Despite going down 3-0 early, Pitt exploded in the fifth and seventh innings, scoring seven and six runs respectively, on their way to a dominating win, 15-5 over High Point at Willard Stadium in High Point, N.C. Wednesday night.
Pitt (8-4 overall) found success against High Point (4-10 overall) in their relief pitching as left-handed redshirt junior Ben Dragani, junior right-handed Ryan Miller, redshirt right-handed Dylan Lester and senior right-handed pitcher Baron Stuart combined for 7.0 innings pitched, 11 strikeouts and only three hits and six walks.
Pitt also had great success hitting, with junior infielder Brock Franks hitting two home runs, his second and third of the season, to score four runs batted in.
Junior outfielder Kyle Hess scored three runs and three other players scored two RBIs as Pitt piled on High Point’s relief pitching, scoring all 15 runs from the fifth through seventh innings.
Pittsburgh first-year right-handed pitcher Tyler Kennedy made his first start against High Point and didn’t perform well. He pitched himself into trouble in the second inning after he gave up a double to redshirt sophomore catcher Blake Sutton that scored first-year outfielder Josh Deslauriers with two outs.
Stuart came in relief after the double and after giving up a walk to load the bases, he then allowed a single up the middle that scored redshirt sophomore catcher Justin Wilkins and Sutton to make it 3-0.
Both teams loaded the bases in the fourth inning, but neither converted on the great opportunities as they failed to score.
Pitt began the fifth inning with a two-run home run by Hess that cut the lead to one. This ended the game for High Point starter, redshirt junior right-handed pitcher Parker Dean, who had stifled Pitt hitters up to the fifth inning.
Sophomore outfielder CJ Funk kept the offense going for Pitt, singling up the middle to bring in senior outfielder Ron Washington Jr. to tie the game at three.
Franks broke the game wide open as he hit a three-run home run to right field to give Pitt a 6-3 lead. Junior infielder Sky Duff finished the inning with a single that scored first-year infielder Tommy Tavarez, making it 7-3 and giving all the momentum to Pitt.
Pitt scored two runs in the sixth inning off a solo home run by junior catcher Tatem Levins, his second of the season, and a double by Funk to score Washington made it 9-3.
Pitt continued to hit well in the seventh inning. Two walks and then a single by Levins loaded the bases early, and Hess brought home Duff on a fielder’s choice.
Washington Jr. doubled to center to score senior outfielder Jordan Anderson and Hess to put the lead up to 12-3.
Pitt used power to finish off the game, as senior infielder Bryce Hulett hit a two-run home run, his second homer of the season, and Franks hit a solo shot to right center to cap the scoring at 15.
The only other trouble Pitt found itself in the rest of the game was in the bottom of the eighth inning. First-year right-handed pitcher Jonathan Bautista loaded the bases and High Point scored two runs on a walk with the bases loaded and then a sacrifice fly out.
Miller came into the game and got Pitt out of the jam in the eighth and finished off High Point in the ninth to seal the victory.
Pitt will take their three-game winning streak into this weekend as they take on No. 14 North Carolina in Chapel Hill in their first ACC series of the season. The first game is Friday, Mar. 11 at 4 p.m.
Levins and Franks looking good early on the season. I am excited to seen how Taverez develops. He’s looked great at time.
Bautista tonight, not so good.
BTW, Pitt is 8-4.
H2P.