Pitt Opens 2025 Campaign at NFCA Leadoff Classic

Pitt Panthers (0-0, 0-0 ACC)
NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic
Feb. 7-9, 2025
Clearwater, Fla. · Eddie C. Moore Complex
Game Changer | Pitt Notes

SCHEDULE
Friday, Feb. 7: Kentucky (10 a.m.); Morgan State (1 p.m.)
Saturday, Feb. 8: Southern Miss (12 p.m.); Kennesaw State (6 p.m.)
Sunday, Feb. 9: #6 Tennessee (11 a.m.)

GAMECHANGER
All games will be streamed live (free) on the GameChanger App with contests on fields 8 and 9 featuring a dedicated broadcast team and a multi-camera view.

NOTES

The Panthers 23-person roster features nine upperclassmen (eight seniors and one graduate student). Eight of the nine are expected to be potential starters: Kaitlyn Brannstrom (1B), Kendall Brown (LHP), Desirae Martinez (3B), Amanda Ramirez (DP/C), Ana Hernandez (SS), Kyra Pittman (RHP), Saleyna Daniel (DP/OF), Kylie Griggs (CF).
Senior center fielder Kylie Griggs led the Panthers last season in OPS (.976), hit by pitches (8), slugging percentage (.564), on-base percentage (.412), and was second on the team in doubles (6), home runs (10),
stolen bases (9), and RBI (27).
Senior Ana Hernandez emerged as the Panthers starting shortstop last season, starting in 48 of 49 games at shortstop.
Redshirt-junior KK Esparza returns as the starting catcher for the Panthers. Esparza ended the regular season ranked third in the ACC and 41st in the NCAA with 12 caught stealings in her first season after transferring from Ole Miss.
Freshmen pitchers Gwen Sparks (RHP) and Bekah Duck (LHP) look to make an immediate impact in the circle for the Panthers.
Sparks earned national preseason recognition in January being named to the Softball America Freshman Watch List. Sparks, a 6-2 right-handed pitcher out of Notre Dame High School (OH), finished her career with a 43-7 record and a 1.01 ERA with 636 strikeouts and 17 no hitters.
Kaitlyn Brannstrom will be the primary first baseman for the Panthers after transferring from Grand Canyon. She finished last season batting .200 with three home runs and 16 RBI.
Saleyna Daniel joins the Panthers after spending three seasons at Mississippi State. She played in 12 games off the bench, pinch hitting eight times and recorded a .500 batting average (4-for-8) with a pair of RBIs in 2024.
Tieley Vaughn will start at second for Pitt after spending two seasons at South Florida. She holds a career .211 batting average with 16 RBI and four home runs. Tieley was voted as one of three captains for the season.