Softball: Panthers fall in first game of Big East Championships

The Pitt softball team ended its season with a thud last weekend.

In its first game of… The Pitt softball team ended its season with a thud last weekend.

In its first game of the Big East Championships, Louisville pounded the Panthers 9-1. The Panthers ended the season with a record of 27-25, 10-11 Big East.

The game was even through two innings. Louisville (39-17, 16-6 Big East) scored first, with Jennifer Esteban coming home because of a throwing error in the bottom of the first.

In the top of the second inning, Pitt tied the game 1-1. Pinch runner Jessica Rhodunda scored on a passed ball.

Rhodunda ran for Yvette Bravo, who hit her 15th double of the season to start the inning.

Bravo finished the season second overall in doubles in the single-season record book.

Louisville jumped ahead in the bottom of the second when Esteban drove in a run with a single to the pitcher. Vanessa James and Kristin Austin both scored on a fielding error by Pitt’s Ciera Damon.

In the sixth inning, the Cardinals put the game out of reach when Jordan Trimble tripled, driving in Megan Bivins. Then Austin picked up an RBI with a single to the shortstop that brought Trimble home. Melissa Roth followed with a double to center field that brought in two runs.

Later, Roth scored the last run of the game on a throwing error by center fielder Reba Tutt.

The game ended after the sixth inning because of inclement weather.

Pitcher Cory Berliner, who started the game for the Panthers, pitched two innings, giving up six hits and four runs. Alyssa O’Connell took over in the third inning, pitching a little more that three innings and allowing nine hits and five runs.

Last week, Berliner was named to the All-Big East third team, earning her first ever All-Big East honor. She was one of two pitchers named to the third team.

She finished the season with a record of 13-10, leading Panther pitchers with an ERA of 2.06 in 166 and 1/3 innings pitched.

Kristen Wadwell pitched five innings for Louisville and gave up two hits and one run with eight strikeouts. Tori Collins took over in the sixth and Pitt managed one hit in the inning.

Ashley Amistade finished the season leading Pitt in with a batting average of .320. Yvette Bravo and freshman catcher Holly Stevens each collected 30 RBIs.

Stevens also led the Panthers with 10 home runs.