Softball Drops Doubleheader to Kent State at Trees Field
4/2/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Softball Drops Doubleheader to Kent State at Trees Field
4/2/2003
PITTSBURGH ?
Kent State (13-7) got two unearned runs in the top of the first inning of game one off of starter Nikki Gasti (Carmichaels, Pa./Carmichaels). The Panthers scored their only run of the afternoon in the bottom half of the inning on a solo home run by freshman Francesca DiMaria (Pittsburgh, Pa./Montour). It was DiMaria?s third home run of the season and gives her 22 RBIs in 2003, one short of the team lead, held by senior Kelly Hulpa (Washington, Pa./Trinity).
The Golden Flashes added two more runs in the top of the sixth for the 4-1 decision. Gasti went the distance for the Panthers, allowing 11 hits in seven innings and struck out five batters to push her over 500 for her career. Already the school?s career strikeout leader, Gasti has 501 strikeouts in 595.2 innings pitched.
Hulpa had her second triple of the season in the fourth inning with two outs but was stranded. Senior Tiffany White (Carlsbad, Calif./Palomar C.C.) had a leadoff double in the fifth for the Panthers but that was as close as the Panthers got to scoring again for the afternoon.
In the second game, Kent State needed just one run in the fourth inning on a sacrifice fly off of Janelle Pepe (Connellsville, Pa./Connellsville). The Golden Flashes? Melissa Rhodes threw a no-hitter, allowiong three walks and striking out just two but got many of the Pittsburgh batters to pop out. Pepe countered with a strong game on the mound, allowing just four hits in seven innings with no walks and five strikeouts.
The two losses were the first for the Panthers at the new Trees Field. Pittsburgh will travel to Seton Hall and St. John?s for conference doubleheaders this coming weekend.
NOTE: The March 29 doubleheader against Notre Dame has been rescheduled for Wednesday, April 9, at Trees Field. The games were postponed due to inclement weather and a starting game time will be released tomorrow for the games against the Fighting Irish.