Virginia's Home Win Streak Ends in 7-5 Loss to Pittsburgh

For the first time since May 15th, 2022, the Cavaliers lost a game within the friendly confines of Disharoon Park. The Panthers came to Charlottesville on Friday and put an end to UVA's 23-game home win streak, the longest streak in program history and what was the longest active home winning streak in college baseball, beating No. 7 Virginia 7-5 to open the series on Friday night at Disharoon Park.

Pitt jumped on the board right away in the top of the first as Sky Duff led off the game with a double, advanced to third on a single, and came home on a fielder's choice grounder to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead. Virginia answered in the bottom of the third as Griff O'Ferrall hit a leadoff double and later scored on a Jake Gelof sacrifice fly. Kyle Teel then went opposite field for his seventh home run of the year to put UVA in front 2-1.

SEE-YA!!! Kyle Teel gives us the lead, a solo shot to the left makes it a 2-1 ballgame.

Teel's 7th 💣of the year

📺: ACCNX | #GoHoos pic.twitter.com/PCfVKUYgSc
— Virginia Baseball (@UVABaseball) April 14, 2023

After giving up the early run, Virginia starter Brian Edgington tossed a scoreless second and third frames, but ran into more trouble in the fourth. Edington gave up back-to-back singles to start the inning and then a sacrifice fly from CJ Funk tied the game. Justin Acal came up and delivered a two-run home run to center field and Pittsburgh regained a 4-2 lead.

Pittsburgh chased Edginton from the game in the fifth as Duff singled and moved to second on a groundout. Angelo Tonas came in and got Noah Martinez to fly out, but then UVA replaced Tonas with Kevin Jaxel, who gave up an RBI single to Jack Anderson. The Panthers used some small ball in the sixth to score another run to make it 6-2.

Pittsburgh starter Jack Sokol held the UVA bats in check, allowing only two earned runs on seven hits while striking out six batters in five innings of work. Virginia finally got on the board again on Jake Gelof's 40th career home run and sixth in the last six games, a solo shot to left field.

𝗦𝗜𝗫 games, 𝗦𝗜𝗫 homers. Jake Gelof leads off the seventh with his 40th career 💣

📺: ACCNX | #GoHoos pic.twitter.com/nE5IV5fT7M
— Virginia Baseball (@UVABaseball) April 14, 2023

Virginia threatened further with runners on second and third with one out, but Pitt reliever Matthew Fernandez worked out of the jam with no further damage. Gelof continued to carry the offensive load for UVA in the eighth, hitting a double to right field to drive in his third run of the game.

Pittsburgh immediately got that run back in the top of the ninth on a solo homer from Noah Martinez off of Bradley Hodges. Trailing by three in the bottom of the ninth, Virginia attempted to stage a late rally. Ethan Anderson drew a leadoff walk, but Anthony Stephan then grounded into a double play. Casey Saucke kept things alive with a two-out single and then a Henry Godbout popped up to third, but the Pitt third baseman dropped the ball, allowing Saucke to score. Chris Baker was brought in as a pinch hitter and got great contact on a ball to deep left field, but the Pitt left fielder secured the final out with a catch at the warning track to end the game as Pitt took game 1 with a 7-5 victory over Virginia.

The loss snaps a six-game winning streak for Virginia, who drops to 30-5 overall and 11-5 in ACC play. UVA will look to even the series in game 2 on Saturday at 6pm at Disharoon Park.

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