Panthers Even Series in a Crucial Game Two

Coral Gables, Fl. – The Panthers kept their season alive with a 5-3 win on Friday night at Miami. Starting pitcher Jack Sokol picked up his seventh win of the season, allowing just one run over his six innings.

Freshman Sebastian Pisacreta hit the second home run of his career on a two-run shot in top of the second inning. Dom Popa went 2-4 for the for the second time this weekend as he collected his third-straight multi-hit game. C.J. Funk, Justin Fogel and Jake Kendro would all collect hits today as well. Luke Cantwell worked two walks, had an RBI hit-by-pitch and now has 54 walks this season. He is two walks shy of setting the program record for most walks in a single season (56).

Jack Sokol gave the Panthers yet another stellar start on the mound in Friday night’s must-win game. Sokol struck out seven batters over six innings and only surrendered one run on just four hits. Phil Fox entered with two outs in the seventh inning and earned his eighth save of the year. Fox allowed just one unearned run on two hits over 2.1 innings.

Pisacreta and the Panthers got the offense started in the top of the second inning. C.J. Funk and Justin Fogel each led off the inning with singles. Fogel laid a bunt single down the third base line and would advance to second on a throwing error. After a Ryan Zuckerman walk to load the bases, Funk would score as a result of a 6-4-3 double play. With Fogel now on third, Pisacreta lined a two-run shot over the wall in right center for the second home run of his career. The Hurricanes would get run of those runs back in the bottom half of the inning as Pitt led 3-1 after two. 

Pitt added a pair in the top of fourth and extended their lead to four. The Panthers walked the bases loaded and would score on a swinging bunt by Dom Popa to and a throwing by the pitcher. Luke Cantwell would be hit in the next at-bat with the bases still loaded and the Panthers would add one more. They led 5-1 after four innings.

Sokol was steady throughout the middle frames and kept it a four-run game. 

Miami threatened and got one back in the bottom of the seventh. Phil Fox would come in with two outs and make quick work of Daniel Cuvet to get out of the inning. 

The Hurricane’s scored one more in the bottom of the ninth but Fox shut the door on Miami and earned his eighth save of the year. 

The Panthers will play a win-and-in game tomorrow afternoon at 1 PM. With a win, Pitt will clinch an ACC Tournament berth for the fourth time in the last four years.