Pitt
6-11, 0
Clemson
18-7, 0
Panthers Fall to Clemson, 7-2, Saturday Afternoon
3/7/2020 4:52:00 PM | Softball
Pitt (6-11, 1-4 ACC) led 2-0 after three and a half innings, but Clemson (18-7, 5-0) scored three in the fourth and four in the sixth to give the Panthers their fourth straight loss. The Tigers kept their winning streak alive, improving it to 10 games.
Junior Hunter Levesque hit a double down the left field line for the Panthers' first hit of the ball game in the top of the first. With two outs, senior Connor McGaffic was hit by a pitch, setting up runners on second and first for senior Alexee Haynes. Haynes poked one through the right side, scoring Levesque and giving the Panthers an early 1-0 lead.
T1 | Alexee Haynes puts the Panthers up 1-0 with an RBI single to right field!
— Pitt Softball (@Pitt_SB) March 7, 2020
Pitt 1, Clemson 0
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McGaffic added a run to the Panthers' lead (2-0) with a solo shot to left field in the top of the third, her second of the season.
Chris Berman voice*
— Pitt Softball (@Pitt_SB) March 7, 2020
Back back back back back.... Gone!
McGaffic launches a solo shot to left field and Pitt leads 2-0!
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Pitt continued to hit off Clemson's pitchers in the top of the fourth as sophomore Hannah Bach led off the inning with a double down the left field line. Junior Morgan Batesole moved her to third with a sacrifice bunt, and both sophomore Katlyn Pavlick and Levesque walked to force the bases loaded. Senior Kaitlyn Kruger drove a high ball to left, but the left fielder snagged it to leave three runners on.
Clemson got within one run with the leadoff batter in the bottom of the fourth inning. Marissa Guimbarda hit a high fly ball to dead center. Levesque reached over the wall to try and catch the ball, but it went in and out of her glove, landing out of the field of play. The Tigers trailed 2-1 after the homer. Two batters later, MK Bonamy gave Clemson the lead (3-2) with a two-run home run to centerfield.
In the bottom of the sixth, Clemson added four runs as JoJo Hyatt hit a two-RBI double to center. The Tigers loaded the bases, and Valerie Cagle scored a run on a fielder's choice (6-2). In the next at bat, Guimbarda hit a fly out to left. Tiger's runner Cammy Pereira scored due to catcher's interference on the throw from left field, making it a 7-2 contest.
Junior Brittany Knight tossed a complete game, giving up eight hits, six earned runs and striking out two batters. Knight's record fell to 5-5 on the season. Haynes and McGaffic each had two hits and one RBI for the day. Levesque went 1-for-3 with a double, run and walk while Pavlick drew two walks for the day.
News & Notes
- Levesque's double in the first inning extended her hitting streak to eight games. Levesque has hit an extra base hit in five of the eight games.
- Haynes' hits were her seventh hit in five games. In her last five games, Haynes' is batting .438 with one double, one triple, three RBIs and 10 total bases.
- The 10 runners left on base tied for the most this season for Pitt (Cal Poly).
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Emma Whitfield (3-0)
L: Knight, Brittany (5-5)
S: Valerie Cagle (1)
Batting:
2B: Levesque, Hunter 1 ; Haynes, Alexee 1 ; Bach, Hannah 1
HR: McGaffic, Connor 1
RBI: McGaffic, Connor 1 ; Haynes, Alexee 1
SH: Sanchez, LoLo 1 ; Batesole, Morgan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Levesque, Hunter 1 ; McGaffic, Connor 1
HBP: McGaffic, Connor 1
Batting:
2B: Marissa Guimbarda 1 ; JoJo Hyatt 1
HR: Marissa Guimbarda 1 ; MK Bonamy 1
RBI: Valerie Cagle 1 ; Marissa Guimbarda 1 ; MK Bonamy 2 ; JoJo Hyatt 2
SH: Bailey Taylor 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Cammy Pereira 1 ; Marissa Guimbarda 1 ; Carlee Shannon 1 ; MK Bonamy 2 ; Alia Logoleo 1 ; JoJo Hyatt 1
SB: Alia Logoleo 1
HBP: Cammy Pereira 1 ; Alia Logoleo 1
