David Yanni hit and later got hit — both times with the bases loaded — and the result was Pitt’s 17-9 victory against Bucknell in the Panthers’ home opener Wednesday at Charles L. Cost Field.

Pitt had opened the season with 16 consecutive road games.

“Guys were excited to get out on their home field,” Pitt coach Mike Bell said.

Yanni hit a grand slam in the first inning, was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the seventh and added a two-run triple in the eighth. The seven RBIs were the most by a Pitt player since Yanni recorded eight in a three-home run display at No. 7 Georgia Tech on May 18, 2019.

The grand slam was Yanni’s team-leading eighth homer this season, and was one of 18 hits by the No. 14 Panthers (12-5). Ron Washington Jr. was 4 for 5. Sky Duff was the only Pitt batter without a hit, but he did walk twice.

“A lot of crooked numbers on the scoreboard,” Bell said after Pitt scored two or more runs in five of the eight innings. “Up and down the lineup, I thought we had quality at-bats.

“It wasn’t the prettiest. There was some gritty stuff going on, but ultimately it was the W we were looking for.”

Pitt’s Chris Gomez was the winning pitcher after allowing only one run and striking out four batters in 4⅓ innings of relief. C.J. McKennitt and Jordan McCrum struck out two batters and allowed no runs in the seventh and ninth innings.

Pitt returns to Cost Field at 3 p.m. Friday when it will meet No. 22 Virginia Tech for the start of the Panthers’ first ACC series at home.

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