Softball Splits Non-Conference Doubleheader With Canisius
4/29/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Softball Splits Non-Conference Doubleheader With Canisius
4/29/2003
BUFFALO, N.Y. ? The Pittsburgh softball team dropped a tough 3-2 decision in game one of a doubleheader at Canisius on Tuesday afternoon before coming back for a 5-0 victory in game two.
The win gives Pittsburgh 21 victories for the season, tying the school mark, set in 2002 (21-33) and in 2000 (21-28). The Panthers are 21-30 in 2003 with four games remaining.
The Golden Griffins scored twice in the bottom of the first inning in game one for a 2-0 lead on Pittsburgh starter Nikki Gasti (Carmichaels, Pa./ Carmichaels). After adding another run in the fifth to make it 3-0, the Panthers scored twice in the seventh inning but fell just short of the comeback.
After a leadoff walk to Angela Blackmon (San Diego, Calif./Palomar C.C.) in the seventh, she moved to second base on a groundout. After Blackmon moved to third on a wild pitch, Tiffany White (Carlsbad, Calif./Palomar C.C.) drew a walk and junior Missy Smith (Clackamas, Ore./Clackamas) pinch-ran for White.
Freshman Jessica Thomas (Southlake, Texas/Carroll) had the Panthers' second hit of the game with an RBI single, scoring Blackmon and moving Smith to second. Pinch-hitter Heather Andrews (Zelienople, Pa./Riverside) struck out for the Panthers' second out of the inning but Smith scored when senior Ana Velazquez (Santa Ana, Calif./Santa Ana C.C.) reached on an error.
Gasti went six innings, allowing 11 hits and three runs, but struck out nine Golden Griffins batters to give her 198 for the season.
In game two, the Panthers scored once in the first, twice in the second inning, and twice more in the sixth for a 5-0 victory. Senior pitcher Janelle Pepe (Connellsville, Pa./Connellsville) won her eighth game of the season with a complete-game, seven-hit shutout. Pepe did not walk a batter and struck out six to improve to 8-12 on the season.
After Velazquez walked to lead off the game, she was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and to third on a groundout. With two outs, Casey Pickard (Newhall, Calif./William S. Hart) singled through the left side to score Velazquez with the game's first run.
In the Panthers' second inning, White walked with one out and moved to second when Thomas reached on a fielder's choice. After both runners moved up on a passed ball, Smith doubled to left-center field to score both White and Thomas for a 3-0 lead.
In the sixth inning, Blackmon singled down the left field line and moved to second on a single by Kelly Hulpa (Washington, Pa./Trinity). After Blackmon was picked off, Hulpa stole second and White connected on her fourth home run of the season, a two-run shot to center field.
Pittsburgh will play at Robert Morris on Thursday in a doubleheader before returning home for the season finale against Providence with two games starting at 11 a.m. The Panthers need just one overall win and one conference win to set new school records.