Sunday, March 17
Durham, NC
12 PM
Pitt
4-21, 1-5
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3
Duke
12-15, 3-3
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Pitt
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11
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Duke
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11
0
Pitt Earns First ACC Victory of Season against Duke
3/17/2019 4:48:00 PM | Softball
Panthers Use a Two-Run Seventh Inning to Record First Conference Win
DURHAM, N.C. – The University of Pittsburgh softball team used a two-run seventh inning to earn its first Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) win over Duke in dramatic fashion Sunday afternoon at the Duke Softball Stadium in Durham, N.C.
The Panthers and Blue Devils entered the seventh inning knotted at three apiece, but a solo shot by junior Alexee Haynes and RBI-single by sophomore Morgan Batesole in the top of the frame would lead to the eventual Pitt victory.
"The message to this team has been that our glass is half full – remain positive and optimistic," said head coach Jodi Hermanek. "In six of the last nine games, we've been in a winning position in the seventh inning. We are there to finish, and today, this team remained calm and resilient in the seventh inning to come out with the victory."
Freshman Abby Edwards earned the start on the rubber for Pitt, allowing just three earned runs through seven innings to pick up her second win of the season.
"I am so proud of the gritty performance in the circle by Abby [Edwards]," said Hermanek. "She battled under pressure and delivered quality pitches. The defense was effective and clutch for Abby. With 11 hits, four walks and no strikeouts on the day, that shows that our defense delivered."
The Panthers produced 11 hits at the plate, with three players recording multi-hit efforts. Senior Alexis Solak led the way with a 3-for-4 effort. Sophomore Hunter Levesque went 2-for-3 on the day while collecting an RBI, with freshman Katlyn Pavlick adding a 2-for-2 showing to go along with two RBIs and two walks. Batesole, Haynes, senior Taylor Myers and junior Connor McGaffic all added one hit apiece in the matchup.
"Offensively, we came together," said Hermanek. "I was so proud to see the Panther offense put pressure on Duke throughout the game. We scored runs with the top and the bottom of our lineup, and that is huge."
SCORING SUMMARY
Pitt got out to an early lead, collecting two runs in the second inning. McGaffic started things off with a single to center field, with a walk by sophomore Chandler Walter later putting runners on first and third. Pavlick then roped a double to left center, scoring two for the Panthers.
The Blue Devils scored a run of their own in the bottom of the inning, using a bases-loaded walk to put the score at 2-1.
The Panthers added another run in the top of the fourth frame, with Levesque using an RBI-single to right field to score Batesole from third and give Pitt a 3-1 advantage.
Duke answered in the bottom of the fourth, using a two-RBI double to right field to tie the contest at three apiece.
The game was still locked at 3-3 heading into the seventh frame, before Pitt took the lead in dramatic fashion. Haynes opened the inning with a leadoff long ball to left center to give the Panthers a 4-3 advantage, with Batesole then sending an RBI-single to center field to give Pitt a two-run lead.
The Panthers were never threatened in the bottom of the inning, holding on for their first ACC win of the season.
UP NEXT
The Panthers will return to Pittsburgh to host their first home contest of the season against Ohio Tuesday, March 19 at 4 p.m. at Vartabedian Field.
#H2P | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
The Panthers and Blue Devils entered the seventh inning knotted at three apiece, but a solo shot by junior Alexee Haynes and RBI-single by sophomore Morgan Batesole in the top of the frame would lead to the eventual Pitt victory.
"The message to this team has been that our glass is half full – remain positive and optimistic," said head coach Jodi Hermanek. "In six of the last nine games, we've been in a winning position in the seventh inning. We are there to finish, and today, this team remained calm and resilient in the seventh inning to come out with the victory."
Freshman Abby Edwards earned the start on the rubber for Pitt, allowing just three earned runs through seven innings to pick up her second win of the season.
"I am so proud of the gritty performance in the circle by Abby [Edwards]," said Hermanek. "She battled under pressure and delivered quality pitches. The defense was effective and clutch for Abby. With 11 hits, four walks and no strikeouts on the day, that shows that our defense delivered."
The Panthers produced 11 hits at the plate, with three players recording multi-hit efforts. Senior Alexis Solak led the way with a 3-for-4 effort. Sophomore Hunter Levesque went 2-for-3 on the day while collecting an RBI, with freshman Katlyn Pavlick adding a 2-for-2 showing to go along with two RBIs and two walks. Batesole, Haynes, senior Taylor Myers and junior Connor McGaffic all added one hit apiece in the matchup.
"Offensively, we came together," said Hermanek. "I was so proud to see the Panther offense put pressure on Duke throughout the game. We scored runs with the top and the bottom of our lineup, and that is huge."
SCORING SUMMARY
Pitt got out to an early lead, collecting two runs in the second inning. McGaffic started things off with a single to center field, with a walk by sophomore Chandler Walter later putting runners on first and third. Pavlick then roped a double to left center, scoring two for the Panthers.
The Blue Devils scored a run of their own in the bottom of the inning, using a bases-loaded walk to put the score at 2-1.
The Panthers added another run in the top of the fourth frame, with Levesque using an RBI-single to right field to score Batesole from third and give Pitt a 3-1 advantage.
Duke answered in the bottom of the fourth, using a two-RBI double to right field to tie the contest at three apiece.
The game was still locked at 3-3 heading into the seventh frame, before Pitt took the lead in dramatic fashion. Haynes opened the inning with a leadoff long ball to left center to give the Panthers a 4-3 advantage, with Batesole then sending an RBI-single to center field to give Pitt a two-run lead.
The Panthers were never threatened in the bottom of the inning, holding on for their first ACC win of the season.
UP NEXT
The Panthers will return to Pittsburgh to host their first home contest of the season against Ohio Tuesday, March 19 at 4 p.m. at Vartabedian Field.
#H2P | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Edwards , Abby (2-5)
L: B. Butler (5-2)
Batting:
2B: Pavlick, Katlyn 2 ; Levesque, Hunter 1
HR: Haynes, Alexee 1
RBI: Pavlick, Katlyn 2 ; Levesque, Hunter 1 ; Haynes, Alexee 1 ; Batesole, Morgan 1
SH: Levesque, Hunter 1 ; Myers, Taylor 2 ; Barbee, Walker 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Haynes, Alexee 1 ; Seamans, Sarah 1 ; Myers, Taylor 1 ; Batesole, Morgan 1 ; Walter, Chandler 1
SB: Batesole, Morgan 1
Batting:
2B: R. Abboud 1
RBI: R. Abboud 3
SH: J. Kavel 1
Base Running:
RUNS: S. Walters 1 ; B. Butler 1 ; M. Gagliano 1
SB: J. Moreno 1
CS: R. Wilson 1
HBP: M. Gagliano 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
0
H
3
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
INF
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P/U
/ SoftballINF
/ SoftballOF/INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballOF/INF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
INF
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