Pitt
USF
Softball Honors Card and Schuster on Senior Day
5/3/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 3, 2009
PITTSBURGH—Seniors Sam Card and Kaitlyn Schuster were honored on Senior Day at Trees Field, prior to the University of Pittsburgh softball team dropping its first game of its doubleheader against USF, 9-4. Pitt fell to 24-24 on the season and 8-15 in the Big East, while the Bulls improved to 33-20 overall and 12-9 in the league.
Pitt celebrated Senior Day by honoring Card and Schuster, who led Pitt to three back-to-back-to-back Big East Championship appearances. Card and Schuster won 103 games in the last four years, becoming the winningest set of seniors in school history. As a catcher and pitcher, the two have played a major role in setting several single-season pitching, stolen base and batting records.
The game itself opened with Pitt taking a lead, as freshman Niki Cognigni drove in two runs in the bottom of the first inning, when the USF left fielder lost her double while it was still in the air. Both Kristen Cheesebrew and Card scored on the play. Cheesebrew was on base after a two-out infield error, while Card recorded the first hit for the Panthers with a single to left field.
The Bulls would then knot the game at 2-2 in the top of the third with three hits. Later, a one –out double in the top of the fifth led to a short-lived 3-2 advantage for USF.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, freshman Amanda Heitmeier gave the Panthers a 4-3 lead as she was the first batter up after a USF pitching change. Heitmeier sailed a hit over the second baseman’s glove, which allowed sophomore Ashley Amistade to go home. Amistade advanced to base with a perfectly placed bunt, earlier in the inning.
The game was tied at 3-3 when Cognigni hit a single that painted the left line, allowing sophomore Reba Tutt to score from second. Tutt was walked to lead-off the fifth inning.
In the top of the sixth, a two-out homer over the left field wall gave the Bulls a 5-4 advantage. USF then added another four runs off four hits in the top of seventh, earning the win at 9-4.
Sophomore Cory Berliner (9-10) pitched the loss, giving up nine hits and five runs in her six innings of work.
Pitt had a chance to score in the third inning after Cheesebrew singled down the right field line. Her hit moved Amistade to third, while Cheesebrew stole second to place both in scoring position. However, USF’s pitcher would sit the next two batters down with a strikeout and a groundball to shortstop.
Cognigni went 2-for-3 with three RBI, while Amistade and Heitmeier also recorded two hits in the contest.
