PITTSBURGH (Interstat) — Joey Baran homered and drove in six runs, and the Pittsburgh Panthers erupted for a 15-run outburst over the third and fourth innings to rout the Bucknell Bison 18-3 on Wednesday evening at Petersen Sports Complex.

The Panthers, who improved to 5-2, quickly erased an early three-run deficit and then overwhelmed the Bison with a relentless offensive display, tallying 13 hits. Bucknell fell to 1-6.

The game’s decisive sequence began in the bottom of the third inning with Pittsburgh already leading 4-3. After Sebastian Pisacreta launched a solo home run, his second of the season, the Panthers loaded the bases with two outs for Baran. The designated hitter, who was hitless in his previous four at-bats on Saturday, crushed a grand slam to right field, his second homer of the year, to blow the game open and give Pittsburgh a 9-3 advantage.

The Panthers were far from done. They sent 15 batters to the plate in a 10-run fourth inning, turning the contest into a rout. Pisacreta added a two-run double, Baran laced a two-run single and Trey Fenderson contributed a two-run single of his own, finishing with four RBIs. Pittsburgh capitalized on two walks and two hit batters in the frame, with all 10 runs scoring with two outs.

Baran, the top star for Pittsburgh, finished 2 for 2 with the homer, a walk and six RBIs. Pisacreta went 2 for 3 with a homer, a double and four RBIs. AJ Nessler also homered for the Panthers, a solo shot in the second inning.

The offensive explosion made a winner of Pittsburgh starter Antonio Doganiero, who tossed four strong innings. He allowed just one hit, an unearned run, and struck out three. The Panthers’ bullpen combined for three innings of relief, with Chase Kriebel striking out the side in the seventh.

Bucknell struck first, taking advantage of Pittsburgh miscues to score three times in the opening inning. Michael Trommer led off with a double and later scored on a fielder’s choice and a throwing error. The Bison managed only five hits total, with Andrew Swenson providing their lone highlight, a solo home run to deep center field in the fifth inning.

Bucknell relievers Ryan DeLaney and Kobe Julks provided brief bright spots, combining for 1 2/3 innings of hitless relief. DeLaney struck out two.

The lopsided result defied the pregame projection from Interstat, whose game simulator had forecast a much tighter 5-3 victory for Pittsburgh. The Panthers’ ELO system gave them a 78.2% probability to win.

Pittsburgh will open a three-game home series against UNC Greensboro on Friday. Bucknell returns home to host Merrimack for a three-game set starting the same day.