University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt
6-12
Purdue
10-8
Rodriguez Has Multi-Home Run Game, Pitt Drops Two at FGCU Classic
3/8/2024 5:35:00 PM | Softball
FORT MYERS, Fla. – Kat Rodriguez hit two home runs against Purdue for first career multi-home run game as the Panthers drop two games at the FGCU Spring Break Classic, Friday. The Panthers fell to Purdue, 2-9, and Western Michigan, 5-0.
Pitt 2, Purdue 9
Kat Rodriguez got the Panthers off to a quick start with a leadoff homer run to left center field off a 1-2 pitch. The homer marked the second home run on the year for Rodriguez and the first homer to lead off a game for the Panthers since 2020.
Purdue scored a run to tie the game 1-1 in the bottom of the first before Rodriguez hit her second homer of the day to center field to give Pitt the go ahead. Rodriguez is the first batter to record a multi-homer game since Bailey Drapola had two against Memphis last season.
The Boilermakers took a 6-2 lead in the bottom of the third after scoring five runs on seven hits. Purdue added three more runs off four hits in the bottom of the fifth to secure the victory.
Rodriguez finished 2-for-3 with two home runs and two runs scored. Macy Hamilton also finished 2-for-3 for her third multi-hit game of the season.
Pitt 0, Western Michigan 5
Ana Hernandez started off with an outstanding diving catch behind the third baseman to record the first out. Jordan George hit her second career double in the bottom of the second.
The Broncos broke the scoreless tie in the top of the third inning of back-to-back singles and then a triple from Payton Kelly. Kelly ended up scoring on the play after a muffed throw from Hernandez. WMU added another run off of a Gabbie Evans double in the fifth and plated a run in the seventh to make the score 5-0.
Up Next
The Panthers return to the FGCU tournament facing off against Purdue (3 p.m.) and Western Michigan (5:30 p.m.).
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Madi Elish (2-3)
L: Pittman, Kyra (3-5)
Batting:
HR: Rodriguez, Kat 2
RBI: Rodriguez, Kat 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Rodriguez, Kat 2
CS: Braden, Ahmari 1
Batting:
RBI: Moriah Polar 1 ; Khloe Banks 1 ; Tyrina Jones 1 ; Alivia Meeks 1 ; Hailey Hayes 1 ; Kate Claypool 2 ; Kiara Dillon 2
SF: Moriah Polar 1 ; Alivia Meeks 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Moriah Polar 1 ; Sage Scarmardo 1 ; Ashlynn Campbell 2 ; Hailey Hayes 2 ; Kate Claypool 1 ; Jade Moy 1 ; Kiara Dillon 1
SB: Tyrina Jones 1
HBP: Moriah Polar 1
