Softball Opens Fall Ball 4-0
9/20/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Sept. 20, 2010
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio—The University of Pittsburgh softball team opened its Fall Ball schedule with a perfect 4-0 record, while competing at Youngstown State.
The Panthers faced Cleveland State (3-1) and California (Pa.) (4-3) on Saturday, prior to wins over Notre Dame (Ohio) (4-3) and Youngstown State (7-0) on Sunday.
Freshmen Karlyn Jones and Courtney Derus made an immediate impacts against Cleveland State. Jones earned her first start on the mound and struck out nine batters.
At the plate, Jones was 2-3 in the contest. After Jones safely arrived on base in one inning, Derus smacked a RBI double for Pitt’s first score of the day.
Senior captain Alyssa O’Connell would enter the game in relief.
Later, the Panthers were knotted at 3-3 with California (Pa.) in the seventh inning. A fielder’s choice play by the Vikings was designed to catch senior captain Reba Tutt in a run down between third and home plate. However, crafty running from Tutt allowed her to score the go ahead run.
Tutt was 2-4 in the Panthers victory. Sophomore Holly Stevens also went 2-4 with an RBI triple.
In similar fashion, the Panthers and Notre Dame (Ohio) were tied at three in the seventh inning on Sunday. This time junior Yvette Bravo and Jones produced the go ahead run, as Bravo led off with a double and Jones followed with a hit.
O’Connell collected 11 strikeouts in the win. At the plate, junior Kelly Hmiel went 2-3 with two doubles and junior Niki Cognigni was 2-2 with a single and a double.
The Panthers ended the weekend with a shutout victory over host Youngstown State. Hmiel caught fire, as she went 3-3 with two singles and a double. She drove in three as a result.
Stevens added to the total with a two-run homer, while juniors Ciera Damon and Amanda Heitmeier each had one RBI. Cognigni and senior Ashley Amistade were both 2-3 in the contest.
Pitt wraps up its fall schedule with games in the Kent State Invitational on Saturday Sept. 25, and then two others in the Robert Morris Invitational on Sunday, Sept. 26. The Panthers will play Cleveland State at noon and Akron at 2 p.m. on Saturday. On Sunday they will start at 2 p.m. with California (Pa.) and finish up at 4 p.m. against Robert Morris.
