University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Softball Concludes Big East Competition
5/1/2000 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Softball Concludes Big East Competition
5/1/2000
PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh Panthers softball team closed out Big East competition this past week when it traveled to Seton Hall and St. John's. The Panthers split a doubleheader with Seton Hall April 29, dropping a 3-2 decision in game one, but rebounding for a 1-0 victory in game two and went on to drop a doubleheader to the Red Storm by scores of 8-2 and 3-2, respectively.
Seton Hall took a 1-0 lead after one inning in game one. But Pittsburgh capitalized on three Pirate errors to go ahead, 2-1, after five innings. Sophomore Clare McCann (Wyckoff, N.J./Ramapo) doubled and later scored on an error and junior Robin Johnston (Pittsburgh, Pa./Carrick) added another run as she also scored on an error.
The Panthers held their lead until the bottom of the seventh when Seton Hall used three consecutive singles to drive in a run and tie the score at 2-2. The Pirates' Marlena Kotynski sent in the game-winning run moments later on her fielder's choice.
In game two, the Panthers got on the board early and held on for the win. Johnston opened the game with a single and later scored on Tiffany Barrett's (Pittsburgh, Pa./West Allegheny) sacrifice fly.
Sophomore Gina Bessolo (Lakewood, Calif./Lakewood) picked up the shutout in game two to improve her record to 10-8. She pitched the complete game and allowed just three hits.
Against St. John's, the Red Storm jumped to a 4-1 lead in game one after just two innings. The Panthers brought the score within 4-2 in the third with Johnston's RBI single. But St. John's drove in three runs off four hits in the bottom of the fifth to increase its lead to 7-2. The Red Storm added one more run in the sixth to provide the final margin.
In game two with the score tied at 1-1 after six innings, McCann's RBI single scored Amy Steich (Connellville, Pa./Connellsville) to put Pittsburgh ahead, 2-1, in the top of the seventh. St. John's, however, answered with a solo home run to send the game into extra innings. The Red Storm broke the tie in the bottom of the 10th with Lisa Tropea's single that sent home the game-winning run.
The Panthers will wrap up the 2000 season May 2 when they travel to Wright State for a doubleheader. Pittsburgh's record stands at 20-27 overall and 4-12 in the Big East.
