Brant named freshman All-American

When freshman southpaw Robert Brant joined Pitt’s baseball team this past season, head coach… When freshman southpaw Robert Brant joined Pitt’s baseball team this past season, head coach Joe Jordano knew he potentially had a good pitcher on his hands.

But just how good Brant was — and how soon he would become that good — Jordano had no idea.

To his delight, though, Brant eased his way into the No. 2 spot in the rotation behind Billy Muldowney over the course of his freshman season and never looked back.

His 7-2 record and team-best 2.07 earned run average earned him a Louisville Slugger Freshmen All-American selection as chosen by Collegiate Baseball. He is the second Panther in as many years to be selected after Jim Negrych garnered the accolade last year.

Brant picked up his first win of the season March 30 against Kent State, pitching seven innings of a 12-2 victory.

Perhaps Brant’s biggest moment, however, was on a major stage against Pitt’s city rival, the Duquesne Dukes. He struck out eight batters in four and two-thirds innings pitched on the way to a 9-2 Pitt win at PNC Park.

After settling into the rotation, Brant found himself pitching in one big game after another during the Big East Conference schedule.

He finished with a 4-1 record and 1.56 ERA in the Big East, earning himself a second-team All-Big East selection — Pitt’s first rookie pitcher named to an All-League team.

In addition to his stellar record and earned run average, Brant led all Big East freshmen in numerous categories, including wins, strikeouts, shutouts and complete games. He was also named Big East Pitcher of the Week on May 2.

The Pitcher of the Week award came on the heels of Brant’s masterful performance on the mound in the second game of a doubleheader against the West Virginia Mountaineers.

In that game, Brant pitched a complete-game shutout, holding the West Virginia offense to just six hits and one walk. He also struck out 12 in the effort.

Brant capped off his freshman season with a start in Pitt’s opening game of the Big East tournament against then No. 23-ranked and top-seeded St. John’s Red Storm, justifying the team’s confidence in him.

He pitched seven innings, allowing just one run on six hits. He struck out seven batters as the Panthers won the game, 4-1.

Putting all freshman success aside, Brant will look to get better for next season as he participates in the New England Collegiate Baseball League this summer. He’ll be pitching for the Keene Swamp Bats.

The Swamp Bats, who are 4-1 on the young season, have been a member of the NECBL since November 1997 and feature two other Pitt Panthers on their roster — first baseman Dan Ford and pitcher Chad Baker.

The NECBL season started during the first week of June and continues through the first week of August. The Swamp Bats play their home games at Alumni Field on Arch Street in Keene, N.H.

After one start in the summer league, Brant holds an unblemished record and earned run average of 1-0 and 0.00, respectively. He pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing only one hit while striking out 10 and walking five.

Editor’s note: Neither Brant nor Jordano could be reached for comment on this story