March 20, 2006
Box Score
COLUMBUS, Ohio--Seniors Christa Hunter and Jessica Thomas blasted a long ball over the fence, as the University of Pittsburgh softball team posted an 8-0 shutout over Youngstown State at Buckeye Field, in their first game of the Buckeye Invitational.
Hunter (Sacramento, CA/ Hiram Johnson West) recorded her third homer of the season, while Thomas (Southlake, TX/Carroll) garnered her first of the season and second of her career.
Thomas posted hers first in the bottom of the second with a two-out bomb down the right field line. Thomas earned a RBI when junior Sheena Hellon (Sacramento, CA/Cordova), who was on third thanks to two fielding errors and a stolen base, also scored on the play.
Later in the fifth, Hunter turned in her bomb with a shot to left center field that drove in sophomore Jessica Dignon (Pittsburgh, PA/Baldwin) and junior Hellon. Both Dignon and Hellon stole a base prior to scoring. Pitt scored it final run of the game when Valerie Mihalik (Schnecksville, PA/ Parkland), who pinch ran for Thomas, rounded the bases due to a throwing error by the Penguin's shortstop.
The Panthers scored two runs in the third inning, as well. Senior Francesca DiMaria (Pittsburgh, PA/Montour) advanced home on a fielding error, after a sacrifice bunt and single by junior Joey Scarf (Humble, TX/Humble) and Dignon moved her to third base. Senior Lisa McGregor (Royersford, PA/Spring-Ford) tallied the last RBI of the inning when she hit a double to left center field which sent Dignon home.
Junior Megan Bostick (Colleyville, TX/ Grapevine) struck out seven batters and gave up only four hits, working all five innings of action. Youngstown State's Karlie Burnell gave up eight runs and had seven hits against her.
Score by Innings R H E
Youngstown State 000 00 - 0 4 4
Pittsburgh 022 04 - 8 7 0
