University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Softball Splits Home Doubleheader Versus Robert Morris
4/19/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Softball Splits Home Doubleheader Versus Robert Morris
4/19/2005
PITTSBURGH?The Panthers split their third consecutive doubleheader, winning a 4-0 decision over Robert Morris in the first game before falling 2-1 to the Colonials in game two at Trees Field on Tuesday.
Junior pitcher Christa Hunter (Sacramento, Calif./Hiram Johnson West) picked up her team-leading ninth victory with a complete-game shutout and added her fourth home run of the season in the Panthers' first game. Hunter led the second inning off with a solo home run to right center field on a high, towering shot. It was the ninth homer of her career, tying her for fifth among Pitt's all-time leaders.
Pitt (18-22) wasn't done in the second inning, however, adding three more runs on five hits. Sophomore Joey Scarf (Humble, Texas/Humble) followed Hunter's hit with a single and moved to second when Sheena Hellon (Sacramento, Calif./Cordova) reached on a bunt single. Both Scarf and Hellon stole a base and with two outs, freshman Jessica Dignon (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) drove both runners in with a single to center field. Freshman Kelly Stiles (Thurmont, Md./Catoctin) pinch-ran for Dignon and moved to second on a single by Francesca DiMaria (Pittsburgh, Pa./Montour). Sophomore Morgan Howard (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) followed with another single that brought Stiles around from second with the Panthers' fourth run.
Although both teams had chances to score for the remainder of the game, Hunter allowed just five hits and one walk while striking out three in the victory. DiMaria, Howard and Hunter had two hits apiece to lead the Panthers' 10-hit barrage.
The Colonials (15-19-1) scored first in the second game with a run in the first inning against Pitt starter Laura Belardinelli (Endicott, N.Y./Union-Endicott). The Panthers were able to tie it up in the bottom of the second, thanks to two Robert Morris errors. Scarf reached on a two-base throwing error by the Colonial shortstop and later scored when Stiles reached on an error by RMU pitcher Danielle Cohen.
Cohen (6-5) took control of the game after that and despite, five walks, two hit batters and a total of three Colonial errors, won the game by allowing just two Panther hits. A costly error in the seventh inning by the Panthers allowed the Colonials to score the eventual game-winning run.
The Panthers are off until Saturday when they host Big East rival Seton Hall in a doubleheader at 10 a.m. at Trees Field.
