University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Solak, Falk Claim First National Bank Weekly Honors
4/25/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 25, 2017
PITTSBURGH - University of Pittsburgh student-athletes Alexis Solak and Josh Falk were named First National Bank Athletes of the Week, announced Tuesday.
Solak, a sophomore, was a key piece in Pitt softball's success against ACC foe NC State. On the weekend, she hit .455, going 5-for-11 at the plate with two home runs, three RBIs and five runs scored. The Woodridge, Ill., native slugged 1.000 and produced an on base percentage of .538. In the Panthers' slugfest with the Wolfpack in the opening game of the series, Solak went 3-for-4 with two home runs. She blasted a two-run shot in the opening frame and a solo in the sixth. She finished the game with three RBIs and two runs scored.
In the series finale with NC State, Solak got Pitt's comeback going in the seventh with single up the middle. Trailing the Wolfpack 3-0, the hit led to a two-run homer and gave the Panthers a chance to tie the game. Pitt not only tied the game on another home run, but also hit a walk-off long ball in the ninth to win the game.
Falk, a senior, was spectacular against one of the ACC's top offenses, carrying a no hitter into the eighth inning in his Saturday start against the third-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels. Though Falk saw his no-hit bid surrendered in the eighth, the righty from Tampa, Fla., finished his outing having allowed just two earned runs off three hits, walking one and striking out nine. His ERA of 2.51 ranks sixth in the conference as he is holding opponents to a .189 average, fourth in the ACC. In 68.0 innings, second-most in the ACC, he's fanned 63 batters, which ranks seventh in the league.
Falk and the Panthers claimed an 11-9 win over the third-ranked Tar Heels in the Sunday finale, the first time Pitt has knocked off a top-five team since downing then top-ranked Virginia on March 17, 2015. The win marked the second consecutive year in which Pitt defeated a top-10 ranked North Carolina team.
Following a bye week, Pitt softball will close out regular-season play at Georgia Tech May 5-7 in Atlanta, Ga.
The Panthers' baseball team will return to action this weekend, hosting SIU Edwardsville in a three-game tilt at Charles L. Cost Field. The weekend will open with a 1 p.m. ET doubleheader on Saturday.
Players Mentioned
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