Oct. 12, 2006
MOON, PA - The Pitt softball team returned garnered a 4-1 record and claimed the Robert Morris Invitational title, this past weekend. Three Panthers blasted homers as Pitt concluded its fall ball schedule with an 8-2 record.
Pitt's second day of action was full of offense as the Panthers scored at least six runs in all three games.
The Panthers faced Gannon in the title game. Highlighting the 8-3 victory was senior Laura Belardinelli (Endicott, N.Y./Union-Endicott) who hit 2-for-3 from the plate and recorded her first-career homerun.
Junior Jessica Dignon (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) hit a perfect 3-for-3 and was hit by the pitcher once, while junior Valerie Mihalik (Hampton, Va./Grafton High School) tallied a double. Freshman Kayla Zinger (Phoenix, Ariz./Sunnyslope High School) pitched the win.
The day started with a 9-1 outpour over Gannon in six innings. Freshman Alex Shoemaker (Hampton, Va./Grafton High School) and Mihalik recorded back-to-back homeruns in the game. Shoemaker hit 2-for-3 from the plate and Mihalik was a perfect 2-for-2.
In the same game, sophomore Samantha Card (Miami, Fla./Florida International) had a single and a triple, while Dignon hit 3-for-4 with a double and a stolen base. Senior Meghan Bostick (Colleyville, Texas/Grapevine) picked up the win from the circle.
Later, Belardinelli earned the 6-4 win against California (Pa.) in five innings. In their second meeting against the Vulcans, Mihalik tallied a double and Card hit 1-for-2, posting a single and being hit by a pitch.
Bostick was the winning pitcher in the opening game of the invitational, as the Panthers beat California (Pa.), 4-3, in six innings. Senior Morgan Howard (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) was 3-for-4 and had a stolen base in the game, while junior Kelly Stiles (Thurmont, Md./Catoctin) was perfect from the plate (3-for-3).
Despite a double and a single from senior Sheena Hellon (Sacramento, Calif./Cordova) in the second game of the first day, the Panthers fell 3-2 to host Robert Morris in five inning. Card tallied a double in the loss.
Pitt's spring season opens on Friday, Feb. 9, when the Panthers travel to Boca Raton, Fla. for the three-day FAU Miken Invitational.
