CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – Powered by two home runs, including a grand slam, and seven RBIs from Trey Fenderson, the No. 14-seeded Pitt Panthers defeated the No. 11-seeded Louisville Cardinals 16-8 in the nightcap of the first round of the 2026 ACC Baseball Championship on Tuesday in Charlotte, North Carolina.
 
The Panthers will take on No. 6 seed Wake Forest on Wednesday, May 20, at 9 p.m. ET on ACC Network.
 
Behind Fenderson’s career night (3-for-5, 2 HR, 7 RBIs, 3 runs) was Lorenzo Carrier (2-for-4, 2B, 2 BB, 3 RBIs, 3 runs) with three RBIs and three runs scored, and both Kai Wagner (1-for-4, 2 BB, 2 RBIs, 2 runs) and Mason Ligenza (1-for-3, HR, 2 BB, 2 RBIs, 2 runs) with two RBIs and two runs scored each.
 
Louisville’s offense had 10 base hits, all of which were singles, in the loss. Leadoff hitter Zion Rose (3-for-5, 3 RBIs) led the way with three hits and three RBIs, while ACC Player of the Year Tague Davis was 1-for-5 with two RBIs. Lucas Moore (2-for-3, BB, 2 runs) and Alex Alicea (2-for-4, RBI, run) added two hits each.
 
Earning the win out of the bullpen for the Panthers was right-handed hurler David Leslie (3-5), who fired 6.1 innings, allowing just three runs on four hits, two walks and striking out nine Louisville hitters.
 
Pitt opened the game with an offensive explosion, with four straight base hits to start the game capped by a two-run single from Wagner and a three-run blast from Fenderson to spot the Panthers a 5-0 lead midway through the first inning.
 
Louisville got all five runs back in the bottom of the second inning, on five base hits, a Pitt throwing error and a fielder’s choice to tie the game up at 5-5 just two innings into the contest.
 
The Panthers went back to the long ball in a big way in the top of the fourth, as Ligenza launched a two-run home run to right field which was followed five hitters later by a monster grand slam by Fenderson, his second home run of the game, to propel Pitt out in front by six at 11-6.
 
Pitt’s offense remained hot in the fifth, taking advantage of three walks to start the inning before a Lorenzo Carrier bases-clearing double off the wall in right field and another run on a Louisville fielding error pushed the Panthers’ lead to double digits at 15-5.
 
The Cardinals pushed across one run in the seventh and two more in the eighth but were unable to get any closer than the final score, 16-8.