Pitt hit several milestones while scoring 30 runs in its three-game sweep of No. 15 Miami at Charles L. Cost Field. The series concluded Sunday with No. 17 Pitt’s 12-5 victory. The Panthers also won, 12-6 and 6-4, Friday and Saturday.
Pitt (17-10, 12-9) set a school record for ACC victories with five series upcoming. Pitt became just the second ACC team in history to sweep Miami and Florida State in the same season, duplicating Clemson’s achievement in 2006.
Pitt also extended its school record for victories and sweeps against ranked teams to nine and two.
“Great day for the Panthers, finishing what they started,” coach Mike Bell said.
The Hurricanes (17-11, 10-10) led, 4-0, through three innings, but Pitt scored four runs in the fourth and seven in the sixth, the latter rally punctuated by Bryce Hulett’s grand slam.
Pitt loaded the bases twice in the sixth, with Popa’s two-run single and Kyle Hess’ sacrifice fly to center field scoring the first three runs. Three batters later, Hulett’s second homer of the season cleared the bases again.
Ron Washington Jr. homered for Pitt’s final run in the eighth. Pitt is 7-0 when hitting two or more home runs.
Popa (four) and Washington (three) had seven of the Panthers’ 15 hits.
Pitt also was efficient on defense, recording its 13th game this season without an error.
Winning pitcher Corey Sawyer (1-0) threw 2 2/3 innings of relief — his longest outing of the season — allowing one run, three hits and one walk and striking out three.
“Phenomenal performance out of the bullpen (by Sawyer),” Bell said. “Really solidified himself with this ball club.”
