Pitt's Late-Inning Heroics Shock Florida State
The quarterfinal matchup between the University of Pittsburgh Panthers and Florida State Seminoles turned into a roller‑coaster of momentum swings, culminating in an 8‑6 victory for the Panthers.
Pitt drew first blood with a three‑run homer from Trey Fenderson in the opening frame, and Kai Wagner added a solo shot to push the lead to 5‑1 before the Seminoles began their comeback. Brody DeLamielleure’s RBI single in the bottom of the first extended his hit streak to 18 games, bringing a run across for Florida State.
Florida State answered with a rally that began in the eighth inning, as Ben Barrett’s fifth‑inning grand slam had tied the game at 5‑5, and an error on his subsequent at‑bat allowed John Stuetzer to score the go‑ahead run, giving the Seminoles a 6‑5 edge.
The Seminoles’ offense, however, could not capitalize fully; they left twelve runners on base and committed four errors, including a critical misplay that kept Pitt within striking distance.
Relief pitcher Chris Knier, who entered after Wes Mendes, struck out five batters, while Brodie Purcell’s two strikeouts in the ninth set up the decisive at‑bat for Wagner, who delivered a three‑run homer to seal the win.
The final blast not only added three runs but also capped Wagner’s second home run of the game, sending the Panthers into the semifinals and underscoring the unpredictable drama of ACC Tournament baseball.