Panthers Ready for Chanticleer Showdown

PITTSBURGH – The University of Pittsburgh softball team will continue its seven-week road stint at the Chanticleer Showdown, Feb. 23-25, with contests against Georgetown, Saint Joseph's and host Coastal Carolina at Charles Wade-John Lott Field in Conway, S.C.

THE SCHEDULE

The Chanticleer showdown will get underway Friday, Feb. 23 as Pitt opens play against Georgetown at 9:30 a.m. The panthers will play back-to-back games that day, facing Saint Joseph's at 12 p.m.
The tournament will continue Saturday, Feb. 24 at 9:30 a.m. as Pitt faces Georgetown for a second time. The Panthers will also take on the host squad, Coastal Carolina, in a contest which is set for 2:30 p.m.
Pitt will close out the Chanticleer Showdown Sunday, Feb. 25 against Saint Joseph's at 9:30 a.m.

HOW TO FOLLOW

Live stats will be available for all games, however there will be no live stream.
Fans can visit the Chanticleer Showdown tournament central page for the complete schedule and links to live stats.

LAST TIME OUT

The Panthers traveled to Chapel Hill, N.C. to participate in the B1G/ACC Challenge. The squad went 2-2, splitting with both Illinois and Wisconsin.
Despite Pitt dropping both games on day one of the Challenge, Friday, Feb. 16, senior Giorgiana Zeremenko went yard twice against Illinois to set a new program record. The senior, who set the Panthers' single-season record in 2016 with 17 long balls, surpassed former Panther standout Holly Stevens, who previously held the record with 34. Zeremenko now has 35 in her career, including four in 2018 which leads the team.
Pitt bounced back Saturday, Feb. 17, defeating Wisconsin in nine innings, 6-5. Junior Gabrielle Fredericks had a day for the Panthers, tallying a career-high four RBI after going 2-for-3 with a three-run homer in the opening inning of play. Fredericks had all but one of Pitt's RBI as junior Alexis Solak earned the last one.
In the Panthers final game Sunday, Feb. 18, the squad evened the series with Illinois following a dominant performance that saw Pitt win 9-0 in five innings of play. The Panthers had a phenomenal day at the plate, tallying 11 hits, with a home run from junior Olivia Gray. Four other players added two hits apiece, including Solak, Fredericks, Zeremenko and freshman Hunter Levesque. Junior Sarah Dawson and sophomore Brittany Knight were solid in the circle, as the two combined to shutout Illinois. Dawson, who started the game, tossed four complete innings, striking out five and giving up just one walk. She let up just five hits. Knight relieved Dawson in the final inning of play, retiring the Illini in order to end the game.

ZEREMENKO BREAKS HOME RUN RECORD

In a 2-2 weekend for the Panthers at the B1G/ACC Challenge, Giorgiana Zeremenko led Pitt at the plate, setting a new program record in career home runs.
The senior, who set the Panthers' single-season record in 2016 with 17 long balls, surpassed former Pitt standout Holly Stevens, who previously held the record with 34. Zeremenko now has 35 in her career, including four in 2018 which leads the team.
Zeremenko broke the home run record in the Panthers' loss to Illinois Friday, Feb. 16, as she posted two home runs in the game, finishing 2-for-2 in the contest with a walk.

FAMILIAR FACES

Junior transfer Taylor Rahach will get to see some familiar faces this weekend as she prepares to face her former team, Coastal Carolina.
Rahach, a right-handed pitcher who after two seasons with the Chanticleers, saw action in 42 games during her time at Coastal Carolina, starting 27 of those on the mound. Following a freshman campaign in which she tossed 25.2 innings, Rahach became a staple in pitching rotation, finishing with a 13-9 record and a 2.80 ERA. She struck out 119 batters and walked just 55.
Volunteer assistant coach Matt Alberghini will also face his former team in the Chanticleers after spending the past two years as a part of Coastal Carolina's support staff. Alberghini worked as an assistant director of softball operations intern and student manager with the softball team from 2015-2017.

GOING YARD

With 1.44 home runs per game, the Panthers sit in the top ten in the nation, sitting in ninth this week. In the ACC the squad holds the top spot.
Pitt has blasted 13 long balls in just nine games. Last weekend at the B1G/ACC Challenge, the Panthers put up six, while in their debut tournament they posted seven home runs.
Eight different players have hit a homer, including four by senior Giorgiana Zeremenko. Zeremenko became the all-time leader in the category at the B1G/ACC Challenge, notching her 35^th home run. She was the leading home run hitter for Pitt the past two seasons including 2016 when she set the single-season record with 17.

SOLAK SHOWING OFF

Junior Alexis Solak has proved to be one of the Panthers most consistent hitters at the plate.
Solak is currently on a five-game hitting streak dating back to Pitt's game versus Loyola Marymount, Feb. 11 and has reached base seven consecutive times.
The junior boasts a team-leading .345 average and ranks first on the team in hits with 10, all of which have been singles.

KNIGHT MAKES HER RETURN

After tearing her Achilles tendon in August of 2017, pitcher Brittany Knight made her return from injury at the B1G/ACC Challenge.
The sophomore saw action in three games, tossing 5.1 total innings. Through her appearances, Knight did not let up a run and only gave up two hits.

DOMINANT DAWSON

Junior pitcher Sarah Dawson has been dominant in the circle for Pitt so far in 2018.
Dawson has earned all but one decision thus far in 2018 and is currently 4-3 on the season. I n 22.1 innings pitched, she has struck out 15 and owns a 2.19 ERA.
At the B1G/ACC Challenge, the junior gave up just five earned runs in 13.1 innings pitched, while striking out 11 total batters. Four of those earned runs came in the opening game of the weekend, leaving Dawson almost perfect after that.
Against Illinois Feb. 18, Dawson started the game and pitched all but one frame in the five-inning game, as she and Brittany Knight combined to toss the team's first shutout victory, 9-0. Dawson struck out five on the day and walked just one batter against the Illini.

LOCAL LEADER

Local product Olivia Gray, who hails from Washington, Pa., just south of Pittsburgh and attended Trinity High School, has grown to become one of Pitt's top players.
The Panthers starting third baseman for the second consecutive year and leadoff batter, Gray boasts a .298 career average with 87 hits and a .490 slugging percentage.
Gray hit .353 in the team's opening weekend boasting a team-leading six hits, including one triple and four runs scored.

UP NEXT

The Panthers will hit the road for spring break, beginning an 11-day road stint. Pitt will first head to NC State to take on the Wolfpack in its ACC opener, before heading to the sunshine state for seven games.

tHE SCOUT: GEORGETOWN

Georgetown enters the Chanticleer Showdown with a2-7 overall record after going 1-3 at the Gamecock Invitational in Fort Myers, Fla., last weekend. The Hoyas defeated Michigan State, but fell to Mercer, Southern Illinois and South Carolina.
In 2017, Georgetown finished the season 11-37 with a 4-16 mark in Big East play.
The Hoyas are led at the plate by Theresa Kane, who boasts a .375 average. She's tallied a team-leading 12 hits in 32 at-bats.

THE SCOUT: SAINT JOSEPH'S

Saint Joseph's heads to Conway, S.C., 2-3 on the season after opening the 2018 campaign at the Pirate Clash by defeating UMBC twice, but falling to Towson and East Carolina twice.
Last season, the Hawks went 25-28 overall and 12-7 in Atlantic 10 play.
Taryn Grober leads the team with a .538 average after tallying six hits in 13 at-bats. She has one double on the season. In the circle, Saint Joseph's is led by Madison Clarke who boasts a 1.91 ERA in two appearances.

THE SCOUT: COASTAL CAROLINA

Coastal Carolina, who will be the host of this weekend's tournament, begins the Chanticleer Showdown after going 5-1 at the Battle at the Beach with wins over Lafayette, Rider, Robert Morris and UConn.
The Chanticleers went 32-23 in 2017 with a 10-16 mark in conference play.
Kailey Mellen leads the team at the plate with a .394 hitting percentage. She boasts a team-leading 13 hits with three home runs and two doubles.

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Panthers Ready for Chanticleer Showdown

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Sarah Dawson

Gabrielle Fredericks

Olivia Gray

Brittany Knight

Hunter Levesque

Taylor Rahach

Alexis Solak

Giorgiana Zeremenko

Panthers Ready for Chanticleer Showdown

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Sarah Dawson

Gabrielle Fredericks

Olivia Gray

Brittany Knight

Hunter Levesque

Taylor Rahach

Alexis Solak

Giorgiana Zeremenko

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