Zeremenko Breaks Home Run Record on Day One of B1G/ACC Challenge

Friday, February 16

Chapel Hill, N.C.

11:00 AM EST

Pitt

3-2-1

Wisconsin

3-2

Wisconsin

Pitt

Zeremenko Breaks Home Run Record on Day One of B1G/ACC Challenge

2/16/2018 5:10:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Wisconsin Box Score Illinois Box Score Season Stats

Senior Goes Yard Twice Versus Illinois

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Senior Giorgiana Zeremenko of the University of Pittsburgh softball team went yard twice on Friday to collect career numbers 34 and 35 to set a new program record on day one of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, as the Panthers fell to both Wisconsin and Illinois at North Carolina's Anderson Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C.

The senior, who set the Panthers' single-season record in 2016 with 17 long balls, surpassed former Pitt standout Holly Stevens, who previously held the record with 34. Zeremenko now has 35 in her career, including four in 2018 which leads the team.

In the opening game of the Challenge, Pitt [3-3-1] dropped a 5-1 decision to the Badgers [3-2], before falling to Illinois, 5-4, in a nine-inning thriller.

Against Wisconsin, the Panthers trailed 2-1 heading into the fifth inning but a string of hits from the Badgers scored three in the frame to give Wisconsin the lead.

In Pitt's second extra-innings game of the season, the Panthers fell to Illinois despite producing three home runs. The game was led by the long ball as the two teams combined to hit six total. The Panthers got behind early in the game as the Illini took a 3-1 lead in the first. Pitt chipped away at their opponent's lead, one run at a time, before a two-run frame in the fifth gave the Panthers a 4-3 lead. With two away in the seventh and Pitt looking to close the game, Illinois homered to tie the game. The final inning did not go Pitt's way as the Illini walked-off in the ninth on a Panther error.

At the plate for the Panthers, Zeremenko, in addition to senior McKayla Taylor and junior Alexis Solak, each posted two hits on the day. Pitt also finished the doubleheader with four home runs, as junior Taylor Myers and senior Erin Hershman each had one to add to Zeremenko's two.

Game One Rundown: Wisconsin 5, Pitt 1
The Panthers dropped game one of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge to Wisconsin, 5-1. Starting pitcher Sarah Dawson earned the loss after giving up five runs, four unearned, to the Badgers.

Wisconsin jumped on the board first in the second inning, scoring a single run to take the lead. A leadoff walk, followed by a double to left center set up a runners on second and third for Lauren Foster. Foster sent a ground ball to the right side, allowing the runner from third to reach home for the lone run.

Pitt knotted the game 1-1 in the bottom of the second thanks to a solo shot by Hershman, her second of the season.

The Badgers regained the lead in the top of the third, 2-1, on an RBI double by Brook Wyderski. Wyderski scored Gabby Scherle, who reached second on an overthrow by Taylor at short.

Following a scoreless fourth, Wisconsin put together a three-run inning in the fifth to extend its lead to 5-1. The Badgers put runners on first and second following a single and hit by pitch, which quickly turned into second and third after a sac bunt. A double by Taylor Johnson cleared the bases to make it 4-1. Johnson scored the fifth and final run after crossing the plate on another double, this one by Samantha Arents. Senior Kayla Harris replaced Dawson in the circle to close out the inning and the remainder of the game.

Game Two Rundown: Illinois 5, Pitt 4 [Nine Innings]
In a nine-inning thriller that featured a heavy amount of home runs, the Panthers fell to Illinois despite being one out away in the seventh from earning the win. Dawson earned her second loss of the day after relieving Harris in the starting role.

In an action packed first inning, Pitt and Illinois combined to hit three home runs to get the game started. Zeremenko got the Panthers on the board in the first with a two-out long ball to left, giving Pitt the 1-0 lead.

However, the Illini answered with two home runs of their own, one solo and a two-run shot, to put the home team on top 3-1. Junior pitcher Taylor Rahach replaced Harris in the circle to start the second.

The Panthers pulled within one in the third, thanks to Zeremenko's record-breaking home run, which marked her second of the game and fourth of the season.

The long ball continued to benefit Pitt as Myers tied up the game in the fifth, 3-3, with a solo shot of her own. Up until this point, every run had been scored off of a home run.

The Panthers took a 4-3 lead in the same frame after a pitching change by Illinois. The top of the order came up for Pitt, with Gray earning a walk. Solak, who batted next, dropped down a sac bunt intended to move Gray to second. Heads up running from Gray scored her on the same play, after the Illini's second baseman committed a throwing error trying to catch her running to third. The overthrow allowed the junior to reach home.

Rahach, looking to close out the game for the Panthers, put away the first two batters in the bottom of the seventh but Illinois' Alexis Carillo found a ball in the zone and sent it out of the park to tie the game 4-4.

The two teams battled through a scoreless eighth to move on to the ninth, where the Illini came out on top. After back-to-back singles set up runners on first and second for the home team, an error by Taylor on an attempt to get the lead runner at third gave Illinois the walk-off win.

Up Next
The Panthers will continue play at the Big Ten/ACC Challenge Saturday, Feb. 17. Pitt will face Wisconsin for the second time this weekend at 11 a.m. With potential inclement weather in the forecast for Saturday, fans can check Twitter PittsburghPanthers.com for game time updates.

#H2P | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook