Pitt Begins ACC Play at Georgia Tech

Pitt Panthers (6-8, 0-0 ACC) at Georgia Tech (10-7, 0-0 ACC)

March 1-3, 2024

Mewborn Field | Atlanta, Ga.

ACCNX

Pitt opens ACC play with a three-game series at Georgia Tech, March 1-3. The Panthers are just 2-8 in conference openers since joining the ACC in 2014. The Panthers will play one last preseason tournament next week, traveling to FGCU for the Spring Break Classic, March 8-10.

LAST TIME OUT: The Panthers went 1-4 at the South Florida Showdown, picking up a 4-1 win over Yale. The Panthers fell to No. 4 Washington (6-2), No. 8 Oklahoma State (1-0), USF (4-0), and Loyola-Chicago (8-0). Pitt was limited to just one hit against Loyola-Chicago and are averaging 4.0 hits over the last five games.

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 faced 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).

OUTSTANDING AGAINST OK STATE: Pitt was anchored by strong defense and pitching despite falling to No. 7/8 Oklahoma State, 1-0, at the South Florida Showdown. The Panthers held the Cowgirls scoreless until the sixth inning. The Panthers held the Cowgirls to just one run scored for the second time this season. The Cowgirls entered the game outscoring their opponents 23-2 over three games prior to facing the Panthers at the South Florida Showdown.

STRONG STARTS: Right-handed pitcher Kyra Pittman has recorded a 3-3 record and a 2.36 ERA (12 er / 35.2 ip) in six starts. Pittman was one of 13 pitchers in the ACC to earn three or more wins in the first two weeks of the season and ranks 17th among ACC pitchers in ERA.

DON'T RUN ON KK: Junior catcher KK Esparza leads the ACC and is tied for fifth in the NCAA with six catcher caught stealings.

AGAINST TOP OPPONENTS: The Panthers played three opponents ranked in the top 15 of the ESPN.com/USA Softball preseason poll in the first three weekends of the season. Pitt played No. 12 LSU (Feb. 10-11), No. 4 Washington (Feb. 23), and No. 8 Oklahoma State (Feb. 24). The Panthers hold a 13-81 all-time record against top 25 opponents.