The University of Pittsburgh’s baseball team fought its way to the Atlantic Coast Conference semifinals, dropping a 13‑5 decision to North Carolina on Saturday afternoon. The Panthers entered the game with a strong 4‑0 record in the tournament, having dispatched Florida State, Wake Forest and Louisville with convincing performances.
Early Momentum
Pitt struck first, plating two runs on four hits in the top of the first inning. The lead was short‑lived, however, as the Tar Heels answered with three runs in each of the first two frames, building a 6‑2 advantage before the Panthers could rally.
Fenderson’s Record‑Setting Day
Trey Fenderson emerged as the offensive cornerstone, tying the ACC Tournament record with 13 RBIs for the week. His clutch hitting continued throughout the game, including a two‑run single in the third that cut the deficit to three and a decisive RBI that drove in Lorenzo Carrier after a double to the wall in right‑center.
AJ Nessler added a solo home run in the fifth, while Kai Wagner went 2‑for‑4 with a run scored and a walk. Carter Dierdorf contributed a walk that eventually scored, and Drew Lafferty’s relief work kept the Tar Heel offense in check for 3.2 innings before the final blowout.
Late‑Inning Surge
North Carolina pulled away with four runs in the sixth and one in the eighth, extending the lead to 13‑4 before Pitt managed a single run in the ninth. The Panthers’ fight persisted, but the final score settled at 13‑5 in favor of the Tar Heels.