TPN Panthers of the Month: Andin Fosam and Josh Falk

Andin Fosam

Andin Fosam, a junior thrower from Robbinsville, New Jersey, had already proved before March that she was one of the best throwers in the ACC. After this month, though, Fosam now is considered one of the best in the country.

At last month’s ACC Indoor Track and Field Championships, Fosam finished in fourth place and earned second team All-ACC honors in the weight throw, hurling the 20-pound object 19.24 meters. But Fosam had no trouble switching to the outdoor hammer event, as evidenced by her record-breaking performance in Friday’s Carnegie Mellon University Invitational.

Fosam walked into CMU’s Gesling Stadium as the site’s record holder thanks to a 51.50 meter throw at last year’s invitational. But with a 61.67 meter throw Friday, Fosam smashed her own record in addition to the Pitt record of 58.87 meters, set in 2005 by Amanda Walker.

The London-born Fosam heads into the Pepsi Florida Relays this weekend in Gainesville, Florida, as the second-ranked thrower in the ACC and No. 7 thrower in the nation, according to Pitt throwing coach Brent Shelby.

Josh Falk

Pitt senior Josh Falk is living proof that wins can be a misleading stat for starting pitchers.

Falk is coming off arguably the best month of his career, and though he hasn’t been personally credited with wins this month, the Panthers have repeatedly gained victory when he takes the mound.

Falk’s last two outings have come against ACC rivals Notre Dame and Virginia Tech. Although his bullpen blew leads he protected and he didn’t get much run support from his offense — meaning the wins were not added to his personal record — his stellar pitching helped the team win on both occasions.

Pitching against the Fighting Irish March 20, Falk tossed eight scoreless innings in the best start of his Panthers career, allowing four hits and three walks while striking out six. Reliever Yaya Chentouf blew his lead in the ninth, but the team eventually won in 12 innings, 2-1.

Against the Hokies on Saturday, Falk scattered six hits over seven innings, only giving up two runs while striking out a career-high 10 batters and walking none. Pitt went on to win 3-2 after breaking a tie in the bottom of the eighth inning.

So far this season, Falk has pitched his way to a 2.47 ERA and held opposing batters to a batting average of .194. Much of his success comes from keeping men off base — he gives up just 1.03 walks or hits per inning and leads the team with 38 strikeouts.

Falk will likely take the mound again in the Sunday finale of the upcoming weekend series against the Duke Blue Devils in Durham, North Carolina.