Pitt Opens ACC Play at NC State

PITTSBURGH – The University of Pittsburgh softball team will open conference play this weekend at NC State, March 2-4, at Dail Softball Stadium in Raleigh, N.C.

THE SCHEDULE

The Panthers are set for a three-game series with the Wolfpack beginning Friday, March 2. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. The two teams will continue play Saturday, March 2 at 2 p.m. before closing out the weekend Sunday, March 4 at 12 p.m.

HOW TO FOLLOW

All games will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra through WatchESPN.
Live stats will be available for all games.
Fans can follow @Pitt_SB on Twitter for live in-game updates.

THE SERIES

Pitt will meet NC State for three contests this weekend. The Panthers lead the all-time series 8-7.
The last time the two teams met, Pitt captured the three-game series in thrilling fashion with walk-off home run in ninth inning by then freshman Kaitlyn Kruger.
The Panthers and Wolfpack first met Feb. 20, 2004, where Pitt fell to NC State, 5-4.

SCOUTING NC STATE

NC State enters ACC opening weekend with a 11-5 overall record after defeating UNCW in a midweek contest, 4-2.
In 2017, the Wolfpack finished 18-38 overall and 10-14 in conference play. NC State defeated Louisville 5-2 in the opening round of the ACC Tournament, before falling to North Carolina, 8-7, in the semifinals.
NC State's lineup consists of five players hitting over .300, including Sam Ross who boasts a .421 average with a team-leading 16 hits. Cheyenne Balzer and Timberlyn Shurbutt lead the Wolfpack in at-bats and have knocked in 12 RBI and 11 RBI respectfully.

WALK-OFF MEMORIES

In the final game of the series versus NC State in 2017 at Vartabedian Field in Pittsburgh, Pitt defeated NC State in extra innings thanks to a walk-off home run.
Then freshman Kaitlyn Kruger was the home run hero of the day as she blasted her first-career long ball over the left field wall in the bottom of the ninth to seal the game.
The Panthers entered the seventh inning trailing 3-0, before a pair of home runs from McKayla Taylor and Erin Hershman tied the game. After a scoreless eighth, Kruger went yard pushed Pitt past the Wolfpack.

LAST TIME OUT

The Panthers traveled to Conway, S.C. to participate in the Chanticleer Showdown, hosted by Coastal Carolina. The squad went 3-2, defeating the host team, but splitting with both Saint Joseph's and Georgetown.
On day one, Pitt took down Georgetown 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. Against Saint Joseph's, 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 sophomore Kaitlyn Kruger added her second long ball of the day to the mix.
The Panthers dropped their first game of day two to the Hoyas, 5-3. Despite a late comeback attempt that saw Pitt score three in the final two innings of play, Georgetown held on for the victory. The Panthers tallied five hits in the game, with senior Giorgiana Zeremenko and Kruger each producing two. Zeremenko finished with all three RBI after recording a two-run homer and an RBI-single. Against the Chanticleers, Pitt bounced back with a 4-3 victory. Two home runs in the game gave the Panthers a 4-1 lead, as Kruger and senior Erin Hershman both went yard. Coastal Carolina's comeback in the final inning fell short as they were only able to push across two runs. Junior Sarah Dawson tossed a complete game, striking out a career-high seven batters.
Pitt closed out the tournament against Saint Joseph's, falling to the Hawks 8-6. After scoring five runs in the top half of the first inning, the Panthers gave up eight runs in the bottom half of the opening frame to fall behind. 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.

GOING YARD

With 1.36 home runs per game, the Panthers sit 12^th in the nation this week in the category. In the ACC the squad holds the top spot.
Pitt has blasted 19 long balls in just 14 games. Last weekend at the Chanticleer Showdown, the Panthers posted six total home runs with three coming from sophomore Kaitlyn Kruger.
Nine different players have hit a homer, including a team-leading six by senior Giorgiana Zeremenko, who ranks ninth in the nation in home runs and 15^th in the nation with 0.43 home runs per game. Zeremenko became the all-time leader in the category at the B1G/ACC Challenge, notching her 35^th home run. She was the leading home run hitter for Pitt the past two seasons including 2016 when she set the single-season record with 17. She now has 37 in her career.

LEVESQUE TO LEADOFF

After starting the season out in the bottom of the batting order, freshman Hunter Levesque worked her way into the leadoff spot after picking up her game.
The freshman has reached base in seven straight games, dating back to Pitt's game versus Wisconsin on Feb. 17.
Levesque is hitting .324 with 11 hits, including one home run. She has knocked in five runs and has scored six time.

SOLAK SHOWING OFF

Junior Alexis Solak has proved to be one of the Panthers most consistent hitters at the plate.
From Feb. 10 to Feb. 24, Solak reached the base paths in 10-straight games.
The junior boasts a .311 average and ranks second on the team in hits with 14, all of which have been singles.

DOMINANT DAWSON

Junior pitcher Sarah Dawson has been dominant in the circle for Pitt so far in 2018.
Dawson has earned all but three decisions thus far in 2018 and is currently 6-3 on the season. In a team-leading 42.1 innings pitched, she has struck out 28 batters and owns a 1.82 ERA.
In a win over Coastal Carolina, Dawson pitched a complete game and struck out a career-high seven batters.
At the B1G/ACC Challenge, the junior gave up just five earned runs in 13.1 innings pitched, while striking out 11 total batters. Four of those earned runs came in the opening game of the weekend, leaving Dawson almost perfect after that.
Against Illinois Feb. 18, Dawson started the game and pitched all but one frame in the five-inning game, as she and Brittany Knight combined to toss the team's first shutout victory, 9-0. Dawson struck out five on the day and walked just one batter against the Illini.

LOCAL LEADER

Local product Olivia Gray, who hails from Washington, Pa., just south of Pittsburgh and attended Trinity High School, has grown to become one of Pitt's top players.
The Panthers starting third baseman for the second consecutive year, Gray boasts a .287 career average with 88 hits and a .469 slugging percentage.
Gray hit .353 in the team's opening weekend boasting a team-leading six hits, including one triple and four runs scored.

UP NEXT

The Panthers will remain on the road for spring break, continuing an 11-day road stint. Pitt will head south to the sunshine state for seven games including a doubleheader at FIU and a tournament at FAU.

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Players Mentioned

Sarah Dawson

Marissa DeMatteo

Olivia Gray

Kayla Harris

Erin Hershman

Brittany Knight

Kaitlyn Kruger

Hunter Levesque

Alexis Solak

McKayla Taylor

Giorgiana Zeremenko