Softball Clinches First-Ever Big East Championship Berth
5/2/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 2, 2006
"We worked hard to get to this point and we are now one step closer to a Big East championship for this program," Pitt softball head coach Michelle Phalen said. "We are thrilled to be appearing in and competing for our first ever Big East championship. Pitt softball has set numerous records and made huge gains this season and this is another tremendous result of this team's hard work."
Pitt has broken nine team records and three individual marks this season. As a team, the Panthers set program records in wins (29), hits (358), batting average (.259), RBI (189), triples (14), runs (215), stolen bases (77), walks (147) and conference wins (10). The squad also won six consecutive road games, shattering the latest record of three road victories in 2003.
Senior co-captain Francesca DiMaria (
"We are all excited about making it to the tournament, especially since it was one of our main goals this season," DiMaria said. "Now, we are just going to focus on preparing to play the best we can at the tournament."
Phalen is in her ninth season with the Panthers and became the first-ever head softball coach at Pitt in 1998.
"I am excited to be a part of this program and I look forward to greater accomplishments from this team in the next few weeks," noted Phalen.
Pitt closes its home schedule against Robert Morris, on Tuesday, at 1 p.m. at Trees Field. With today's games the Panthers will tie the record for games in a season at 57 and are on the verge of setting a number of other individual records.
