Pitt Sweeps Slippery Rock in Exhibition Play

Sept. 11, 2016

Game One Box | Game Two Box

PITTBURGH - The University of Pittsburgh softball team opened fall exhibition play Sunday afternoon at Vartabedian Field in the Petersen Sports Complex, defeating Slippery Rock 15-1 and 9-1 in a doubleheader.

The Panthers held the Rock scoreless in 12 innings, allowing just a single run in one inning of each game.

Offensively, Pitt's bats were on fire as the team combined to post 29 hits, 24 runs and 19 RBI.

The Panthers were led at the by Giorgiana Zeremenko who went 5-for-6 on the day with six RBI. The junior picked up where she left off in the spring, hitting three home runs.

Sophomore Olivia Gray, junior McKayla Taylor and freshman Hannah Edwards each added four hits. Taylor also crossed the plate four times.

On the mound, Pitt saw action from returners Kayla Harris and Sarah Dawson, along with freshman Brittany Knight.

Harris opened the series and gave up just a single hit through four innings. Dawson relieved Harris midway through the first game and faced 13 batters.

In her first outing, Knight pitched a complete game, giving up just one run and striking out four.

All six freshman saw action today, along with transfer Taylor Stimson.

In game one, the Panthers came out swinging, scoring four runs in both the first and second innings to take a 4-0 lead. Harris gave up her lone hit in the opening inning before sitting the Rock down in order through the next three innings.

The Panthers extended their lead in the fourth by sixth runs, as they strung together six hits, including Zeremenko's first homer of the day. Through four complete, Pitt led Slippery Rock 11-0.

The home team scored its final round of runs in the fifth, as four hits and two errors allowed the Panthers to pull ahead 15-0. Four of Pitt's newcomers recorded hits, including Stimson and freshmen Alexee Haynes, Kaitlyn Kruger and Knight.

The Rock scored its lone run in the sixth inning, but Dawson finished off Slippery Rock in the seventh to end it.

The Panthers continued to dominate in game two, opening the first inning with four runs, three of which came after Zeremenko hit her second long ball of the day with runners on the corners.

Pitt padded their total with an additional three runs in the second, taking a 7-0 lead. With runners on second and third, Gray singled to left to bring across the first run. Sophomore Marissa DeMatteo scored on a wild pitch, while Knight helped herself, singling through the right side to score Gray.

The Panthers added a single run in inning four and five to lead 9-0, before giving up a final run to the Rock in the seventh.

Up Next

Pitt will welcome Saint Francis (PA) Sunday, Sept. 18 for a 1 p.m. doubleheader.

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