Pitt
Kent State
Softball Drops Doubleheader to Visiting Kent State
4/19/2001 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 19, 2001
PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh Panthers softball team dropped both games of a nonconference doubleheader to visiting Kent State today at Frick Field. The Golden Flashes claimed a 6-2 win in game one and shut out the Panthers, 2-0, in game two.
Kent State got all the runs it would need for the win in the fourth inning of the first matchup. The Golden Flashes connected on six hits in the stanza, including a triple by first baseman Leah Dorto that drove in two runs. However, the Panthers avoided the shutout with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Junior Kate Mitchell (St. Louis, Mo./Lafayette) reached first base after she was hit by a pitch. Senior Brittany Bell (Brooksville, Fla./Pasco-Hernando C.C.) then reached on a fielder's choice, before freshman Beth Gill (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair) singled down the right field line to score both runners.
Sophomore pitcher Nikki Gasti (Carmichaels, Pa./Carmichaels) received the loss for the Panthers in three and one-third innings of work. Fellow sophomore Janelle Pepe (Connellsville, Pa./Connellsville) pitched three and two-thirds innings in relief and struck out six batters. Nicole Karasek earned the win for Kent State.
The Golden Flashes struck quickly in game two, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, when center fielder LeAnn Fincham tripled before scoring. Kent State scored its second run in the sixth inning, an unearned run by Marci Ridenbaugh, who reached first on an error. The Panthers attempted a rally in the bottom of the seventh and final inning, but fell short as they left the bases loaded.
Pepe started game two on the mound and received the loss for Pittsburgh. She pitched two complete innings before being replaced by junior Gina Bessolo (Lakewood, Calif./Lakewood) for the remainder of the game. Freshman Missy Smith (Clackamas, Ore./Clackamas), the designated player, led the Panthers at the plate as she hit a perfect 2-for-2.
Pittsburgh moves to 10-29 overall (3-7 Big East Conference), while Kent State improved to 21-16. The Panthers will return to action on Saturday, April 21, when they travel to Virginia for a nonconference doubleheader.
