Pitt
10-10
Long Beach State
9-8
Pitt Holds on to Defeat Long Beach State, 3-2
3/2/2025 10:23:00 PM | Softball
LONG BEACH, Calif. – The Pitt softball team held off a late comeback from Long Beach State to earn the 3-2 victory at the LBSU Softball Complex, Sunday evening.
The Panthers held a 3-1 lead heading into the final inning as the Beach scored another run in the bottom of the inning to make it a one-run game with two outs and the tying run in scoring position. Pitt was able to hold onto the win, securing the win on a bobbled fly out to left field to end the game.
Pitt was anchored by strong pitching as Kyra Pittman (5-5) earned the win after entering the circle in the fourth inning. Pittman allowed two earned runs on four hits with two walks and a strikeout, over 4.0 innings. Kendall Brown got the start for the Panthers and tossed 3.0 shutout innings, striking out three batters with five hits and issuing two walks.
The Panthers and Beach were scoreless through the opening three innings as the Panthers were held without a hit in the opening three frames.
Ahmari Braden made a great diving catch in foul territory in right field to record the first out for the Panthers. Brown gave up one single and then struck out back-to-back batters to end the first inning. Through the first nine batters faced, Brown allowed just two hits and totaled three strikeouts.
Pittman got the Panthers out of the jam with the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth, striking out the batter to leave three runners stranded and hold the 3-0 lead.
Kaitlyn Brannstrom finally broke through for the Panthers in the top of the fourth inning with a double to right field to get two Panthers in scoring position. Camryn Murphy hit a groundball to the second baseman and Desirae Martinez was able to avoid the rundown and cross home plate after the throw from the shortstop sailed over top the catcher's glove. Ana Hernandez brought in another run on another groundout the second base.
Pitt added its final run in the top of the fifth after Kylie Griggs led off the top of the fifth inning with a single up the middle. The center fielder later scored on a groundout to second base from Braden for the 3-1 lead.
UP NEXT
Pitt begins ACC play next weekend with a three-game series against North Carolina in Chapel Hill, March 7-9.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Pittman, Kyra (5-5)
L: Martin, Maddy (0-3)
Batting:
2B: Brannstrom, Kaitlyn 1
RBI: Braden, Ahmari 1 ; Hernandez, Ana 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Martinez, Desirae 1 ; Brannstrom, Kaitlyn 1 ; Griggs, Kylie 1
SB: Griggs, Kylie 1
HBP: Martinez, Desirae 1 ; Griggs, Kylie 1
Batting:
2B: Durazo, Rebekah 1 ; Medellin, Makayla 1
RBI: Medellin, Makayla 2
SH: Weisbrook, Avery 1
SF: Medellin, Makayla 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Durazo, Rebekah 1 ; Estrada, Erica 1
SB: Sweet, Corissa 2
