Pitt
5-2
Jacksonville
4-3
Panthers Split on Day One of the Dolphin Invitational
2/19/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Game One Box | Game Two Box | Season Stats
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The University of Pittsburgh softball team split on the first day of the Dolphin Invitational in Jacksonville, Fla. after dominating Georgetown, but dropping a heart-breaker to host Jacksonville in extra innings.
The Panthers (5-2) got off to a hot start in the Sunshine State as the squad produced three home runs, 16 hits and 21 runs in the first game versus the Hoyas (1-4). Pitt's bats cooled off in the game two of the day, as the team was no-hit by the Dolphins (4-4).
"We weren't looking for a split today, but we didn't make the adjustments that we needed to at the plate against Jacksonville," said head coach Holly Aprile. "[Victoria] Brown pitched a terrific game."
Redshirt senior Maggie Sevilla led the way for Pitt with three hits, including a solo home run, a double, and four RBIs. Sevilla's homer was the 24th of her career, which places her in second place all-time on Pitt's homerun list.
Sophomores Giorgiana Zeremenko and McKayla Taylor also tallied home runs on the day. Taylor's counted for her third of the season, while Zeremenko's grand slam was her second homer of the year. Freshman Alexis Solak also impressed as she went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs on the day.
Defensively, freshman Sarah Dawson and sophomore Kayla Harris each had impressive showings on the mound. Dawson got the job done in five innings against Georgetown and collected her second win as a Panther. Harris struck out seven against Jacksonville and only allowed one unearned run in eight innings pitched.
"Kayla [Harris] was outstanding for us," Aprile said, "However we didn't give her the run support today. We will bounce back tomorrow. We are a resilient group and a determined group."
Game One: Pitt 21, Georgetown 6 [Five Innings]
- Pitt defeated Georgetown 21-6 in five innings with Dawson earning the win.
- The Panthers posted 16 hits, including three home runs, one which was a grand slam.
- In the top of the first inning Sevilla and Taylor hit back-to-back solo homers to give Pitt a 2-0 lead.
- The Panthers were held scoreless in the second as Georgetown went on to tie the game 2-2.
- Pitt erupted for 10 runs in the third inning. The first run of the inning came via four straight walks, which prompted the Hoyas to make a pitching change. After senior Jenna Modic scored on an illegal pitch with the bases loaded, Zeremenko belted a three-run shot over the left-center wall to give the Panthers a 7-2 lead. A passed ball allowed both senior Ashlee Sills and Solak to score. In her second at bat of the inning, Sevilla singled to right, which drove in redshirt senior Shelby Pickett. Sevilla would later score by way of a bases loaded walk to which was issued to sophomore Erin Hershman, which made the score 11-2. The Panthers were able to push one more run across when Zeremenko singled to left and recorded her fourth RBI of the inning.
- Georgetown scored three runs in the bottom of the third, all of which came on a homer by Sarah Bennett.
- Pitt would answer by adding another nine runs in the top of the fourth. Taylor drove in the first run of the inning when she doubled through the left side and would cross the plate herself when Modic singled to second base. Modic would later score on a Zeremenko walk with bases loaded. Solak kept the inning going as she smacked a three-run double to center, which brought home Zeremenko, Hershman and Manuel. Pinch-hitting for Sills, freshman Marissa DeMatteo would switch places with Solak with a double of her own. With the score reading 19-5, the Panthers added on two more as Sevilla ripped a double to left field, bringing DeMatteo and Pickett home. That would make for 21 runs for Pitt.
- Georgetown managed to score one more run on a leadoff home run by Samantha Giovanniell.
Game Two: Pitt 0, Jacksonville 1 [Eight Innings]
- The Panthers dropped their second game of the season to Jacksonville, 1-0, in eight innings of play.
- Pitt did not record a hit in the game and only earned two base runners in the first seven innings, both of which were walks issued to senior Kathryn Duran.
- With no score on the board following the completion of seven innings, junior Kaitlin Manuel of was placed on second to begin the International Tiebreaker to begin the eighth. Manuel made it to third on a fielder's choice hit by Hershman, but would get no further.
- The same process occurred with the Dolphins as Ciara Jones started on second. Jones quickly advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt which set up Jacksonville for a suicide-squeeze. Pitcher Victoria Brown laid down the bunt and allowed Jones to slide in safely at home for the win.
- Brown recorded her first career no-hitter.
UP NEXT
Pitt will continue play on Saturday, Feb. 19 with games vs. Georgetown and in-state rival Penn State. Games are slated to begin at 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. respectively.
#H2P
For all things Pitt softball, follow the team on Twitter and Instagram.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: BROWN, V. (2-1)
L: Harris, Kayla (1-2)
Batting:
2B: SMITH, B. 1
RBI: BROWN, V. 1
SH: BAKER, D. 1 ; BROWN, V. 1 ; HODSKINS, J. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: JONES, C. 1
