Panthers Host Doubleheaders Saturday and Sunday

Panthers Host Doubleheaders Saturday and Sunday

10/4/2019 10:00:00 AM | Softball

Pitt to Face Off Against Saint Francis Saturday and Fairmont State Sunday

PITTSBURGH – The University of Pittsburgh softball team will host Saint Francis (PA) for a doubleheader Saturday, Oct. 5 at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., and Fairmont State Sunday, Oct. 6 at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. at Vartabedian Field in the Petersen Sports Complex.

Fans can follow along during both matches with live updates on Twitter at @Pitt_SB.

LAST TIME OUT

The Panthers took both games in their fall opener against Slippery Rock, 9-1, and West Liberty, 2-1 Sunday. Sept. 29.
In the first game of the day, junior Hunter Levesque recorded a three-run homer over the center wall to give Pitt a 7-0 lead entering the sixth inning.
Sophomore Abby Edwards earned the win for the Panthers in game one, combining with redshirt junior Brittany Knight and freshman Becca Miller to keep The Rock scoreless until the seventh inning.
Against the Hilltoppers, sophomore Sarah Seamans scored her first home run of the season through left field to give the Panthers a 1-0 advantage in the bottom of the second inning.
Junior LoLo Sanchez had four runs for the Panthers on the day, scoring three times against The Rock and one against West Liberty.

RETURNEES

Returning for the Panthers are seniors Walker Barbee, Alexee Haynes, Kaitlyn Kruger, and Connor McGraffic, redshirt junior Knight, juniors Morgan Batesole, Brie Horrell, Levesque, and Chandler Walter, and sophomores Hannah Bach, Edwards, Katlyn Pavlick, and Seamans.
One of Pitt's most notable returners is Levesque, who earned All-ACC Second Team honors. In her second year as a Panther at center field, Levesque complied a team-best .322 batting average and a .611 slugging percentage.

NEWCOMERS

The Panthers also welcome seven newcomers to the team in transfers redshirt sophomore Jada Crittendon and Sanchez, as well as freshmen Hope Alley, Kayla Lane, Taegen Lewellen, Miller, and Makenzie Stiles.
Crittendon comes to the Panthers following two years at Virginia Tech, while Sanchez spent the past two seasons at Mercer.

SCOUTING THE RED FLASH

The weekend will mark the 34^th meeting between the Panthers and Red Flash in program history. In regular season play, Pitt leads the series 23-10, winning the last match 6-4 on April 9, 2019 at Saint Francis.
Saint Francis concluded the 2019 spring season 29-31 overall, with a 10-6 mark in the Northeastern Conference.
The Red Flash took the NEC Championship for the third consecutive time last May, winning 8-6 against LIU Brooklyn.
Saint Francis was unsuccessful in the NCAA Tournament, dropping key games to Michigan and DePaul.
In the last regular season meeting with the Red Flash, the Panthers split a doubleheader, taking the first meeting 6-4, while dropping the second 3-11 in only six innings.
One of Saint Francis' most notable returners is junior infielder Mekenzie Saban. The Pittsburgh native tallied a team-high .367 batting average and 63 runs to go with 29 RBIs and 80 hits on the season for the Red Flash, setting a program record for most hits in a season.
Sophomore outfielder Jordan Frank returns after recording a .241 batting average with 37 runs, 29 RBIs, and 21 walks in 60 games.

SCOUTING THE FIGHTING FALCONS

Sunday's games mark the first meeting between the Panthers and Falcons in program history.
Fairmont State finished the 2019 spring season 26-23 overall, earning a 19-13 record in the Mountain East Conference.
After defeating Concord in the MEC Tournament opener to advance to the winner's bracket. The Falcons were unable to come back against West Liberty and Shepherd.
Returning for Fairmont State is junior Courtney Worcester. The Bloomingdale, Ill. native earned a .326 batting average to go with 43 runs, 43 hits and team-high 20 RBIs. Also returning for the Falcons is sophomore catcher/infielder Katlyn Folz, who bolstered 18 RBIs off 29 hits. In addition, Fairmont State added 13 incoming freshmen to their roster this season.

UP NEXT
Pitt concludes its fall season with Robert Morris University in a doubleheader Saturday, Oct. 12 beginning at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. at Vartabedian Field.

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