Softball Sweeps Doubleheader at Cleveland State
4/14/2002 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Softball Sweeps Doubleheader at Cleveland State
4/14/2002
PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh Panthers softball team swept a doubleheader at Cleveland State April 13. The Panthers took game one, 7-3 and went on to a 2-0 shutout of the Vikings in game two. The victories improved Pittsburgh's record to 16-19 on the season.
Cleveland State got on the board first and held a 1-0 lead after the first inning and that was as close as they would get. The Panthers put together seven-runs off five hits to take a 7-1 lead after just two innings. Center fielder Amy Steich (Connellsville, Pa./Connellsville) began the scoring with a an RBI single. Second baseman Clare McCann (Wyckoff, N.J./Ramapo) added two more runs off a single of her own and the Panthers added four more before the inning ended, including one on a sacrifice fly from Kelly Hulpa (Washington, Pa./Trinity). The Vikings mounted a rally in the fourth, scoring two runs, but Pittsburgh held on for the win.
Redshirt sophomore Jacki Haar (Naples, Fla./Lely) led the Panthers in game one, going 3-for-3 at the plate with one RBI and one run scored. Freshman pitcher Nikki Gasti (Carmichales, Pa./Carmichaels) pitched a complete game and picked up her seventh win of the season.
After three scoreless innings, Pittsburgh scored back-to-back runs in the fourth and fifth to lead it to a 2-0 victory in game two.
Freshman first baseman Tawni Yamauchi (Newbury Park, Calif./Newbury Park) recorded the Panthers first run of the game when she crossed the plate on a wild pitch and Beth Steidle's (Pottsville, Pa./Pottsville) RBI single in the fifth put the Panthers ahead for good.
Senior hurler Laura LeViere (Pittsburgh, Pa./Northgate) pitched six innings and allowed only one hit, while striking out four, to record her fourth win of the season. Freshman Janelle Pepe (Connellsville, Pa./Connellsville) pitched one inning in relief in the seventh to record her first save of the year.
Pittsburgh returns to action Sunday, April 16, when it travels to Boston College for a Big East contest.