April 15, 2006
Box Score
SYRACUSE, N.Y.-Junior Sheena Hellon recorded her first-career grand slam in the fifth inning and tallied the final out in the seventh to lift Pitt to a thrilling 6-5 victory over Syracuse to earn the split in the doubleheader at SU Softball Complex, this afternoon. This is the first time the Panthers and Orange have ever split in their series, as Pitt adds another win to that record season, improving to 27-16 overall and 8-6 in Big East play. The win also ties Pitt's record for conference wins.
The Orange scored their first run in the fifth and then mounted four-run seventh inning to get back in the game. Junior Laura Belardinelli (Endicott, N.Y./Union-Endicott) faced a batter with two outs on the board and runners on the corners, when she called junior Heather Connor (Reading, Pa./Muhlenburg) to the mound to make sure they were on the same page. Syracuse's leading-batter, then, popped up to Hellon (Sacramento, Calif./Cordova) to secure the win for the Panthers.
Pitt snapped Syracuse's seven-game win streak when they opened up a 6-0 lead in the fifth inning. The first run scored, as senior Francesca DiMaria's (Pittsburgh, Pa./Montour) hard shot to right field scored Morgan Howard (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny). Sophomore Jessica Dignon (Pittburgh, Pa./Balwin) loaded bases with a shallow shot to right center, after junior Joey Scarf (Humble, Texas/Humble) singled. Hellon, then, recorded her fifth homer of the season with a grand slam deep to center field.
Pitt's defense prevented damage in the sixth, as Dignon recorded another double play with a backhand to grab the ball in fair play and tagged third before gunning down the runner headed to first. Later in the inning, Belardinelli caught another line drive to her glove.
Earlier in the game, Scarf tallied a hit when her ball hopped past the second baseman, allowing Howard to score the first run of the game in the third inning.
Belardinelli (13-6) pitched a no-hitter till the fourth inning and gave up five hits, striking out three batters. Belardinelli made a great glove play in the second inning when she caught a line drive, recovering from her pitch.
Pitt travels to Penn State on Tuesday, April 18, for a doubleheader at 3 p.m.
