Pitt baseball wins series from LIU Brooklyn despite lack of offense

The Pitt baseball team (23-17) continued its winning ways by taking two out of three games this weekend from LIU Brooklyn (21-19). On the surface, you might have been hoping for a sweep. But given how poor the team’s offense was, winning the series was actually an incredible achievement.

On Saturday, the Panthers pulled out a 2-1 win and the two runs were the most they would score all series. They got a great start from Matt Pidich who was, as he’s been most of this year, pretty dominant. Pidich allowed only one run and one hit in 8 ²⁄₃ innings while striking out a season-high ten batters.

In Game 2, the second of a doubleheader, Pitt won an equally close game (1-0) behind 7 ¹⁄₃ strong, shutout innings from Dan Hammer, who allowed only three hits while striking out seven. And even the lone run Pitt scored was from a walk with the bases loaded.

Sunday, Pitt’s offensive woes caught up to them as they lost 5-1. Blair Calvo, who had given the team a good start the last time out against Miami struggled in this one, allowing three earned runs in only 4 ¹⁄₃ innings pitched. Calvo, who is coming off a 2017 season when he had Tommy John surgery, has given the team some good starts but has also been hit around quite a bit. It’s pretty clear right now that the Panthers are sorely missing consistency from a third starter.

Like I said, these are series’ you’d really like to sweep. But when you score four runs in three games, it’s hard to complain about anything when you find a way to win two games.

Pitt remains third in the ACC’s Coastal Division and plays a two-game midweek series with Maryland Eastern Shore this week before playing at Notre Dame over the weekend.

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