University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Softball Wins One, Loses One, to Visiting Boston College
4/29/2001 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 29, 2001
PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh Panthers softball team split its second Big East Conference doubleheader of the weekend with visiting Boston College, today at Robert Morris College Softball Field. The Panthers rallied to come from behind and take a 2-1 victory in game one, but were shut out in game two, 4-0. The doubleheader concluded Pittsburgh's home schedule for the 2001 season.
The Eagles took a quick 1-0 lead in game one with a lead-off home run by catcher Summer Jarratt in the top of the first inning. After four scoreless innings, the Panthers were able to jump in front of Boston College in the fifth. With a runner on second base, senior Brittany Bell (Brooksville, Fla./Pasco-Hernando C.C.) and junior Amy Steich (Connellsville, Pa./Connellsville) connected on back-to-back RBI doubles to give Pittsburgh the one-run advantage. Solid pitching by sophomore Nikki Gasti (Carmichaels, Pa./Carmichaels) in the final two innings clinched the victory for the Panthers. Gasti allowed just two hits in the game and struck out six batters.
Boston College's Kim Ryan pitched six hitless innings in game two, but Pittsburgh's Bell spoiled the no-hitter with a single to left field in the bottom of the seventh. Ryan recorded eight strikeouts and two walks in the win for the Eagles. Boston College took a 1-0 lead in the third when Jacqui Goodchild scored on a fielding error by Panther second baseman Clare McCann (Wyckoff, N.J./Ramapo). The score remained the same for the next three-and-a-half innings, before Jennifer Asbury added three insurance runs for the Eagles in the top of the seventh with a three-run home run to right field. Junior pitcher Gina Bessolo (Lakewood, Calif./Lakewood) struck out seven batters and gave up five hits for the loss.
The Panthers move to 12-25 overall and are 5-11 in the Big East, while Boston College improve to 26-24 and 7-13 in league play.
Pittsburgh returns to action on Tuesday, May 1, when the Panthers visit Robert Morris for a non-conference doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m. at RMC Softball Field.
