Pitt baseball returned to the diamond for the first time in over two weeks Tuesday evening, falling to the West Virginia Mountaineers 8-2 in a Backyard Brawl rematch at Mon County Ballpark in Morgantown.
Pitt (20-12, 14-10 ACC) defeated WVU (16-21, 6-12 Big 12) at home 5-1 in a meeting earlier this season but the Mountaineers’ bats quickly ensured Tuesday’s outcome would be different.
WVU scored runs in each of the first two innings on RBIs from first baseman Hudson Byorick and shortstop Mikey Kluska. Two more runs came in the bottom of the fourth thanks to a bases-loaded infield single from second baseman Tyler Doanes, followed by a run-scoring walk from right fielder Austin Doanes. The Mountaineers added another run in the fifth on an infield hit by center fielder Victor Scott.
Meanwhile, on the mound WVU right-hander Carlson Reed (2-4, 6.85 ERA) turned in his best start of the year, pitching 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball.
“He was pounding the strike zone. He’s continued to get a little bit better each time out,” WVU coach Randy Mazey said of Reed. “We switched him from a curveball to a slider a while back and it takes a little while to make that adjustment, but it looks like he’s started to get a feel for it.”
Reed scattered four hits and a walk while picking up a career-high six strikeouts. Pitt scored its first run in the top of the sixth inning on an RBI double by second baseman David Yanni.
West Virginia left fielder Paul McIntosh put a bow on the game with a three-run home run to centerfield in the bottom of the sixth inning that put the Mountaineers up 8-1 at the time. It was McIntosh’s fifth home run of the season.
“That was one of the balls I was trying to hit all day,” McIntosh said after the game. “I was just looking for something out over the plate. My sights were set out and kind of away from me, not for anything in.”
Pitt starter Stephen Hansen (1-3, 6.48) lasted 3 2/3 innings, giving up four earned runs on five hits. WVU sophomore Skylar Gonzalez pitched two innings in relief of Reed, giving up one run. Junior Madison Jeffrey pitched the final 1 1/3 innings to secure the win.
Doanes, Davis, Byorick, Scott, third baseman Alec Burns and designated hitter Nathan Blasick all had multiple hits for the Mountaineers. McIntosh led WVU’s offense with three RBI. For Pitt, Yanni finished 2 for 4 with a double and the team’s lone RBI. Third baseman Sky Duff went 1 for 4 with a double and a walk.
West Virginia will continue its homestand and welcome the Oklahoma Sooners for a three-game weekend series beginning on Friday at 6:30 p.m. Pitt will host Boston College for a three-game series at Charles L. Cost Field starting at 6 p.m. on Friday.
