Inside The Panthers

Pitt Baseball Shocks No. 12 WVU in Backyard Brawl

The Pitt Panthers defeated their biggest rival in the Backyard Brawl.
Dominic Campbell|
May 23, 2024; Charlotte, NC, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers infielder Ryan Zuckerman (14) at bat in the sixth inning against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the ACC Baseball Tournament at Truist Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kinser-Imagn Images
May 23, 2024; Charlotte, NC, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers infielder Ryan Zuckerman (14) at bat in the sixth inning against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the ACC Baseball Tournament at Truist Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kinser-Imagn Images | Scott Kinser-Imagn Images

PITTSBURGH — The Pitt Panthers faced numerous deficits against No. 12 West Virginia in the baseball edition of the Backyard Brawl, but would prevail, 10-9, at Charles L. Cost Field in a thriller.

Pitt (25-21) makes it five straight wins, all at home, as they shutout Akron, 11-0 on April 30, then swept Virginia Tech over the weekend.

It is the first win for the Panthers over the Mountaineers (39-8) since March 30, 2022, ending an eight-game losing streak in the Backyard Brawl. They also split the season series, as the Mountaineers won 11-1 in eighth innings in Morgantown on April 2.

West Virginia got after Pitt redshirt sophomore right-handed starting pitcher Drew Lafferty in the top of the first inning.

Mountaineers senior infielder Kyle West walked and then senior outfielder Jace Rinehart doubled, moving West to third base with one out.

WVU junior utilityman Sam White singled and junior catcher Logan Sauve hit into a fielder's choice, but was safe at first base, with both West and Rinehart scoring.

White and Sauve then stole second base and third base and senior infielder Brodie Kresser grounded out, scoring White, as the road team took a 3-0 lead.

West would add onto the Mountaineers lead in the top of the second inning, hitting a solo home run off of Lafferty to make it 4-0.

The Panthers then loaded the bases in the bottom of the third inning, as junior infielder Jake Kendro made it to first base on a hit by pitch, redshirt sophomore outfielder Logan Duffy walked and junior infielder Caden Dulin singled.

Pitt senior infielder Luke Cantwell walked, scoring Kendro, then sophomore infielder Ryan Zuckerman singled, scoring both Duffy and Dullin, as the home team trimmed the deficit to 4-3. Pitt's next three batters got out, as WVU held onto a slim lead.

West came through for the Mountaineers again in the top of the sixth inning, with a bases loaded single, scoring a run, while White hit a sacrifice fly on a ball in foul territory, increasing the road team's advantage to 6-3.

Pitt junior outfielder AJ Nessler doubled to leadoff the bottom of the sixth inning and then catcher Sebastian Pisacreta hit a two-run home run, cutting the deficit back to 6-5.

WVU added onto their lead in the top of the eighth inning, as Rinehart hit a two-run single, and then senior first baseman Grant Hussey laid down a sacrifice bunt in the top of the ninth inning, as they led 9-5.

Cantwell opened the bottom of the ninth as WVU junior right-handed pitcher Carson Estridge hit him with a pitch and then walked Zuckerman.

Mountaineers right-handed pitcher Benjamin Hudson came in and then Panthers senior catcher Jayden Melendez hit a three-run home run, cutting the Mountaineers' lead to 9-8 with no outs.

Pitt then loaded the bases, as Nesler and Pisacreta hit back-to-back singles and freshman outfielder Julian Irizarry walked, as WVU made two more pitching changes.

Panthers sophomore infielder Keaton Burroughs tied the game with a fielder's choice, as Irizarry was out at second base, but Nesler scored.

Pitt junior infielder Gavin Miller would then hit a ground ball, that the WVU right fielder Armani Guzman failed to gather, allowing Pisacreta to score on a walk-off, as the home team won 10-9.

Pitt will head out on the road this weekend for a big series vs. Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, N.C. from May 9-11.

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Dominic Campbell
DOMINIC CAMPBELL

Dominic writes for Pittsburgh Pirates On SI, Pittsburgh Panthers Pn SI and also, Pittsburgh Steelers On SI. A Pittsburgh native, Dominic grew up watching Pittsburgh Sports and wrote for The Pitt News as an undergraduate at the University of Pittsburgh, covering Pitt Athletics. He would write for Pittsburgh Sports Now after college and has years of experience covering sports across Pittsburgh.

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