University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt
Ole Miss
Pitt Gears Up for Kennesaw State Tournament
2/15/2024 4:41:00 PM | Softball
Pitt Panthers (2-2, 0-0 ACC)
At Kennesaw State Tournament
Bailey Park | Kennesaw, Ga.
Feb. 16-18, 2024
AT A GLANCE: The Panthers continue the 2024 campaign with the Kennesaw State Tournament, Feb. 16-18. The Panthers will play five games over the three-day tournament, beginning with a doubleheader on Friday against Ole Miss (11 a.m.) and East Tennessee State (1:30 p.m.). Pitt will play another doubleheader on Saturday against East Tennessee State (1:30 p.m.) and Kennesaw State (6:30 p.m. – KSU Owl Network). The Panthers will wrap up the weekend with a single game on Sunday against Ole Miss (10:30 a.m.)
LAST TIME OUT: The Panthers ended the opening weekend with a 2-2 record at the LSU Invitational. Pitt defeated Memphis in both of their meetings but fell in both games against No. 12 LSU. Pitt opened the season with a 5-0 shutout win over Memphis and fell to LSU in the following game. The Panthers held the LSU Tigers to five hits as the Tigers scored five runs, three runs off of Pitt errors. Pitt split the final day of the tournament, picking up another win over Memphis and dropping its second contest to LSU.
THE ROAD AHEAD: Pitt begins the season on the road for the first six weeks, playing 26 games from Feb. 9-March 17 before returning to Pittsburgh for their home-opener (Feb. 19 - vs. Penn State). Pitt will face four 2023 NCAA tournament teams in the first three weeks of the season, facing off against No. 12 LSU (Feb. 10-11), Ole Miss (Feb. 16, 18), No. 6 Washington (Feb. 23), and No. 8 Oklahoma State (Feb. 24).
AGAINST TOP OPPONENTS: The Panthers are slated to play three opponents ranked in the top 15 of the ESPN.com/USA Softball preseason poll in the first three weekends of the season. Pitt will play No. 12 LSU (Feb. 10-11) and will face off against No. 6 Washington (Feb. 23), and No. 8 Oklahoma State (Feb. 24). The Panthers hold a 13-79 all-time record against top 25 opponents.
STRONG DEBUTS IN THE CIRCLE: Junior Kyra Pittman had a strong outing in the circle against Memphis in her Panther debut. Pittman threw 18 strikes in her first 25 pitches and took a no-hitter into the bottom of the fourth inning. Freshman Danni Farris made two relief appearances, allowing just one earned run on five hits and two strikeouts.
