Pitt’s first day of pool play in the ACC Tournament did not go well for the Panthers, who lost an 8-1 decision Wednesday to No. 22 Wake Forest in Charlotte, N.C.

Pitt senior outfielder Dom Popa was 2 for 3 with a double and was hit by a pitch twice. He reached base four times for the second consecutive game. Pitt’s Jayden Melendez drove in a run in the top of the third inning with a single to left field that scored Popa from second base.

Luke Cantwell and Ryan Zuckerman also hit safely for the Panthers. Cantwell singled to reach base in his 50th consecutive game (53 of 54).

Wake Forest (37-19) scored runs in five of eight innings.

Pitt (26-28) will meet No. 7 North Carolina, the tournament’s No. 1 seed, at 3 p.m. Thursday. Pitt’s Ryan Andrade will make his 15th start of the season.

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