Pitt
Notre Dame
Softball Splits With Notre Dame
4/5/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 4, 2009
NOTRE DAME, Ind.—For the second season in as many year, the University of Pittsburgh softball team earned a split against Notre Dame with a 5-2 win in game one and a 7-1 loss in game two at Melissa Cook Stadium. The Panthers move to 15-16 on the year and 3-7 in the Big East, while the Fighting Irish improved to 19-12 and 5-2.
In the first game of the doubleheader, the Panthers struck first with enough runs to win the game off a double from sophomore Reba Tutt in the second inning. The double was Tutt’s fourth of the season and she collected her ninth, 10th and 11th RBI of the year on the play.
It all began with freshman Yvette Bravo reaching base due to catcher’s interference. A sacrifice bunt from third baseman Ciera Damon would move Sara Falotico to second, who was pinch running for Bravo.
Freshman Amanda Rhodunda and sophomore Ashley Amistade would be walked, juicing the bases prior to Tutt’s at-bat.
Later, Amistade and Tutt would each steal a base in the fourth inning. Amistade would then score after tagging on a sacrifice hit to right field from short stop Niki Cognigni. Amistade was on base following a one-out infield single. Senior Sam Card then smacked her team-leading ninth double of the year, sending Tutt in for the Panther’s final score of the game.
Notre Dame’s only answers were one-run innings in the third and sixth.
Sophomore Cory Berliner tossed the win, giving up five hits and walking two. She also collected two strikeouts. Additionally, sophomore Alyssa O’Connell entered the game in the sixth with the bases loaded and one out on the board, to pick up her first save of the year as the Fighting Irish picked up one unearned run.
In the second game of the day, Pitt’s lone run was scored by freshman Kristin Cheesebrew. Cheesebrew doubled to lead off the fifth inning and scored when Damon singled to right field.
Notre Dame scored its seven runs off eight hits and two Pitt errors in the contest.
Junior Kayla Zinger gave up three earned runs off five hits in 3.2 innings of action, while O’Connell gave up another three runs off three hits.
Pitt travels to Chicago for a doubleheader against DePaul on Sunday.
