PITTSBURGH (Interstat) — Kai Wagner homered twice and drove in three runs Wednesday night, powering the Pittsburgh Panthers to a 13-2 rout of the Akron Zips at Panthers Field.

Wagner, the Panthers’ third baseman, went 2 for 2 with two walks, launching a two-run shot in the first inning and a solo blast in the fifth as part of a relentless offensive display. His performance snapped a personal mini-slump and ignited a Pittsburgh lineup that scored in four of the first five innings.

The game’s decisive turn came in a chaotic bottom of the second. Leading 3-2, the Panthers sent 12 men to the plate against three Akron pitchers, scoring five runs on just one hit while capitalizing on a cascade of free passes and miscues. After loading the bases with one out, Pittsburgh saw two runs score on a wild pitch and a balk by reliever Carter Beck. Joey Baran drew a bases-loaded walk, Carter Dierdorf added an RBI single and AJ Nessler drew another walk with the bases loaded to force in a run. The inning featured five walks, a hit batter, a wild pitch and a balk, transforming a close game into an 8-2 Panthers advantage.

Lorenzo Carrier complemented Wagner’s big night, going 2 for 3 with a double, a solo homer and two RBIs. Catcher Sebastian Pisacreta added a two-run homer in the fifth inning as Pittsburgh improved to 23-12.

Akron, which fell to 15-21, managed eight hits but stranded multiple runners. Easton Amundson provided the Zips’ lone highlight with a solo home run in the third inning. Starter Landon Vandegrift took the loss, lasting just one inning and allowing three runs on two hits and a walk.

The Panthers’ bullpen dominated after a brief outing from opener Chase Kriebel. Five relievers — Joey Ciancimino, Mikey Gray, Michael Savarese, Vincent Spizzoucco, Andrew Luczak and Sam Bryan — combined to allow one run on five hits over the final 6 2/3 innings, striking out seven. Spizzoucco was credited with the win.

Pittsburgh’s offensive outburst provided a stark contrast to its previous series, a three-game sweep at the hands of California where the Panthers were outscored 39-9. They will look to carry the momentum into a weekend Atlantic Coast Conference series at Virginia Tech.

Akron, coming off an 11-1 win over Youngstown State on Tuesday, will open a home series against Northern Illinois on Friday.