Pitt Sweeps on Day One of Chanticleer Showdown

Friday, February 23

Conway, S.C.

9:30 AM EST

Pitt

6-3-1

Georgetown

2-8

Pitt

Georgetown

Pitt Sweeps on Day One of Chanticleer Showdown

2/23/2018 3:59:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Georgetown Box Score Saint Joseph's Box Score Season Stats

Solid Defense Leads to Wins Versus Georgetown, Saint Joseph’s

CONWAY, S.C. – The University of Pittsburgh softball team swept on day one of the Chanticleer Showdown, as the Panthers defeated Georgetown and Saint Joseph's at Coastal Carolina Softball Field in Conway, S.C.

Pitt [7-3-1] took down Georgetown [2-8] 2-0 behind a stellar outing from senior pitcher Kayla Harris. Harris threw a complete game shutout, including four perfect innings with the help of her defense. She also struck out two batters without giving up any walks.

The Panthers posted one run in the opening inning of play, before a pinch-hit homer by Kaitlyn Kruger gave Pitt an insurance run in the final inning of the game. Six different players posted hits in the game, with Kruger and senior Giorgiana Zeremenko both earning RBI.

Against Saint Joseph's [2-4], the Panthers posted eight hits, while the Hawks committed four errors to lead Pitt to a 7-1 victory. Junior Alexis Solak, freshman Hunter Levesque and junior Marissa DeMatteo each tallied two hits apiece, while Kruger added her second long ball of the day to the mix.

Dawson earned the start in the circle for the Panthers in game two, tossing 5.0 innings and striking out two, before being relieved by Knight in the sixth.

Game One Scoring Summary: Pitt 2, Georgetown 0
The Panthers got on the board in the opening inning of play, taking a 1-0 lead. With one away, junior Oliva Gray was issued a walk, setting up a runner on first for Zeremenko. Zeremenko ripped a ball up the middle, which got past Georgetown's center fielder, allowing Gray to reach the plate.

After five scoreless innings, Kruger smashed a pinch-hit homer over the center field wall to give Pitt an insurance run and a 2-0 advantage.

Game Two Scoring Summary: Pitt 7, Saint Joseph's 1
The Panthers put up a two-run inning in the bottom of the second to get out in front of Saint Joseph's, on a two-RBI single by DeMatteo. With one away, senior McKayla Taylor reached base after flaring a ball down the right field line. She was joined on the base paths by Kruger after she was hit with a pitch, setting up DeMatteo's single up the middle scoring both runners.

Pitt added to its total in the fourth inning, taking a 4-0 advantage. Kruger came up big again with her second solo shot of the day for the first run, while Levesque also scored for the Panthers after coming around on a pair of errors.

The Hawks posted their first run of the game in the top of the fifth. Back-to-back leadoff singles put runners on first and second. A third single by Ashley Hession brought around Taryn Grober.

Pitt added its final three runs in the sixth to take a 7-1 lead. Taylor was hit by a pitch to start things off in the inning and advanced to third on a sac bunt by Kruger. She scored on a single by Levesque in the next at-bat. A single by DeMatteo kept the inning going, putting two runners on for Solak. A single by Solak scored Levesque, while DeMatteo scored on a botched pickoff attempt.

Up Next
The Panthers will continue play at the Chanticleer Showdown Saturday, Feb. 24. Pitt will face Georgetown for the second time this weekend at 9:30 a.m., before taking on host, Coastal Carolina at 2:30 p.m.

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