Pitt Panthers Move On in ACC Baseball Tournament
The Pitt Panthers erupted for a 7‑4 victory over Wake Forest in the second round of the ACC Baseball Championship, securing a spot in the tournament’s quarterfinal round and extending their season beyond the early May cutoff.
Eleven walks and three runs came courtesy of aggressive base running and a few defensive miscues, but the Panthers capitalized on every opportunity to pull ahead.
On the mound, Drew Lafferty delivered a solid five‑inning outing, surrendering just three runs and two walks while striking out five, earning his fifth win of the season and showcasing the poise that has defined his campaign.
Reliever Eddie Smink shut the door in the later innings, recording his fifth save of the year and preserving the lead as the Demon Deacons threatened a comeback.
The Panthers will now travel to face No. 3 seed Florida State on Friday night at 7 p.m., a matchup that pits Pitt’s rising offense against a top‑ranked Seminoles squad.
Contributions were spread across the lineup; Carter Dierdorf went 2‑for‑4 with a walk and a run, while Caden Dulin added two hits and an RBI single. Trey Fenderson, who has been hot all week with five hits and eight RBI, continued his surge.
A host of supporting players — including Mason Ligenza, Kai Wagner, Sebastian Pisacreta, Joey Baran, Jackson Cooke, AJ Nessler, Derrick Tarpley Jr., and Daniel McAuliff — provided depth and stability throughout the game.
The win marks the second time since 2018 that Pitt has advanced to the semifinals, underscoring the program’s resurgence under head coach Mike McRae and setting high expectations for the upcoming quarterfinal.