Panthers Take Two from St. Francis (PA)
9/28/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
PITTSBURGH – The University of Pittsburgh softball team continued its fall exhibition schedule at Vartabedian Field this past Saturday taking two from St. Francis (PA). The Panthers defeated the Red Flash 7-2 and 3-0.
In game one, Pitt’s offense got off to a slow start but redshirt senior Maggie Sevilla got the bats going with a solo homerun in the fifth inning. Junior Kaitlin Manuel tripled in the next at-bat, and scored on a single to right field by sophomore McKayla Taylor. Sophomore Erin Hershman knocked in Taylor to give the Panthers their third run of the game.
St. Francis answered in the top of the sixth scoring two runs on two hits but couldn’t catch Pitt as the home team collected four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to solidify the win.
Sophomore pitcher Kayla Harris had a strong outing for the Panthers, striking out six in seven innings of play.
In game two, Pitt and St. Francis remained scoreless through five innings of play but it was the Panthers who plated three runs in the sixth en route to a 3-0 win. With two on, senior Ashlee Sills singled to score one Pitt baserunner. Errors by the Red Flash allowed Sills to advance to second and senior Morgan Choe to advance to third from first. A fielder’s choice, along with an error by St. Francis, allowed Choe and Sills to cross the plate for the final two runs.
Defensively, freshman pitcher Sarah Dawson shut out the Red Flash, allowing just five hits while striking out four batters.
Pitt will conclude fall play at Penn State on Sunday, October 4 when the Panthers make the trip to Beard Field. The doubleheader is slated to begin at 1 p.m.
For all things Pitt softball, follow the team on Twitter and Instagram.