Pitt Set for Midweek at Ohio State

Pitt Panthers (13-27, 4-14 ACC)
at Ohio State Buckeyes (21-17, 3-9 Big Ten)
Buckeye Field | Columbus, Ohio
April 17, 2024

QUICK HITS: Pitt travels to Columbus, Ohio, to face the Ohio State Buckeyes in a midweek matchup, April 17. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Big Ten Network Plus. The Panthers and Buckeyes will face off for the first time since the 2019 season. The last meeting between the two teams came on April 3, 2019, where the Panthers dropped a 5-2 extra-inning contest at Vartabedian Field. The Panthers hold a 4-15 all-time record against Ohio State and are 9-15 this season in non-conference games.

BY THE NUMBERS:

Junior catcher KK Esparza is tied for first in the ACC with Notre Dame's Carlli Kloss and ranks 10th in the NCAA with 12 caught stealings.
Esparza boasts a .310 conference batting average and has five caught stealings by in conference play. In 18 conference games, Esparza has a perfect fielding percentage (1.000) without a passed ball or an error.
Kat Rodriguez leads the Panthers in batting average (.328), runs scored (21), and hits (39). Kylie Griggs leads the Panthers in OPS (1.096), hit by pitches (8), RBI (25), slugging percentage (.670) and is tied for first in doubles (6), home runs (10).
Kylie Griggs has each reached base in the last 12 consecutive games. Griggs is batting .355 (11-for-31) with 11 runs scored, five home runs, 12 RBI, nine walks, a .935 slugging percentage, and .556 on-base percentage in that span.
In 37 games this season, Griggs has recorded 25 hits in 91 at-bats with six doubles, 10 home runs (two grand slams), and 25 RBI. Griggs combined for 34 career hits in 172 at-bats with six doubles and five home runs, and 18 RBI in 81 games over the last two seasons.
Olivia Stefanoni appeared in all three games at Boston College, and did not give up a run, a walk, or a hit by pitch in her 9.0 innings pitched.

700 AND COUNTING: Head coach Jenny Allard reached 700 career wins as Pitt defeated Akron, 10-2, April 9 at the Lee R. Jackson Field. Coach Allard is one on 43 active division I head softball coaches to reach the 700-career win milestone. Coach Allard is one four head coaches currently in the ACC with 700+ wins. Coach Allard entered the season with a 688-518-1 career record in 28 seasons at Harvard.