Pitt Softball Begins NCAA Tournament Play Against California
5/14/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
| 2015 NCAA Softball Tournament | Ann Arbor Regional Pittsburgh (35-20) vs. California (38-16) | |
| Date/Time | Friday, May 15 at 3:30 p.m. EST |
| Location | Ann Arbor, Mich. | Wilpon Complex: Alumni Softball Complex |
| Television/Online | |
| Live Stats |
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| Game Notes | |
| Social Media | Twitter: @PittSoftball |
| NCAA Championship Information | NCAA Bracket | Regional Championship Central | Ticket Information |
| Other Media | |
PITTSBURGH -- In its first ever NCAA softball tournament, the University of Pittsburgh softball team (35-20) is set to play the California Golden Bears (27-22) at the Ann Arbor Regional Tournament on Friday, May 15 at 3:30 p.m. EST at the University of Michigan.
GOING DANCING
After finishing as the runner-up at the 2015 ACC Softball Championships, the University of Pittsburgh softball team received its first-ever at-large bid to the 2015 NCAA Softball Tournament, as announced by the NCAA on Sunday.
In the event of a Pitt win on Friday, the Panthers will take on the winner of the Michigan-Oakland match-up, which is slated to occur on May 15 at 6 p.m.
Per the NCAA, at each campus site, a four-team, double-elimination tournament will be held and the 16 winning teams will advance to the Super Regionals, which will take place May 21-24 and hosted by Georgia in Athens, Ga.
POWER CONFERENCE
It's no secret that the SEC and the Pac-12 are powerhouses when it comes to college softball; however, the ACC is giving them a run for their money. The ACC placed seven teams in this year's NCAA Softball Tournament, a record-setting number. That figure is the most in conference history and ties the amount of Pac-12 schools that also earned berths. The SEC led all leagues will 11 teams selected.
MAKING HISTORY
After finishing the 2014 season 15-29 overall and 6-18 in conference, this year has proved to be a turnaround season for the Panthers, who have made history.
On top of making the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history, the Panthers earned a trip to the 2015 ACC Championship game after being projected to finish 10th out of 11 teams in the conference, in preseason voting.
Not only is Pitt's development showing on the field, but it is showing in the record book as well. The Panthers increased their amount of wins by more than double, going on to set a new all-time record in single-season wins with 35.
The 2015 squad also recorded the team's best ever start to a season, earned the program's 400th win, and broke multiple team and individual single-season and career records.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
CALIFORNIA
This will be the second meeting between the Panthers and Golden Bears. The two teams last met on February 29, 2008 under then head coach Michelle Phalen, Pitt lost that game, 3-2.
Pitt's first opponent, California, ended the regular season with a three-game sweep of rival Stanford, going 38-16 overall on the season and 10-14 in conference play.
Freshman utility player Jazmyn Jackson is among the 10 finalists for the NFCA Freshman of the Year award after posting a .446 average and finishing second in the Pac-12 in hits (78). Cheyenne Cordes, a Senior CLASS Award finalist, paces the team with 72 RBI.
The Golden Bears are led on the mound by Katie Finch-Sutherland, who in 32 starts went 18-10 and recorded a 3.79 ERA. She stacked 114 strikeouts to 60 walks on the year.
MICHIGAN
The host team is making its 23rd NCAA tournament and has made an appearance every year since 1995. The Wolverines have claimed 16 regional titles and defeated Arizona State last season to advance to its third straight Super Regional appearance.
The Big Ten champs earned a 51-6 overall record in 2015 and 21-2 in conference play. U-M claimed its ninth conference title on May 9 over Nebraska, 6-1.
The Wolverines own a .343 average on the season and are led by junior Sierra Romero who is batting .469, good for tenth-best in the nation. Behind her is sophomore Kelly Christner with a .420 average. Just below Romero and Christner are five more players who are batting above .300.
The Wolverines' pitching staff has two top-25 nationally ranked ERA's in sophomore Megan Betsa (1.44) and senior Haylie Wagner (1.70). Betsa has appeared in 36 games for Michigan and pitched in 170.2 innings earning her a 26-4 record. She has also thrown 10 shutouts and 21 complete games. Wagner owns a 21-2 record and has completed 13 games.
OAKLAND
The Horizon League champions are making their first tournament appearance since 2003 and have accumulated a 2-4 all-time NCAA Tournament record.
The Golden Grizzlies are led by five members batting over .300. Senior Sara Cupp leads the squad with her .382 average, 13 doubles, and 43 RBI. An All-Tournament team selection and MVP, Cupp has tallied nine homers and 20 runs.
On the mound, junior Erin Kownacki has started 28 games and owns a 16-12 record. Through 164.0 innings pitched, she claims a 2.43 ERA.
PANTHERS MAKE NOISE AT ACC CHAMPIONSHIPS
Quarterfinal Highlights vs. Notre Dame
-Pitt posted four runs in the first inning of play and tacked on two runs in the third and sixth innings to win the game 8-1
-Senior pitcher Savannah King threw a complete game and gave up just one run
-The Panthers combined for 12 hits and eight runs
-Redshirt junior Maggie Sevilla went 3-for-4
-Senior Carly Thea went 2-for-3 and scored two runs with three RBI
-Freshman McKayla Taylor went 2-for-3 including a doubling and two RBI
-Senior Jordan Fannin recorded the teams' third triple of the season
Semifinal Highlights vs. North Carolina:
-The Panthers shutout the Tar Heels 4-0
-Pitt scored three runs on four this in the first inning
-A solo home run from Shelby Pickett brought the score to what would be the final score, 4-0, in the second inning
-The team totaled 10 hits
-Four players went 2-for-4 including Pickett, Sevilla, Taylor and Thea
-King let up three hits and didn't walk any batters
Championship Highlights vs. Florida State
-Pitt tied the game at 2-2 in the third thanks to a Taylor double
-Pickett held FSU from scoring even more runs early in the game thanks to two outstanding double plays from third base
RECORD BREAKING SEASON
The 2015 squad has already etched its name in to program history; however, as of late, newcomers and new category leaders have emerged.
| Individual Single-Season Records Set (Top Five) | |||
| Category | Player | Rank | Stat |
| At-Bats | 1 2 | 189 187 | |
| Runs | 2 | 46 | |
| Hits | T-1 T-1 | 67 67 | |
| Doubles | T-2 T-5 | 15 13 | |
| Home Runs | 3 | 13 | |
| RBI | 1 | 56 | |
| Shutouts | 3 | 6 | |
| Wins | 1 | 20 | |
| Saves | T-3 | 3 | |
| Putouts | 3 | 470 | |
| Assists | 4 | 152 | |
| Chances | 3 | 477 | |
| Team Single-Season Records Broken | |
| Wins | 35 |
| Hits | 445 |
| RBI | 274 |
| Doubles | 82 |
| Runs | 301 |
HOME RUN CLUB
Nine members of the Pitt softball team have recorded home runs at various times this season for a grand total of 49. McKayla Taylor is the outright leader with 13 and Pickett ranks second with eight.
The Panthers have sent the ball over the fence in 24 of its 55 games, including 14 that have seen multiple home runs hit. The highest amount of homers in a game this season has been four and Pitt has reached that four different times.
#H2P
For all things Pitt softball, follow the Panthers on Twitter and Instagram at @PittSoftball.
