Pitt Puts on Offensive Show in Two Victories Friday

Friday, February 26

Macon, Ga.

1:30 PM

Pitt

2-6

Toledo

1-1

Toledo

Pitt

Pitt Puts on Offensive Show in Two Victories Friday

2/26/2021 8:58:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Toledo Box Score Mercer Box Score

MACON, Ga. – The University of Pittsburgh softball team's bats came alive Friday, with 14 runs and five home runs as the Panthers defeated Toledo, 7-1, and Mercer 7-2 in Day one of the Black & Orange Challenge.

NEWS & NOTES

Freshman Cami Compson went 4-for-4 with a home run, double and six RBI against Mercer. Her six RBI is tied for second in the country for a single-game and first in the ACC. She is the first Panther since Shelby Pickett (3/30/16) to register six RBI in a single-game.
Freshman Dani Drogemuller threw a complete-game, allowing just three hits, two runs (both unearned) and striking out 10 batters against Mercer. She's the first Panther pitcher to fan 10 batters since Kayla Harris did so against California (5/16/15).
The Panthers totaled three home runs in game one against Toledo, including back-to-back homers from junior Sarah Seamans and senior Morgan Batesole. It was the first time since April 3, 2019 at Georgia Tech the Panthers recorded back-to-back home runs (senior Walker Barbee and Batesole).
Redshirt senior Brittany Knight and Drogemuller combined for 15 strikeouts and each totaled zero earned runs in their respective outings.

"Great two wins for the Panthers, where we got great executions on all sides of the ball," said head coach Jodi Hermanek. "Our defense had our pitchers backs today which allowed Brittany [Knight] and Dani [Drogemuller] to break into their stride, and what a great day in the circle they both had."

GAME ONE
Pitt got off to a fast start early against Toledo (1-1), as Batesole drove in a run with a two out double down the right field line (1-0). In the top half of the second, the Rockets tied the game at one after a throwing error to second sent a runner home from third, but the Panthers quickly regained the lead courtesy of a sac fly from sophomore Kayla Lane and a RBI single from sophomore EC Taylor.

Barbee made it a 4-1 ballgame with a home run to left field in the bottom of the fourth, her first of the season and fourth of her career. Seamans and Batesole showed off their power in the fifth, cranking back-to-back home runs for a 7-1 advantage. The homer for Seamans was her second of the season while Batesole's home run was her first of the year.

Redshirt senior Brittany Knight earned her first victory of the season and 24^th of her career, throwing a complete game with one run (unearned), seven hits and five strikeouts in just 83 pitches thrown.

Batesole finished 2-for-3 with two RBI and one run. Senior LoLo Sanchez went 2-for-3 with a double and one run scored, while Seamans tallied two RBI and a run.

GAME TWO
Batesole picked up right where she left off from her Toledo performance, hitting a solo homer to left field for her second in as many games and putting Pitt up 1-0. After a Barbee walk and a senior Hunter Levesque hit by pitch, freshman Cami Compson singled up the middle to bring in two runs and extend the Pitt lead, 3-0.

Mercer (3-5) put runs on the board in the bottom of the fourth, scoring two runs to cut the Panther lead to 3-2. The Panthers answered in the next half inning, as Barbee led the inning off with a walk. Redshirt junior Jada Crittendon pinch ran for Barbee and found herself on third base after a Levesque sacrifice bunt to third base. Compson brought in her third run of the game with a single to center, as Pitt took a 4-2 advantage.

After a scoreless sixth, Barbee again drew a walk – her third of the game – and Levesque singled to left, advancing Barbee to second. Compson saw one pitch and hit a three-run shot to center, extending Pitt's lead 7-2. The three RBI for Compson off the homerun totaled six for the evening for the Westerville, Ohio, native.

Drogemuller had a career outing, striking out two in the bottom of the seventh to total 10 for the night and gave Pitt its second win in a row. Drogemuller went the distance, giving up just three hits and two runs (both unearned). She improved her record to 2-2 in the circle for the season.

Compson finished the game 4-for-4 with a home run, double, one run and six RBI. Batesole went 2-for-4 with one run and an RBI.

"The offense had goals to lead the board and clutch-up with runners in scoring position, and we dominated those goals," said Hermanek. "Clutch Cami [Compson] had a day in game two, but four home runs on the day is a great way to win two games."

Pitt is back in action tomorrow morning for day two of the Black & Orange Challenge. The Panthers face Toledo at 10 a.m. followed by Mercer at 12:30 p.m.

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