University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt
DePaul
Softball Earns A 7-3 Win Over No. 23 DePaul
5/4/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 4, 2008
PITTSBURGH--With its first-ever win over DePaul, the Pitt softball team earned its fourth victory over a ranked opponent this season in a 7-3 decision over No. 23 DePaul to earn the split in this afternoon's doubleheader at Trees Field. The Panthers improved to 31-24 on the season and 12-10 in the Big East, while the Blue Demons fell to 45-16 on the year and 16-6 in the league.
Pitt mounted its came back in the sixth inning with five runs off four hits and two DePaul errors. Tying the game with the first RBI of the inning was junior Samantha Card (Miami, Fla./Our Lady of Lourdes/Florida International), who singled through the middle, allowing freshman Ashley Amistade (Washington, Pa./Trinity) to score. Amistade recorded a one-out single on a bunt a few plays prior and moved to second when DePaul's pitcher over threw her at second, on a ground ball from senior Jessica Dignon (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin).
Dignon would score the winning run off a shallow hit to center field from sophomore Megan Livesey (Livingston, N.J./The Montclair Kimberly Academy). A passed ball would place Card on third, which allowed her to run home, when sophomore Kayla Zinger (Phoenix, Ariz./Sunnyslope) split the first and second baseman with a hit that fell in the infield, but out of reach of both defenders.
Senior Kelly Stiles (Thurmont, Md./Catocin) then drove in Livesey with a sacrifice fly to center field, giving Pitt a 6-3 advantage with two outs on the board. The Panthers final run of the game would score when the Blue Demon's catcher misfired on a return pass to the pitcher, resulting in senior Rebecca Stottlemyer (Charleroi, Pa./Home Schooled) scoring her 12th run of the season after replacing Zinger on base.
In her first at-bat of the game, Stiles gave the Panthers a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second inning with a two-RBI bomb through center field. Stiles' first homer of the season scored Zinger, who battled through several pitches before she was walked with two outs in the board.
However, two solo shots from DePaul in the fourth inning gave the Blue Demons a 3-2 advantage. In the first inning, DePaul scored a run off two hits.
In the top of the fifth, Card held off a scoring threat with an excellent play at the plate. First Amistade fielded a double in left field and through a strike to Card at home, as the runner from third made the turn. After making the catch, Card faced the DePaul runner as she jump over her. Then Card realized she never touched the plate so Card made a dive for the plate and tagged the runner's leg as she attempted to once again jump over her.
Zinger tossed her 13th win of the season, allowing 10 hits and striking out four.
Card was 2-for-3 with a run and a RBI in the contest, while Dignon recorded four assists at short stop.
Pitt awaits its seeding in the Big East Championships, held at Louisville from May 8-11.
