Kai Wagner’s ninth-inning thriller capped a ten-hit onslaught as the Panthers stunned the rust-stricken Seminoles, toppling the ACC Pitcher of the Year to keep their postseason momentum surging.
No. 3 Florida State previously swept No. 14 Pittsburgh in the regular season. However, it was the Panthers who had the last laugh, defeating the Seminoles 8-6 on Friday in the ACC Tournament.
The Seminoles struggled to regain rhythm both offensively and defensively after a five-day layoff. ACC Pitcher of the Year Wes Mendes, who had limited opponents to a .201 batting average entering the game, could not replicate his dominant outing against Pitt from earlier this season. Mendes allowed eight runs on 10 hits with seven strikeouts.
In their three games played in the tournament, The Panthers (33-23, 17-10 in ACC) collected 31 hits. By contrast, the Seminoles (38-17, 19-12 in ACC) struck out 14 times in their only appearance in the tournament.
The Panthers jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead in the first inning when second baseman Trey Fenderson launched a three-run home run souvenir ball into the bleachers. Mendes shook that off and held Pitt scoreless for the next three innings.
Pitt collected another run in the fifth to go up 5-1. Then, in the bottom of the fifth, Florida State first baseman Ben Barrett cleared the bases with a grand slam home run to tie the game at 5-5. It was Barrett's first RBI of the season. Florida State right fielder John Stuetzer scored again in the eighth to give the Seminoles their first lead of the game at 6-5.
With two outs and two runners on in the top of the ninth, Pitt third baseman Kai Wagner launched a three-run home run to retake the lead at 8-6. In their half of the ninth, the Seminoles were retired in order to end the game.
Afterward, Seminoles coach Link Jarrett praised Pitt’s veteran lineup and pitching depth.
“That’s a damaging lineup, and Mike (Bell) knows what he’s doing with that pitching staff,” Jarrett said. “You look at the size, the physicality, the swings, then you look at the decision-making at the plate. They walk a lot, and that factored into a lot of their runs today.”
Jarrett also pointed to Pitt’s experience as a difference-maker late in the game.
“That’s a very veteran group,” he said. “As you log those at-bats, regardless of where they are, there’s experience, there’s age, there’s maturity that goes with it.”
With Selection Monday approaching, Florida State’s early exit from the ACC Tournament could impact its NCAA Tournament seeding and chances of hosting a regional.
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