Pitt takes down two top-25 teams, wins tourney

It wasn’t enough that the Pitt softball team recorded its biggest upset in school history this… It wasn’t enough that the Pitt softball team recorded its biggest upset in school history this weekend. It had to capture the crown, as well.

In their first action of the season, the Panthers won all four games at the Florida International Tournament at University Park in Miami, emerging victorious in the five-team weekend event.

The path to perfection was hardly a walk in the park. Pitt knocked off two nationally ranked squads for the weekend, No. 25 Missouri and No. 16 Virginia Tech.

The upset victory over the Hokies marked the highest-ranked club the Panthers have ever beaten, surpassing a win over No. 25 South Florida in 2006.

Pitt also defeated Texas-Arlington and host Florida International to complete its 4-0 start.

The Panthers started their season impressively, considering they were chosen to finish ninth in the conference by the Big East.

Senior Jessica Dignon emerged as the star of the tournament. The shortstop batted .333 with two home runs and seven RBIs in the four contests.

Pitt will look to continue its early season success on Saturday in the Longwood Lead-Off Classic in Farmville, Va.

Pitt coach Michelle Phalen could not be reached for comment.

Pitt 3, Texas-Arlington 1

Pitt opened its season in the win column by edging past Texas-Arlington, 3-1, on Friday morning. The Mavericks scored their only run of the game in the third inning with three hits off of Pitt freshman pitcher Cory Berliner, who was making her collegiate debut.

Sam Card led Pitt with three hits in addition to her run and RBI and also added a stolen base. Berliner pitched a complete game and struck out three.

Pitt 3, No. 16 Virginia Tech 0

Zinger pitched an eight-hit shutout and Dignon smacked a two-run home run to guide the Panthers’ upset over No. 16 Virginia Tech, 3-0, on Friday afternoon.

Dignon’s blast came in the third inning, extending Pitt’s advantage to three runs.

“We played exceptional today,” Phalen told pittsburghpanthers.com. “Our pitching was outstanding, our defense was also great. A lot of people made some great plays to get us out of some bad situations.”

Pitt 2, No. 25 Missouri 1

Pitt’s second consecutive upset was sparked by Berliner, who limited No. 25 Missouri to only two hits in a 2-1 victory on Saturday for the Panthers.

Berliner had five strikeouts, only giving up a run in the sixth inning after a triple led to an unearned run.

Another home run by Dignon was all the Panthers needed, this time coming in the first inning. The blast preceded a Card single. Card batted .500 through the first three games of the tournament.

Pitt 2, Florida International 0

The Panthers clinched the tournament victory and an undefeated weekend by beating Florida International, 2-0, on Sunday.

The sophomore Zinger almost pitched another complete game shutout but still held the Golden Panthers scoreless through six and two-thirds innings. Zinger struck out two and did not give up a run in either of her performances this weekend.

Berliner recorded the final out by striking out the last batter with two runners on base.

Dignon drove in both Panther runs with a single in the third inning. The hit scored freshmen Reba Tutt and Ashley Amistade for the final margin of victory.