Softball Falls in Two Doubleheaders Over the Weekend
4/22/2001 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Softball Falls in Two Doubleheaders Over the Weekend
4/22/2001
VIRGINIA - The Pittsburgh softball team dropped a pair of doubleheaders on a road swing through Virginia over the weekend. The Panthers lost to Virginia (45-13) with scores of 8-2 and 2-0 in Charlottesville, Va., April 21, before falling to Big East Conference foe Virginia Tech (32-19), 5-0 and 2-1, in Blacksburg, Va., on April 22.
Pittsburgh was limited to just three hits in the doubleheader at Virginia. In game one, the Cavaliers jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first inning as they recorded five extra-base hits. Right fielder Meghan Young helped Virginia in the effort with a triple and a two-run double in the inning. The Panthers got on the board in the top of the second when senior right fielder Brittany Bell (Brooksville, Fla./Pasco-Hernando C.C.) scored on a ground out by junior second baseman Clare McCann (Wyckoff, N.J./Ramapo). Virginia extended its lead with a run in the bottom of the second, a lead-off home run by Ruby Rojas, and another in the fourth. Pittsburgh added one more in the sixth when pinch-runner Robin Johnston (Pittsburgh, Pa./Carrick) scored on a wild pitch, but it wasn't enough for the win.
Junior Gina Bessolo (Lakewood, Calif./Lakewood) received the loss as the Panthers' starting pitcher, while junior Amy Steich (Connellsville, Pa./Connellsville) had the lone hit for Pittsburgh.
Virginia took another early lead in the second inning of game two when second baseman Jill Bumler hit an RBI single to left center field. Bumler also accounted for the Cavaliers' second run in the fourth inning when first baseman Hannah Owings scored on her suicide squeeze bunt.
Sophomore Nikki Gasti (Carmichaels, Pa./Carmichaels) pitched the complete game to receive the loss. Junior Tiffany Barrett (Pittsburgh, Pa./West Allegheny) and sophomore Kelly Hulpa (Washington, Pa./Trinity) each had hits for the Panthers.
In game one at Virginia Tech on April 22, the Hokies got a near-perfect game from Clarisa Crowell on the mound and a big first inning to take the 5-0 win over the Panthers. Crowell pitched 6.2 perfect innings before Hulpa ruined the no-hitter with a double down the left field line in the top of the seventh. The Hokies got all five of their runs in the first inning with home runs by Amy Voorhees and Mindi Wylie.
Pittsburgh took a 1-0 lead in the third inning of game two on an RBI single by Bell that scored Missy Smith (Clackamas, Ore./Clackamas). But the Hokies quickly tied it up with a run in the bottom of the inning. Virginia Tech then took the 2-1 lead with a run in the bottom of the sixth and held on for the win. Steich led the Panthers at the plate in the loss as she hit 2-for-3. Hulpa, Bell and freshman Beth Gill (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair) also had hits in the game for Pittsburgh.
The Panthers move to 10-33 overall and are 3-9 in Big East play. Pittsburgh will return to action on Saturday, April 28, when the Panthers host Providence in a conference doubleheader. Game time is 11 a.m. at Robert Morris College Softball Field.
