Zuckerman’s Two Homers Lift Pitt Past ETSU in Extras

Friday, March 7

Johnson City, TN

3 PM

Pitt

9-3

East Tennessee State

10-3

Pittsburgh

ETSU

Photo by: Brian Miller

Zuckerman’s Two Homers Lift Pitt Past ETSU in Extras

3/7/2025 8:10:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score

Johnson City, TN – The Panthers won a twelve-inning thriller in Friday's series opener at ETSU. After tying the game in the top of the ninth inning, the Panthers came back and took the lead in the 12^th behind a Ryan Zuckerman three-run homer to right center.

Ryan Zuckerman hit two home runs on Friday afternoon including his go-ahead three-run shot in the top of the 12^thinning. After intentionally walking AJ Nessler to get to Zuckerman, the sophomore made them pay by launching his second home run of the ballgame and giving the Panthers a three-run cushion. Zuckerman finished the day 2-5 with two home runs, four RBIs and a walk. It's the second multiple-home run of his career.

AJ Nessler had his fifth multiple-hit game of the season, going 2-4 with two singles and two walks. Jackson Cooke collected his second pinch-hit RBI of the year in the top of the ninth inning when he laced a game-tying double down the third base line. Cooke's other pinch-hit RBI came on the first weekend on a solo blast against Eastern Michigan. Lorenzo Carrier had a two-run single in the third. Cantwell, Dulin and Pisacreta all recorded hits as well.

Ethan Firoved earned his fourth save of the season in just his fifth appearance. Firoved inherited a two on, one out, jam in the bottom of the 12^th and retired the next two batters on just eight pitches. He has a 0.64 ERA and 19 strikeouts over 14 innings.

Starting pitcher Patrick Gardner struck out three batters over four innings and surrendered three runs. Daniel McAuliff worked a scoreless seventh inning with two strikeouts. He hasn't allowed a run in any of his four appearances this season.

ETSU scored two runs on two hits in the bottom of the second inning and took the first lead of the ball game.

The Panthers responded immediately with a two-spot of their own in the next half inning to knot the game at two. After two quick outs, Luke Cantwell laced a single up the middle and Caden Dulin doubled to right center to give Pitt two runners in scoring position. Lorenzo Carrier fought back from an 0-2 count and lined a two-run single through the left side to tie the game in the top of the third inning. Carrier would advance to second on his single and raced home on an AJ Nessler single to right but would be thrown out to end the inning.

Pitt and ETSU would exchange runs over the next two frames. The Buccaneers regained their lead in the bottom of the third inning, but the Panthers came right back and tied it in the top of the fourth.

Ryan Zuckerman led off the inning with a solo blast halfway up the batter's eye in centerfield. Friday's contest remained a 3-3 game until the bottom of the sixth inning when ETSU took the lead once more on a sacrifice fly to left. They now led 4-3.

Down to their last two outs, the Panthers clawed back and tied the game in the top of the ninth inning. It's the second time in their last three games that Pitt has tied the game in the eighth inning or later. Sebastian Pisacreta worked a full count walk with one out and gave the Panthers life. The speedy David Pedanou would pinch run for Pisacerta at first. In his fourth pinch-hit appearance of the year, Jackson Cooke lined an RBI double down the third base line as the Panthers knotted the game at four in the ninth.

Ryan Zuckerman and the Panthers broke the scoreless drought in the top of the 12^th inning when Zuckerman launched a three-run blast to right center to regain the Panther lead. Luke Cantwell led off the inning with a walk and was moved over to second on a sacrifice bunt by Caden Dulin. With two outs, ETSU intentionally walk AJ Nessler to get to Ryan Zuckerman. With two runners on, Zuckerman hit the go-ahead, game-winning, three-run home run to lift the Panthers to series-opening win.

Ryan Reed will make his fourth start of the season for Pitt on Saturday. In his last two outings, Reed is 2-0 with 16 strikeouts and has allowed just one run and two walks over twelve innings. First pitched is slated for 2 PM ET.