PITTSBURGH – The Pitt baseball team (8-9, 1-3 ACC) dropped a 17-7 decision to North Carolina (15-5, 2-2 ACC) in the series opener between the two teams at Charles Cost Field. The game concluded on Saturday after being suspended Friday after four innings of play due to weather conditions.
The Panthers and Tar Heels were scheduled to play game two of the series following the conclusion of game one on Saturday, but the contest was postponed due to weather conditions. The teams are currently scheduled to play on Sunday (March 19) at 1 p.m.
North Carolina pounded out 17 runs on 19 hits in the series opening victory, including six home runs. The Tar Heels put up multiple runs in five innings, including three in the second, four in the third and five in the fifth.
Pitt landed the game’s first punch in the bottom of the first inning as CJ Funk hit a two-out solo home run to right, his sixth round tripper of the season.
The Tar Heels then grabbed a 7-1 advantage after plating three runs in the second and four more in the third. The Panthers answered back with a four spot in the bottom of the third to make it a two-run game. Johnny Long III led off with a base hit to center, setting the table for Kyle Hess to belt his second home run of the season, a two-run shot to right center. Two outs later, Pitt loaded up the bases with a single to left center by Noah Martinez and walks by Jack Anderson and AJ Nessler. Justin Acal then delivered a two-RBI single to left to bring home Martinez and Anderson and make it a 7-5 game.
North Carolina added two more runs to its total in the top of the fourth, but Pitt made it a two-run game again in the home half. Long III led off with a single to center, then advanced to third after a wild pitch followed a ground out. Sky Duff then coaxed a walk to put runners on the corners. One out later, Martinez came up with a single to right to score Long III. Duff later scored from third on a wild pitch to make it a 9-7 game before the contest was suspended.
North Carolina outscored Pitt 8-0 over the final five frames, though, to secure the win.
Martinez led Pitt at the plate with a 2-for-4 effort that included an RBI and a run scored.
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