Panthers

Despite entering the weekend on a five-game winning streak, the state of New York wasn’t kind… Despite entering the weekend on a five-game winning streak, the state of New York wasn’t kind to the Pitt softball team on Friday and Sunday.

The Panthers dropped all four of their contests over the weekend, losing two games apiece to Syracuse and St. John’s on the road trip.

The defeats lowered Pitt’s record to 14-13 on the season and 2-4 in the Big East.

The Panthers return to Trees Field on Wednesday to take on Connecticut in a doubleheader that starts at noon.

Syracuse 8, Pitt 3

Syracuse 4, Pitt 0

In the first game, the Panthers’ Kristen Cheesebrew scored the first run of the matchup on a passed ball. However, Syracuse’s Amy Kelley put the Orange on top with a three-run home run in the bottom of the inning, and the Panthers never recovered.

Syracuse scored a run in the third inning, before increasing its lead to 8-1 in the fourth. Yvette Bravo ripped a two-run homer for the Panthers in the sixth, but the Panthers were unable to overcome the Orange lead.

‘We could not get the timely hits when we needed to. We dug ourselves a couple holes,’ said Pitt coach Holly Aprile.

Shortstop Niki Cognigni went 3 for 4 for the Panthers with three singles.

Cory Berliner gave up four runs in the loss, and Alyssa O’Connell gave up the final four runs in relief. With the loss, Berliner fell to 4-5 on the season.

In the second game, Alyssa Heitmeier had the only hit for the Panthers. The Orange scored four runs off nine hits and a Pitt error.

‘We got people on and we had opportunities, but we fell a little short,’ said Aprile.

Syracuse started the scoring with a run in the third inning and then added another in the fourth. In the fifth inning, the Orange accumulated five hits and drove in two runs off a single from shortstop Jamie Kelling.

Pitt’s only hit came in the sixth inning, but the Panthers were unable to bring Heitmeier home after her leadoff single.

Pitcher Kayla Zinger fell to 2-5 on the season with the loss.

St. John’s 3, Pitt 2

St. John’s 2, Pitt 1

Pitt’s luck didn’t improve against St. John’s on Sunday. The Panthers dropped both games of the doubleheader by one run each, 3-2 and 2-1.

‘I think our pitching got a little bit better when we headed into St. John’s,’ said Aprile.

In the first game, St. John’s jumped out to an early lead off Kacee Cox’s three-run home run in the bottom of the first.

The Panthers made a run at the Red Storm in the third. Ciera Damon hit a home run to left field, and Sam Card brought Ashley Amistade home with an RBI double. However, Pitt didn’t score for the remainder of the game.

‘We had a lot of people on, but when we needed to get that hit, we just didn’t seem to do it,’ said Aprile.

Both teams had five hits in the game. O’Connell received her second loss of the season to drop to 8-2.

St. John’s raced ahead early in the second game as well. The Red Storm built a 1-0 lead in the first inning off a home run by Roxy Struble. They increased their advantage in the fourth inning when pinch-runner Shannan Valentin scored on a ground out.

Pitt’s comeback effort fell short once again, this time in the sixth inning. Despite catcher Card’s RBI double that brought Reba Tutt home, the Panthers were unable to string together the hits necessary to overtake the Red Storm.

Aprile said her team did not do a good job at the plate against St. John’s or Syracuse. However, she said that defense and pitching remains solid.

‘We’re within striking distance in every game,’ said Aprile. ‘Overall, defensively and on the mound, we’re still doing a pretty good job.’

Zinger pitched the entire game for the Panthers, picking up another loss despite giving up only one earned run in six innings.

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