Pitt Baseball managed to avoid a sweep at the hands of No. 8 Notre Dame, winning 5-2 in South Bend on Sunday, May 15.
The first two games of the series saw starting pitchers Billy Corcoran and Matt Gilbertson have uncharacteristically bad outings for the Panthers. This game saw the script flip once again, as embattled starter Logan Evans turned in one of his best starts of the season against one of the best teams in the country.
Evans pitched 6.2 innings, giving up five hits—only two went for extra bases, a double and a home run from the last two batters he faced.
The Irish started first-year left-hander Jack Findlay (5-0, 0.62 ERA), who they’ve used as an extended opener to great success this season. Findlay allowed one run, a third-inning RBI single from second baseman Jeffrey Wehler, and left the game after pitching through the Panthers order twice.
The Panthers extended their lead to 5-0 in the top of the seventh inning. Substitutes came up clutch for Pitt, as pinch-hitter Dom Popa went to the opposite field, doubling down the left field line to score Josh Overbeek, himself a pinch-runner. Catcher Tatem Levins slugged a three-run homer two batters later.
Senior Baron Stuart entered for Evans in the bottom of the seventh after a two-run homer by first-year second baseman Jack Penney, and finished the game with a 2.1 inning save. The Irish sent the tying run to the plate with one out in the ninth after a walk and an error by third baseman Sky Duff, but Stuart forced a fielder’s choice and a strikeout to escape.
The win moves the Panthers to 27-22 on the season, and 13-13 in the ACC. They’ll play their next game at PNC Park against Penn State at 6 p.m. on May 17.
