Pitt
4-3
East Tennessee State
1-8
Pitt Uses Explosive Offense to Sweep Second Day of KSU Tournament
2/17/2024 11:27:00 PM | Softball
KENNESAW, Ga. – Pitt combined for 18 runs and 27 hits as the Panthers swept the doubleheader during the second day of the Kennesaw State Tournament, Saturday. Pitt began the day by defeating East Tennessee State 14-6 in six innings and followed with a 4-3 nine inning victory over host Kennesaw State.
Pitt 14, ETSU 6
The Panthers' offense powered them to a 14-6 run-rule victory over the ETSU Buccaneers, scoring a season-high 14 runs on 14 hits. Four Panthers recorded multi-hit efforts and multi-RBI performances. Kat Rodriguez has had multiple hit performances in back-to-back games against the Buccaneers as freshman Ahmari Braden recorded her first multi-hit contest.
ETSU had a strong start to the game, leading off with back-to-back walks and hitting back-to-back singles to take an early 2-0 lead. Kendall Brown faced four batters to start the game before freshman Danni Farris came in and retired three straight batters to send the Panthers to bat.
Rodriguez started the rally for the Panthers with a single up the middle and stole second. Amanda "Tuta" Ramirez got the Panthers on the board with an RBI single to score Rodriguez and then Kylie Griggs beat out a single to the catcher to continue the rally. The inning ended with an Ana Hernandez groundout to the third baseman, but the Panthers still evened the score 2-2 after the opening inning of play.
Farris retired the next three batters as the Panthers took the lead after scoring four runs on three hits in the bottom of the second inning. Braden (single) and Cami Compson (error) got on base as Rodriguez got her second hit of the day with an RBI single up the middle to go up 3-2. Jace Jackson hit a single and advanced to second, scoring Rodriguez and Compson.
The Panthers added two more runs after Rachael Fuerst and Braden each hit back-to-back first career triples and Compson added an RBI single to take an 8-3 lead after three innings of play.
Jordan George got her first hit of her collegiate career, with a double to right center as the Panthers made it through six batters without an out and batted through the lineup to score six more runs on five hits in the bottom of the sixth inning to secure the run-rule victory.
Farris earned the win after retiring the first six batters faced, allowed one run on four hits through the first 4.0 innings. Farris finished the outing allowing three earned runs on seven hits with two strikeouts and issuing a walk in 5.0 innings of work.
Pitt 4, Kennesaw State 3
The Panthers had another powerful offensive outing, recording 13 hits and having four Panthers record multi-hit efforts for the second consecutive game. Desirae Martinez led the Panthers by going a perfect 3-for-4 with a double at the plate.
Cami Compson hit a two-run go-ahead homer off the first pitch of the at bat in the top of the second inning to give the Panthers a 2-1 lead. Olivia Stefanoni turned a quick bottom of the second inning by striking out the side on 10 pitches.
Pitt added another run after hitting three straight singles in the top of the fifth. Ramirez drove in Rodriguez with a deep single off the wall to right field but was called out at second.
Kennesaw State tied the game 3-3 in the bottom of the sixth with a Caroline Shumeyko solo homer to left field and eventually send the game to extra innings. The Owls and the Panthers were both held scoreless through the seventh and eighth inning before Ana Hernandez scored the game-winning run on a Hannah Greer groundout to third base.
Kyra Pittman earned the win after entering the game with one out in the fifth inning. Pittman finished with 4.2 innings, allowing one earned run on two hits and four strikeouts.
Stefanoni finished with eight strikeouts and allowed just two earned runs on four hits through 4.1 innings. After giving up a run in the bottom of the first, Stefanoni held the Owls to three hits and struck out six batters through the next 3.1 innings.
UP NEXT
The Panthers wrap up the Kennesaw State Tournament with a single game against Ole Miss. First pitch is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. at Bailey Park.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Farris, Danni (1-0)
L: Sara Muir (1-3)
Batting:
2B: C. Young 1 ; Sara Muir 1 ; G. Hinson 1
3B: O. Absher 1
RBI: C. Young 1 ; Sara Muir 1 ; R. Nayadley 1 ; G. Hinson 1 ; M. Stowell 1 ; H. Laramie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: B. Mesusan 2 ; C. Young 1 ; Sara Muir 1 ; O. Absher 1 ; G. Hinson 1
Batting:
2B: Rodriguez, Kat 1 ; George, Jordan 1
3B: Fuerst, Rachael 1 ; Braden, Ahmari 1
RBI: Rodriguez, Kat 2 ; Ramirez, Amanda "Tuta" 1 ; Esparza, KK 1 ; Griggs, Kylie 2 ; Hernandez, Ana 2 ; Braden, Ahmari 2 ; Compson, Cami 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Rodriguez, Kat 2 ; Jackson, Jace 2 ; Romano, Adriana 1 ; George, Jordan 1 ; Griggs, Kylie 1 ; Hernandez, Ana 1 ; Fuerst, Rachael 2 ; Braden, Ahmari 2 ; Compson, Cami 2
SB: Rodriguez, Kat 2 ; Jackson, Jace 1 ; Griggs, Kylie 2 ; Ball, Alena 1
HBP: Esparza, KK 1
