Drapola Calls Game with Walk Off Homer Over Georgia Tech

Friday, April 14

Pittsburgh, Pa.

4 PM

Pitt

19-17, 3-9

Georgia Tech

21-20, 4-12

Georgia Tech

Pittsburgh

Drapola Calls Game with Walk Off Homer Over Georgia Tech

4/14/2023 8:20:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Photo Gallery

Brunson Sends the Game to Extras with Game-Tying Homer

PITTSBURGH – Senior Bailey Drapola led off the bottom of the eighth inning and crushed a solo walk-off home run to defeat Georgia Tech, 10-9, in the opening game of the series Friday afternoon at Vartabedian Field. The Panthers improve to 19-17 on the season and 3-9 in conference play.

The home run marked Drapola's sixth homer of the season and is the first walk-off home run since Cami Compson walked it off with a two-run homer against Florida State at Vartabedian Field on May 7, 2021.

Senior Kayla Lane sparked the Pitt offense in the second inning with a two-run double to left center field and put the Panthers up 2-1. Graduate student Yvonne Whaley followed up with a two-run single to extend the Panthers' lead 4-1. Sophomore Haylie Brunson capped off the six-run inning for Pitt with another two-run single to take a 6-1 lead.

The Yellow Jackets answered the Panthers explosive offense, scoring six runs over the next two frames. Georgia Tech scored five runs in the fourth inning, highlighted by a bases-clearing double from Sara Beth Allen to give the visiting team a 7-6 edge.

The back-and-forth game continued with Drapola crushing a two-run double to put the Panthers up 8-7 heading into the sixth inning. Emma Minghini answered to take back a one-run lead for the Yellow Jackets with a double to left field.

Brunson hit just her second homer on the season to tie the game at 9-9 with one out in the bottom of the seventh and give the Panthers a chance take the series edge. Sophomore pitcher Kendall Brown retired three of four batters in the top of the eighth, setting the stage for Drapola to walk it off with a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth.

UP NEXT
Pitt continues the three-game series tomorrow against Georgia Tech. Due to predicted inclement weather, first pitch has been moved up to 11 a.m.