Pitt
9-7
Cal Poly
3-11
Pitt Earns Shutout Win Over Cal Poly, Splits First Day of Louisville Slugger Invitational
2/28/2025 4:43:00 PM | Softball
LONG BEACH, Calif. – Gwen Sparks led the Panthers to a 4-0 shutout win over Cal Poly as the Panthers split the first day of the Louisville Slugger Invitational at the LBSU Softball Complex, Friday afternoon. Pitt dropped the second game of the day to Omaha, as the Mavericks won on a three-run walk-off homer to secure the 5-2 victory.
Salenya Daniel combined to go 3-for-6 with a double and two RBI, as Desirae Martinez (3-for-6), Ahmari Braden (3-for-6) and Camryn Murphy (3-for-7) each combined to record three-hit efforts on the day.
Pitt 4, Cal Poly 0
Pitt started off the weekend in a pitcher's duel as the Panthers and Mustangs were scoreless through the first two innings. The Panthers got on the board in the fifth inning as Gwen Sparks tossed her first career shutout, striking out a season-high seven batters while allowing just one hit and three walks in 25 batters faced.
Sparks gave up a double and two walks in the first two innings before retiring the side in each of the next three straight innings. The freshman allowed just one batter on base through the final five frames, issuing a walk in the top of the sixth inning.
Shelby Frazier got a single in the second inning followed by an Amanda Ramirez double to get two runs in scoring position for the Panthers. Frazier was tagged out at home on the next play as the Panthers couldn't bring in a run before the inning ended.
The Panthers took advantage of two errors by the Mustangs in the bottom of the fifth inning to break the scoreless tie and take a 2-0 lead. Kaitlyn Brannstrom got on base and advanced to second from a fielding error from left field. Alena Ball pinch ran for Brannstrom and eventually scored on another error in the outfield after a Camryn Murphy single. Desirae Martinez added the second run of the inning with a single to left field to bring Murphy home.
Saleyna Daniel added two insurance runs for the Panthers with a two-run double in the bottom of the sixth inning to extend the Panthers lead to 4-0.
Sparks again retired the side in the top of the seventh inning to seal the win, ending with her seventh strikeout of the game.
Pitt 2, Omaha 5
Omaha came out strong, hitting a leadoff double to start the bottom of the first and later scoring off a Panther error after a single to the shortstop. The Panthers and Mavericks were scoreless through the next two frames before Ana Hernandez evened the score with a solo home run to left field in the top of the fourth.
Pitt had another strong outing in the circle, as Kyra Pittman shutout the Mavericks over four innings after allowing a run and three hits over the first two frames.
Desirae Martinez led off the top of the seventh inning with a double to left field and advanced to third on a Hernandez sac bunt. With the game tied 1-1, Amanda Ramirez hit a sac fly to center field to score another run and take the lead for the Panthers, 2-1.
Omaha answered in the bottom of the seventh with a solo home run to tie the game 2-2 with no outs. The Mavericks hit a single and were hit by a pitch before Rylinn Groff hit a walk-off three run homer to secure the 5-2 victory.R
UP NEXT
The Panthers continue the Louisville Slugger Invitational tomorrow night against Utah Tech (7:30 p.m. ET) and LMU (10 p.m. ET).
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Sparks, Gwen (3-2)
L: Robbins, Ally (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Camarena, Natalie 1
SH: Bermudez, Maddy 1
Batting:
2B: Daniel, Saleyna 1 ; Ramirez, Amanda "Tuta" 1 ; Braden, Ahmari 1
RBI: Daniel, Saleyna 2 ; Murphy, Camryn 1 ; Martinez, Desirae 1
SH: Vaughn, Tieley 1 ; Daniel, Saleyna 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Brannstrom, Kaitlyn 1 ; Ball, Alena 1 ; Murphy, Camryn 1 ; Braden, Ahmari 1
HBP: Griggs, Kylie 2
