Pitt
Providence
Softball Splits Big East Doubleheader With Providence
4/28/2001 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 28, 2001
PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh Panthers softball team split a Big East Conference doubleheader with visiting Providence today at Robert Morris College Softball Field. The Panthers claimed a 2-0 shutout in game one, but fell to the Friars, 7-1, in game two of the afternoon.
Sophomore pitcher Nikki Gasti (Carmichaels, Pa./Carmichaels) led Pittsburgh to the game one win with a two-hit complete game shutout for her sixth victory of the year. Gasti held the Friars without a hit until the fifth inning and struckout seven batters.
The Panthers got both of their runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Freshman center fielder Beth Gill (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair) led off the inning with a single to right field before stealing second base. Junior first baseman Kate Mitchell (St. Louis, Mo./Lafayette) got an RBI when she doubled to right center field, scoring Gill. Pinch-runner Beth Steidle (Pottsville, Pa./Pottsville) was then able to score when freshman shortstop Laura Vavricka (Mt. Laurel, N.J./Lenape) reached first on a fielding error by the first baseman.
Game two of the afternoon saw a different story for the Panthers as Providence collected 10 hits and rolled to the 7-1 win. Friar second baseman Gwyn Mangini began the game with a lead-off home run before an RBI-double by third baseman Nicole Nelson gave the Friars a quick 2-0 lead. Providence went on to score one run in the third and two runs each in the fourth and fifth innings. Pittsburgh avoided the shutout with a run in the bottom of the sixth when pinch-hitter Missy Smith (Clackamas, Ore./Clackamas) scored on an RBI-double by Vavricka.
Sophomore pitcher Janelle Pepe (Connellsville, Pa./Connellsville) received the loss for the Panthers in 2.1 innings of work, while junior hurler Gina Bessolo (Lakewood, Calif./Lakewood) closed out the game. Cori Van Dusen earned the win for the Friars. Gill led Pittsburgh at the plate with a perfect 2-for-2 effort.
The Panthers move to 11-34 overall and 4-10 in the Big East, while Providence moves to 22-24 and 4-12 in league play.
Pittsburgh will host Boston College in a Big East doubleheader on Sunday, April 29. Game one begins at noon at Robert Morris College Softball Field.
