SAN JOSE, CA – The Pitt Panthers (12-2) secured their second consecutive series sweep and extended their winning streak to eight games with a 3-2 victory over San Jose State on Sunday afternoon.
The win was fueled by a strong pitching performance from Drew Lafferty and effective relief work from the Panther bullpen.
Lorenzo Carrier continued a remarkable run at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a two-run home run and a double. Over his last five games, Carrier is 16-for-19 with 24 RBIs, 13 runs scored, six home runs, two triples, and two doubles. He currently leads the ACC with 36 RBIs.
Drew Lafferty pitched five scoreless innings, striking out four and issuing no walks, earning his third win of the season. Lafferty has now won three of his first four starts. Sam Bryan and Mikey Gray each pitched scoreless innings in relief, escaping jams with the game-tying run in scoring position. Bryan struck out two in the eighth, although Gray secured the final out of the game.
AJ Nessler, Kai Wagner, and Carter Dierdorf each recorded a hit for the Panthers. Wagner’s RBI groundout in the third inning proved to be the game-winning run.
Pitt took an early lead in the first inning thanks to Carrier’s two-run home run following a leadoff single by AJ Nessler.
Carrier added to the lead in the third inning with a double, advancing to third on a wild pitch and scoring on a groundout by Kai Wagner. The Panthers led 3-0 after three innings.
Lafferty prevented the San Jose State offense from scoring, allowing only three hits during his five innings of work.
Joey Ciancimino relieved Lafferty in the sixth and pitched two scoreless innings before surrendering two runs in the eighth, narrowing the Panthers’ lead to 3-2.
With runners on second and third and no outs in the bottom of the eighth, Sam Bryan entered the game and struck out two batters to maintain the Panthers’ lead. Mikey Gray then closed out the game in the ninth, striking out a batter to secure the 3-2 sweep.
The Panthers will continue their West Coast trip, traveling to Santa Clara to face the Broncos on Tuesday night at 9 PM ET/6 PM PT. They will then begin conference play this Friday at Stanford.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many games have the Pitt Panthers won in a row?
The Pitt Panthers have won eight consecutive games.
Who hit the game-winning RBI for the Panthers?
Kai Wagner drove in the game-winning RBI on a groundout in the top of the third inning.
How many RBIs does Lorenzo Carrier have this season?
Lorenzo Carrier leads the ACC with 36 RBIs.
What factors do you believe will be most crucial for the Panthers as they move into conference play?
