Panthers Fall to Hawks in Chanticleer Showdown Finale

Sunday, February 25

Conway, S.C.

9:30 AM EST

Pitt

8-5-1

Saint Joseph's

6-4

Pitt

Saint Josephs

Panthers Fall to Hawks in Chanticleer Showdown Finale

2/25/2018 12:48:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score Season Stats

Pitt Opens ACC Play Next Weekend at NC State

CONWAY, S.C. – The University of Pittsburgh softball team fell to Saint Joseph's in its final contest of the Chanticleer Showdown, 8-6, Sunday, Feb. 25 at Coastal Carolina Softball Field in Conway, S.C.

After scoring five runs in the top half of the first inning, the Panthers [8-4-1] gave up eight runs to the Hawks [6-4] in the bottom half of the opening frame to fall behind. Senior Giorgiana Zeremenko cut Saint Joseph's lead to two with her sixth home run of the season, but Pitt was unable to complete the comeback despite holding the Hawks scoreless the remainder of the game and having multiple chances to score.

The Panthers produced a season-high 12 hits in today's contest, with Zeremenko leading the way. The senior went 3-for-4 with a solo shot and three singles, while freshman Hunter Levesque and juniors Gabrielle Fredericks and Alexis Solak each recorded two hits apiece. Sophomore Alexee Haynes tallied a team-high two RBI.

In the circle, starting pitcher Brittany Knight gave up seven runs, five of which were earned, on three hits and two walks. Knight lasted just one-third of an inning as junior Sarah Dawson relieved Knight in a bases loaded situation with one away. Dawson was credited with just one unearned run in the frame, while holding Saint Joseph's scoreless the remainder of the game.

SCORING SUMMARY
Pitt's bats came alive in the opening inning of play, producing five runs on six hits and an error. With a new lineup order, the Panthers opened with back-to-back singles by Levesque and Zeremenko. A walk to sophomore Kaitlyn Kruger loaded the bases, allowing Fredericks to knock in Levesque for the first run. Solak followed with a hit of her own, which knocked off the left fielder's glove and rolled to the wall, allowing her to reach second and both Zeremenko and Fredericks to touch home. Pitt's bats remained hot as senior McKayla Taylor shot a ball up the middle to put runners on first and third. Haynes earned the final RBI of the inning as she knocked in Taylor on a single to center. The Panthers batted around and led 5-0 at the end of top half of the first.

Saint Joseph's topped Pitt in the bottom half of the first inning, scoring eight runs to pull ahead by three. Knight got the start in the circle for the Panthers, but struggled early on as she hit the first two batters of the frame. A triple by Sarah Ostaszewski in the next at-bat scored both runners. A walk continued the inning for the Hawks, followed by a single to center which scored another run, but Pitt remained on top 5-3. With two runners still on, a RBI-single up the middle was the final hit given up by Knight as Dawson entered in relief with the bases loaded and just one away. The junior issued a bases loaded walk to the first batter she faced, which tied the game 5-5. An error by the Panthers extended the inning as two more runs came around, giving Saint Joseph's a 7-5 lead. A final hit by Ostaszewski would score Molly Kapala and bring the score to 8-5 in favor of the Hawks.

Zeremenko pulled Pitt within two, 8-6, after producing her sixth home run of the season with a shot over the left center wall.

Despite having multiple chances with runners in scoring position throughout the remainder of the game, the Panthers were unable to push any more runs across.

Up Next
The Panthers will hit the road for spring break, beginning an 11-day road stint. Pitt will first head to NC State to take on the Wolfpack in its ACC opener, before heading to the sunshine state for seven games.

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