Pitt
10-15, 0-5
Florida State
24-5, 2-0
Panthers’ Comeback Falls Short at No. 10 Florida State
3/15/2025 5:52:00 PM | Softball
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Pitt softball team fought back in game two but ultimately dropped both games of the doubleheader to No. 10 Florida State at JoAnne Graff Field, Saturday afternoon. The Panthers fell 3-1 in the second game of the day after falling 13-0 to Florida State in game one.
Senior Kyra Pittman anchored the Panthers in the circle in game two and held the ninth-best offense in the country to three runs and five hits. The Seminoles entered the series averaging 8.33 runs per game and 9.7 hits per game.
Ahmari Braden had a breakout weekend, combining to go 3-for-6 with two home runs, two runs scored, three RBI, a walk and a stolen base in three games. Braden entered the series without a home run in her career and combined the drive in three of Pitt's four runs scored in the series.
Pitt 0, Florida State 13
FSU took an early lead off a triple from Kennedy Harp to give the Seminoles an early 2-0 lead. Michaela Edenfield drove in another run with a single to the shortstop and set up a two-run home run from Katie Dack as the Seminoles took a 5-0 lead after the first inning.
The Panthers made an early pitching change as Kendall Brown took the circle in the first inning with no outs. Brown retired the first two batters faced to get two quick outs. She gave up a walk and a single before ending the inning on a foul out to third base.
The Seminoles extended the lead, 11-0, with a six-run inning in the bottom of the third. Amaya Ross led off the inning with a solo home run and another two runs scored on a Jaysoni Beachum sac fly and error by the Panthers in right field. FSU hit a double and a single to score three more runs to cap off the inning.
The Panthers' defense was on display again as Desirae Martinez made a jumping catch at third base to record the first out in the bottom of the second. Martinez made another great play with a caught stealing attempt at third base to record the second out in the bottom of the fourth.
Beachum continued an impressive weekend with a two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth inning to make the final score 13-0.
Julia Apsel earned the win for the Seminoles after the Panthers were held to just two hits over the five innings. Gwen Sparks suffered the loss for the Panthers after facing five batters in the first inning.
Pitt 1, Florida State 3
The Panthers bounced back after the loss and struck first with an Ahmari Braden solo home run to center field on a 3-2 pitch to give Pitt an early 1-0 lead.
Pitt looked to score again in the second inning as Shelby Frazier drew a leadoff walk and Saleyna Daniel reached on a fielder's choice to get on base. Desirae Martinez hit a bloop double in shallow right field, but the Panthers couldn't score the run as Daniel was tagged out on the way to home plate.
Kyra Pittman held it down in the circle for the Panthers as she retired the first two batters and then gave up a single before ending the first inning on a fly out to left field. Pittman held the Seminoles to just two hits and issued a walk over the first three innings before Michael Edenfield knotted the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning with a solo home run to center field.
Kylie Griggs drew a leadoff walk in the top of the sixth inning and advanced to third after back-to-back ground outs to get in scoring position for the go ahead run. Brannstrom drew another walk to put runners on the corners with two outs, but Jazzy Francik struck out Frazier to end the inning and keep the game tied.
Kennedy Harp gave the Seminoles a 2-1 lead with a solo home run down the left field line in the bottom of the sixth inning. Hallie Wacaser added an insurance run with another solo home run to left field to give the Seminoles a two-run lead and secure the series sweep.
Pittman had a strong outing despite suffering the loss, pitching 6.0 innings and allowing three home runs, five hits, two walks, with one strikeout.
UP NEXT
The Panthers return to Pittsburgh next weekend for their home opener against Georgia Tech, beginning Friday, March 21 at 6 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Julia Apsel (9-0)
L: Sparks, Gwen (3-5)
Batting:
2B: Michaela Edenfield 1
3B: Kennedy Harp 1 ; Addie DeLong 1
HR: Jaysoni Beachum 1 ; Katie Dack 1 ; Amaya Ross 1
RBI: Jaysoni Beachum 3 ; Kennedy Harp 2 ; Michaela Edenfield 2 ; Katie Dack 3 ; Shelby McKenzie 1 ; Amaya Ross 1
SF: Jaysoni Beachum 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Isa Torres 3 ; Jaysoni Beachum 2 ; Kennedy Harp 2 ; Michaela Edenfield 1 ; Madi Frey 1 ; Katie Dack 1 ; Amaya Ross 1 ; Addie DeLong 1 ; Krystina Hartley 1
SB: Isa Torres 1 ; Addie DeLong 1
