Late Rally Not Enough in Panthers’ Loss at No. 12 Virginia Tech

Saturday, March 16

Blacksburg, VA

2 PM

Pitt

8-17, 0-5

Virginia Tech

20-4-1, 8-0

Pitt

Virginia Tech

Late Rally Not Enough in Panthers’ Loss at No. 12 Virginia Tech

3/16/2024 5:09:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

BLACKSBURG, Va. – Pitt scored four runs in the sixth inning to make it a run-one game off a Kylie Griggs grand slam, but ultimately dropped the second game of the series to No. 12 Virginia Tech, 8-4, Saturday afternoon at the Tech Softball Park.

Griggs finished 1-for-4 with a run scored and four RBI to extend her hitting streak to a season-high six games. The Perrysburg, Ohio, native is batting .389 and has hit five home runs in that stretch.

Emma Ritter reached base for the Hokies after being hit by a pitch in the bottom of the first inning and was later thrown out at second on a stolen base attempt by KK Esparza. Esparza now leads the ACC with nine caught stealings on the season.

Adriana Romano (1-4) held the Hokies to one run (a home run) and two hits through the first 3.0 innings. Virginia Tech scored three runs off two home runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 4-0 lead. Macy Hamilton ended the inning with a diving catch in foul territory to send the Panthers back to bat.

Amanda "Tuta" Ramirez was the Panthers' first base runner of the game, drawing a walk with two outs in the top of the fifth. The Hokies added one more run in the bottom of the fifth before the Panthers turned a double play to end the inning.

The Panthers came alive in the top of the sixth, totaling four runs on four hits. Pitt got in scoring position after Jordan George drew a walk and Kat Rodriguez reached on a fielding error by the third baseman. Rachael Fuerst broke up the no hitter with a single to shallow left field to load the bases. Griggs made it a one-run game with a grand slam to left field. Griggs is the second Panther to record a grand slam this season and the 20th Panther to hit a grand slam overall.

The Panthers walked in a run in the bottom of the sixth and Virginia Tech added two more off a two-RBI single to left field to make the score 8-4.

Up Next
The Panthers conclude the series with No. 12 Virginia Tech with a game tomorrow at noon. Pitt returns to Pittsburgh for its home opener against Penn State, Tuesday, March 19 at 5 p.m.