Late Rally Lifts Pitt to Walk-Off Win Over Boston College, 9-8

Friday, March 20

Pittsburgh, Pa.

1 PM

Pitt

16-11, 3-4

Boston College

9-19, 1-3

Boston College

Pitt

Late Rally Lifts Pitt to Walk-Off Win Over Boston College, 9-8

3/20/2026 5:19:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score

PITTSBURGH – The Pitt softball team erased a late deficit and walked it off in dramatic fashion Friday afternoon, defeating Boston College, 9-8, at Vartabedian Field.

Trailing 8-7 entering the bottom of the seventh, the Panthers (16-11, 3-4 ACC) strung together four hits in the final frame, capped by a walk-off RBI single from KK Esparza to complete the comeback. Boston College falls to 9-19 overall and 1-3 in ACC play with the loss.

Tieley Vaughn and Alena Ball delivered back-to-back two-out singles to put runners on. Calle Henne followed with an RBI single to tie the game, setting the stage for Esparza, who lined an 0-2 pitch into right-center to bring home the winning run.

Pitt's offense produced 10 hits and showed patience at the plate, drawing eight walks and going 6-for-15 with runners in scoring position.

The Panthers answered early after Boston College jumped in front in the second inning. Pitt plated two runs in the bottom half of the frame, using RBI walks from Mackenzie Reese and Braden to even the score at 2-2.

After the Eagles reclaimed the lead with a run in the third and a four-run fourth inning fueled by a pair of home runs, Pitt responded immediately. Vaughn, Ball and Esparza each drove in runs in the bottom of the fourth to cut the deficit to 7-5.

Pitt continued to chip away in the fifth, scoring twice on heads-up baserunning. Reese came home on a passed ball before Braden scored on a Boston College throwing error to tie the game at 7-7.

Boston College briefly regained the lead in the seventh on a sacrifice fly, but Pitt had the final answer in its last at-bat.

In the circle, Mia Kliethermes (4-0) earned the win in relief, tossing 3.1 innings and allowing two runs while striking out three. She entered in the fourth inning and helped stabilize the game after a big inning from the Eagles.

Offensively, Ball and Camryn Murphy each recorded multi-hit performances, while Reese reached base three times and scored twice. Esparza finished with two hits and three RBI, including the game-winner.

Pitt returns to action tomorrow as the series with Boston College continues at 3 p.m.