PITTSBURGH — Pitt’s baseball team (8-9, 1-3 ACC) lost a 17-7 decision to North Carolina (15-5, 2-2 ACC) in Game 1 of the series between both teams at Charles Cost Field. The match ended on Saturday after being suspended Friday after four innings due to weather conditions.
The Panthers and Tar Heels were scheduled to play Game 2 of the series after Game 1 concluded on Saturday, but the contest was postponed due to weather conditions. Teams are currently scheduled to play on Sunday (March 19) at 1 p.m.
North Carolina had 17 runs on 19 hits in the series opener, including six homers. The Tar Heels had multiple runs in five innings, including three in the second, four in the third and five in the fifth.
Pitt landed the first punch of the game late in the first inning as CJ Funk hit a solo right home run, his sixth round tripper of the season.
The Tar Heels then took a 7-1 lead after making three runs in the second and four more in the third. The Panthers fought back with a fourth-place finish late in the third to make it a two-run game. Johnny Long III started with a hit to center, setting the stage for Kyle Hess to belt his second homer of the season, a two-run shot to right center. Two outs later, Pitt loaded the bases with a single to left center from Noah Martinez and walks from Jack Anderson and AJ Nessler. Justin Acal then delivered a two RBI single on the left to bring Martinez and Anderson home and make it a 7-5 game.
North Carolina added two more runs to its tally in the top of the fourth, but Pitt again had a two-run game in the half. Long III started with a single to center, then advanced to third after a wild pitch followed by a groundout. Sky Duff then persuaded a march to put the riders into the corners. An out later, Martinez found a right-hand single to score Long III. Duff then scored from third on a wild pitch to make it a 9-7 game before the contest was suspended.
North Carolina, however, beat Pitt 8-0 in the final five frames to secure the win.
Martinez led Pitt to the plate with a 2-for-4 effort that included an RBI and a run scored.
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