Pittsburgh (12-10, 2-8 ACC) rallied for three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to come away with a 7-5 victory in the middle game of a three-game Atlantic Coast Conference series against Virginia (15-12, 4-7 ACC).
The game-winning rally spoiled another superb outing for Virginia starting pitcher Daniel Lynch (Henrico, Va.) who established a new career-high with 12 strikeouts. The lefthander has struck out 11 or more batters in his last three starts.
Panther centerfielder Frank Maldonado delivered the game-winning hit, a two-out single through the right side that broke up a 5-5 tie. He drove in three runs in the contest including a solo home run in the seventh inning that hit the top of the wall in left field and bounced over to make the score 5-4.
Lynch was perfect through four innings and needed just 46 pitches to retire the first 12 batters of the game. The Panthers drew a pair of walks to lead-off the fifth inning and went on to plate three runs, two on an RBI double by Nick Banman.
Virginia junior Andy Weber (Aurora, Ohio) continued his hot hitting and drove in the game’s first three runs. Freshman Tanner Morris (Crozet, Va.) led the game off with a single and a batter later Weber registered his fifth double in the last three games to give the Cavaliers the early 1-0 lead. In the top of the fifth, Weber recorded his second triple of the season as part of a three-run inning for the Cavaliers. In two games against Pittsburgh, Weber is 6-for-11 with six RBI and two runs scored.
Junior Nate Eikhoff (Bristow, Va.) drove in three runs and put forth his fifth, three-hit performance of his career. His two-out single in the top of the seventh inning gave the Cavaliers a two-run cushion. Senior Charlie Cody (Chesapeake, Va.) doubled in his first two at bats and reached base three times.
The Cavaliers out-hit the Panthers 11-7 in the contest, the third time this season Virginia has lost despite recording more hits than its opponent.
The rubber match is set for Sunday (April 1) at 1 p.m. on Charles L. Cost Field. The game will be carried live on ACC Network Extra.
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