University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Panthers Drop Second Game of Doubleheader to Youngstown State
3/31/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Panthers Drop Second Game of Doubleheader to Youngstown State
3/31/2005
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - In a back-and-forth contest, the Pittsburgh softball team allowed three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning and dropped a 6-5 decision in the second game of a doubleheader at Youngstown State. The Panthers had won the first game by a score of 5-1.
The Panthers (12-15) had come back from three one-run deficits to tie the score and eventually took a 5-3 lead through four and a half innings but couldn't hold on for their seventh win in eight games. Youngstown State scored first in the bottom of the initial frame, off of Pittsburgh starter Laura Belardinelli (Endicott, N.Y./Union-Endicott). Belardinelli helped herself in the top of the second, however, with an RBI single in her first at-bat of the season to score Sheena Hellon (Sacramento, Calif./Cordova), who had reached on a two-base error.
After another run by the Penguins in the bottom of the second, Pitt tied it once again in the top half of the third. Morgan Howard (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) led off with one of her career-high three hits but was forced out on a fielder's choice by Casey Pickard (Newhall, Calif./William S. Hart). Pickard came all the way around to score from first on an RBI double by Heather Connor (Reading, Pa./Muhlenberg). Youngstown State came back with a run in the bottom of the third to grab their third lead of the nightcap.
Pittsburgh answered for the third time in the fourth inning, getting a double by Joey Scarf (Humble, Texas/Humble) and an error by the Penguins that allowed Scarf to score the tying run. The Panthers then plated two runs in the fifth to grab a 5-3 advantage. Freshman Valerie Mihalik (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland) singled and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Scarf followed with a single to score Mihalik and later scored on a pinch-hit double by Christa Hunter (Sacramento, Calif./Hiram Johnson West).
Relief pitcher Meghan Bostick (Colleyville, Texas/Grapevine) was cruising until the final inning when the Penguins scored three times for the 6-5 comeback victory. Bostick dropped to 1-3 with the loss, allowing four hits and three runs in 3.2 innings but struck out six Penguins batters for more than half of the outs she recorded.
The Panthers will begin Big East action this weekend with doubleheaders at Villanova on Saturday, April 2, and at Rutgers on Sunday, April 3. Both twinbills are scheduled to begin at noon.
