Pitt
26-22, 10-16
Wake Forest
33-17, 13-13
Pisacreta’s Two Home Runs Help Pitt Comeback to Even Series
5/10/2025 9:51:00 PM | Baseball
Winston-Salem, NC - Pitt (26-22, 10-16) fought back in the latter innings once again as they came back and evened their series at Wake Forest. The Panthers scored four runs over the final two frames to win game two, 10-8.
Pitt's last three wins have come when they were trailing in the eighth inning or later. It's the tenth time this year that the Panthers have tied or taken the lead in a game in the eighth inning or later.
The Panthers hit back-to-back home runs in the top of the eighth inning to even the series and earn their tenth ACC win of the season. Pitt now has nine come-from-behind victories when trailing in the fifth inning or later in a game this season.
Sebastian Pisacreta had the first multiple-home run game of his career on Saturday. He went 3-4 with four RBIs and two pivotal long balls as the Panthers evened the series. It was just the second three-hit game of his career as well.
Ryan Zuckerman hit his team-leading 12th home run of the year in the third inning on a three-run shot to right. Caden Dulin drove in a run on an RBI single in the third. Jackson Cooke, like he has all year, delivered in a pinch-hitting role. He launched the fourth pinch-hit home run of his career in the top of the eighth inning. As a pinch-hitter this season, Cooke is 6-13 with four home runs and nine RBIs. AJ Nessler, Lorenzo Carrier and David Pedanou all collected hits on Saturday as well.
Ethan Firoved continued to prove why he is one of the best relievers in the ACC with four innings in relief to help Pitt even the series. Firoved earned his second win of the season and tossed the final four frames on Saturday. He allowed just two runs on four hits while striking out six. The left hander had not thrown that many innings since Pitt's first ACC series of the season at Georgia Tech nearly two months ago. Firoved owns a 2.96 ERA and is second in the ACC in saves with eight.
After the Demon Deacons just out to 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, the Panthers clawed back with four runs to take their first lead of the game in the top of the third. With two outs, David Pedanou singled to right field and stole second to put himself in scoring position. Caden Dulin would drive him in in the next at-bat on an RBI single to left. Luke Cantwell worked a four-pitch walk and Pitt had the tying run first.
With runners at first and second, Ryan Zuckerman launched a three-run home run to right to give Pitt a 4-3 lead in the third.
Wake Forest regained their early lead with runs in the fourth and fifth inning. They led 6-4 through the first five frames.
Pitt responded right away and tied the game on a Sebastian Pisacreta two-run homer in the top of the sixth inning. After Lorenzo Carrier lined a double down the left field line, Pisacreta launched his seventh long ball of the year to left center to knot the game at six. The Demon Deacons added another run in the bottom of the seventh to regain their lead again. They led 7-6 after seven.
The Panthers continued their late-inning magic, hitting back-to-back home runs in the top of the eighth inning to take the lead back. With Keeton Burroughs at second, Sebastian Pisacreta hit his second home run of the game to right center, giving Pitt a 8-7 lead. Pinch-hitting for Gavin Miller, Jackson Cooke hit his fourth pinch-hit homer of the season to left center. Six of Cooke's ten hits this year have been home runs. Wake Forest got a run back in the bottom half of the inning but an unbelievable diving play from Ryan Zuckerman to double up the runner at third ended the inning and left runners stranded. They led 9-8 heading into the ninth.
Pitt added an insurance run in the top of the ninth inning. Carrier, Pisacreta and Jake Kendro worked three-straight walks to load the bases. David Pedanou used his speed to beat out an RBI fielder' choice to second that nabbed Kendro but scored Carrier.
Ethan Firoved went out for his fourth inning of work and worked a scoreless ninth to even the series as the Panthers won game two, 10-8.
Up Next
Sunday's rubber match has been moved up one hour tomorrow afternoon. First pitch is now slated for 12 PM. Left hander Ryan Reed will make his 13th start of the season.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Firoved, Ethan (2-4)
L: Haiden Leffew (3-1)
Batting:
2B: Carrier, Lorenzo 1
HR: Zuckerman, Ryan 1 ; Pisacreta, Sebastian 2 ; Cooke, Jackson 1
RBI: Dulin, Caden 1 ; Zuckerman, Ryan 3 ; Pisacreta, Sebastian 4 ; Cooke, Jackson 1 ; Pedanou, David 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Dulin, Caden 1 ; Cantwell, Luke 1 ; Zuckerman, Ryan 1 ; Burroughs, Keeton 1 ; Carrier, Lorenzo 2 ; Pisacreta, Sebastian 2 ; Cooke, Jackson 1 ; Pedanou, David 1
SB: Pedanou, David 2
HBP: Melendez, Jayden 1
Batting:
2B: Kade Lewis 1 ; Jack Winnay 1
HR: Luke Costello 2
RBI: Jack Winnay 3 ; Luke Costello 3 ; Austin Hawke 1 ; Matt Conte 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Matt Scannell 1 ; Marek Houston 1 ; Kade Lewis 1 ; Jack Winnay 3 ; Luke Costello 2
SB: Marek Houston 1 ; Javar Williams 1
HBP: Matt Scannell 1
