.1 innings, striking out six and allowing just one run.
Jackson Cooke hit a home run for the second-consecutive game on Friday afternoon. Cooke blasted a his two-run home run off the rightfield foul pole in the fourth inning which gave Pitt an early lead. He has four hits (three home runs and a double) and nine RBIs in the 10 games he has appeared in this season. Ryan Zuckerman went 1-4 with a single as he extended his on-base streak to 25 games, dating back to last season. Jayden Melendez and Caden Dulin would each single as well.
Lefthander Patrick Gardner had one of his best starts this season on Friday afternoon. He tied his season-high for strikeouts with six across 6.1 innings while allowing just one earned run on three hits.
NC State scored first in Friday's series opener with a run in the top of the second inning.
The Panthers responded and took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning on a Jackson Cooke home run for the second-consecutive game. After Caden Dulin singled to right, Cooke shot an opposite field two-run homer off the rightfield foul pole. Cooke gave Pitt a lead against Kent State on Wednesday with a grand slam in the first inning. Three of his four hits this year are home runs. Pitt led 2-1 into the eighth inning.
Panther starting pitcher Pat Gardner dealt into the seventh inning, allowing just three hits and one earned run over 6.1 innings of work before handing the ball over to Ethan Firoved.
Firoved took over with one out in the seventh inning and induced two quick flyouts.
NC State would score three runs on three hits in the top of the eighth inning to regain the lead. Pitt trailed 6-2 heading into the ninth.
The Panthers got a runner on in the bottom of the ninth but were unable to capitalize, falling in the series opener, 6-2.
Up Next
LHP Ryan Reed will make his sixth start of the year when he toes the rubber on Saturday afternoon against the Wolfpack. First pitch is slated for 3 PM.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Dominic Fritton (4-1)
L: Firoved, Ethan (1-2)
S: Andrew Shaffner (1)
Batting:
2B: Justin DeCriscio 1 ; Luke Nixon 1 ; Jet Gilliam 1
HR: Josh Hogue 1
RBI: Josh Hogue 2 ; Brayden Fraasman 1 ; Luke Nixon 2 ; Matt Heavner 1
SF: Matt Heavner 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Josh Hogue 1 ; Chris McHugh 1 ; Alex Sosa 1 ; Brayden Fraasman 1 ; Luke Nixon 1 ; Ty Head 1

Batting:
HR: Cooke, Jackson 1
RBI: Cooke, Jackson 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Dulin, Caden 1 ; Cooke, Jackson 1
HBP: Melendez, Jayden 1