Pitt
Kent State
Softball Scores Eight Runs In Five Innings
2/25/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 25, 2011
BOCA RATON, Fla.—Senior Alyssa O’Connell earned the first mercy-rule victory of the season, as the University of Pittsburgh softball team recorded an 8-0 victory over Kent State in the second game of the Strikeout Against Cancer Tournament, hosted by Florida Atlantic at FAU Softball Stadium. Pitt improved to 5-2 on the season, while the Golden Flashes fell to 3-7 overall.
O’Connell tallied the second shutout of the season for the Panthers, and the first mercy-rule victory of the year. In the game, O’Connell allowed four hits, walked three and struck out three others. She improved to 2-1 on the mound and holds a 1.00 ERA in 14.0 innings of work.
Offensively, the Panthers scored all the runs they needed in the second inning with four runs off doubles from Kristen Cheesebrew and Holly Stevens. It all began when junior Kelly Hmiel singled and got an extra base. She then went home when Cheesebrew hit a shot down the right field line. That run was the first of the year for Hmiel.
A few pitches later, senior Reba Tutt walked and Cheesbrew moved to third. Tutt would then steal her fifth base of the season. Senior Ashley Amistade was walked next to load the bases for Stevens. Stevens then sent all three home with her second double of the year. She also garnered her team-leading ninth RBI with the hit.
Later with two batters retired in the sixth, Tutt patiently accepted a walk to give the Panthers a base runner. Amistade followed with a bunt to move Tutt to second. Tutt would then score when Stevens’ ground ball was muffed by Kent State’s second baseman.
On the next at-bat, freshman Karlyn Jones gave the Panthers a 6-0 lead with a single into left field that sent Amistade in for her second run of the game and third of the year.
In the final inning of the game, Hmiel recorded two RBI with a double to centerfield. Senior Ashlyn Zellefrow and junior Ciera Damon scored on the play. Damon led off with a single in the stanza and Zellefrow replaced junior Yvette Bravo on base after she bunted.
Pitt played in the first two games of the Strikeout Against Cancer Tournament today. The Panthers resume action on Saturday with a 4 p.m. contest against Jacksonville.
Score by Innings 1 2 3 4 5 R H E
Kent State 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 2
Pitt 0 4 0 2 2 8 9 0
