University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Panthers Softball Swept by Notre Dame
4/9/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Panthers Softball Swept by Notre Dame
4/9/2005
PITTSBURGH?An overpowering offense and clutch pitching by the Notre Dame softball team helped the Fighting Irish to a sweep of the host Panthers in a Big East doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Trees Field.
Pitt (15-17) managed just six hits and two runs in the twinbill, losing 7-2 in the first game and 6-0 in the second to drop to 2-2 in Big East play. Notre Dame improved to 24-8 and 4-0 in the conference with the two victories.
The Fighting Irish scored seven runs in the final four innings of game one after the two teams battled to a scoreless tie through the first three frames. Pitt got its only two runs of the day on a two-run home run by junior Lisa McGregor (Royersford, Pa./Spring-Ford Senior) in the seventh inning, scoring Heather Connor (Reading, Pa./Muhlenberg), who had reached on a walk. Notre Dame's Steffany Stenglein (10-4) allowed just four hits in the win and struck out 12 Panthers. Junior Christa Hunter (Sacramento, Calif./Hiram Johnson West) dropped to 7-8 with the loss, pitching the entire game and allowed 11 hits and seven runs, four of which were earned with five Pitt errors.
In game two, the Fighting Irish's Heather Booth (13-4) allowed just two hits and two walks while striking out 12 to pick up the shutout in the circle. Pitt's Laura Belardinelli (Endicott, N.Y./Union-Endicott) dropped to 6-6 with the loss, allowing five runs in five innings of work.
The Panthers will host Penn State on Wednesday, April 13, in a doubleheader at Trees Field. The first game is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.
