University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt
DePaul
Softball Falls After Late DePaul Rally
4/5/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 5, 2009
CHICAGO, Ill.—Late rally leads to 7-3 loss, as the University of Pittsburgh softball team dropped its doubleheader against No. 22 DePaul, this afternoon, at Cacciatore Stadium. The Panthers fall to 15-18 on the year and 3-9 in the Big East, while the Blue Demons improved to 20-8 overall and 8-1 in the league.
Recording a hit in both games of today’s doubleheader, sophomore Reba Tutt recorded a one-out single up the middle for the Panthers, in the third inning. Tutt then made it safely to second after DePaul’s third baseman misfired in an attempt to get the lead runner on freshman Niki Cognigni’s groundball.
A few plays later, second baseman Kristen Cheesebrew doubled through center field, allowing Tutt and Cognigni to score.
The Blue Demons responded with a run of their own off one hit in the bottom of the third. Pitt led 2-1 after three innings.
The Panthers scored another run in the fourth, as freshman Katelyn West was sent home when Cognigni was walked with bases loaded. West was pinch running for third baseman Ciera Damon, who led off with a single in the inning.
In the bottom of the frame, DePaul would knot the contest at three with two runs after Pitt loaded the bases with four walks and recorded a passed ball. Four more runs would be scored off two hits and two Panther errors in the fifth and sixth innings.
Freshman Yvette Bravo was close to scoring in the sixth after walking and moving to second on a throwing error. Bravo rounded third on a single from Cognigni, but was caught at the plate for the third out of the inning.
Later in the seventh, senior Samantha Card was in scoring position following a single from freshman Amanda Heitmeier, but was one of the 10 Panthers left on base in the game.
Junior Kayla Zinger (2-9) pitched the loss, giving up two earned runs off three hits in 3.2 innings.
The Panthers will host a doubleheader against Louisville on Friday, April 10, at 2 p.m.
