University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt Earns Split at Providence
4/17/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Pitt Earns Split at Providence
4/17/2005
PROVIDENCE, R.I.?For the second time in as many days, the Pittsburgh softball team earned a split on the road in a Big East doubleheader and won their half of the doubleheader in extra innings. The Panthers topped Providence, 3-2, in eight innings in game two after dropping the first contest by a score of 9-2.
Pitt is now 17-21 on the season and 4-4 in Big East play, topping last year's conference victory total with 10 more games on the schedule. The Panthers were 3-15 in the Big East in 2004.
Things started out well in game one for the Panthers as they scored their only two runs in the top of the first inning off of Friars starter Nicole Bartholomew. Junior Francesca DiMaria (Pittsburgh, Pa./Montour) doubled to right center field to lead the game off and moved to third on a single by center fielder Morgan Howard (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny). After Howard stole second, first baseman Casey Pickard (Newhall, Calif./William S. Hart) doubled to drive in her 79th and 80th career runs, breaking former Panther Kelly Hulpa's career record.
Pitt managed just one hit the rest of the way, however, and Providence connected for four home runs, nine total runs and 13 hits for the 9-2 win. Junior Christa Hunter (Sacramento, Calif./Hiram Johnson West) dropped to 8-10 in the circle, allowing eight runs, seven of which were earned, in 5 1/3 innings.
The Panthers got strong pitching from sophomore Laura Belardinelli (Endicott, N.Y./Union-Endicott) in the second game and picked up an early 1-0 lead in the second inning. Sophomore Sheena Hellon (Sacramento, Calif./Cordova) doubled with two outs off of Bartholomew and scored when catcher Heather Connor (Reading, Pa./Muhlenberg) reached on a two-base error by left fielder Michele Bowers.
Pitt scored its second run in the fifth inning off of Sara Surosky. Freshman Mary Hecker (Roseville, Calif./Roseville) singled to lead things off and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by DiMaria. With two outs, Pickard reached on an error moving Hecker up to third base and a double steal allowed Pickard to swipe second and Hecker to take home for the 2-0 lead. Belardinelli held until the bottom of the seventh when the Friars plated two for a 2-2 tie. The tie didn't last long, however, as Hunter blasted her third home run of the season to lead off the 8th inning, the eventual winning run as the Panthers held on for the 3-2 victory.
Howard and Joey Scarf (Humble, Texas/Humble) had two hits apiece to lead the Panthers in game two and Hellon was busy in the field with 10 perfect chances on three putouts and seven assists. The Panthers return home to face Robert Morris at Trees Field in a doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon.
