University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt
Notre Dame
Zinger Lifts Panthers In Win Over Notre Dame
5/3/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 3, 2008
PITTSBURGH--Sophomore Kayla Zinger smacks a two-RBI shot to lift the Pitt softball team to its first-ever win over Notre Dame, 4-2, giving the Panthers the split in this afternoon's doubleheader, at Trees Field. Pitt improved to 30-23 on the season and 11-9 in the Big East, while the Irish slipped to 36-18-1 on the year and 13-7 in the league.
With their first-ever win in the 21-game series, Pitt earned its 11th Big East win of the season. That win set a school record, surpassing the 2006 season of 10 league wins.
Zinger (Phoenix, Ariz./Sunnyslope) gave the Panthers the eventual 4-2 win in the sixth inning, with a hard shot to center field that scored senior Jessica Dignon (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) and junior Samantha Card (Miami, Fla./Our Lady of Lourdes/Florida International).
Card was intentionally walked after Dignon stepped to the plate and tallied her 17th double of the season to trade places with freshman Ashley Amistade (Washington, Pa./Trinity). That RBI was Dignon's 43rd of the season, while Amistade recorded a leadoff single in the inning.
Card drove in the first run of the game with a hard shot through the middle that scored senior Mary Hecker (Roseville, Calif./Roseville) in the first inning.
Zinger earned her 12th win of season in the circle, giving up four hits and striking out five in the contest. Additionally, junior Kaitlyn Schuster (Ellwood City, Lincoln) recorded her second save of the season, as she pitched the final three outs of the game after two runners got on base in the seventh.
On the final play of the game, Hecker made a diving catch to stop a groundball headed into right field. After taking a look at freshman Alicia Broudy (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) at first she made the pass for the final out of the game.
The Irish tied the game at 1-1 in the third inning after a lead-off double resulted in a run. Later in the sixth they took a 2-1 lead with a one-out homer to right field.
Pitt will play its regular-season finale on Sunday, as it honors its six seniors prior to its 11 a.m. doubleheader against DePaul.
