Softball sweeps through Buckeye Invitational

Seventy-five batters faced in 19 innings pitched. Fourteen hits allowed and 4 runs allowed,… Seventy-five batters faced in 19 innings pitched. Fourteen hits allowed and 4 runs allowed, only one of which was earned. Eighteen strikeouts and only four walks.

Those are the pitching numbers Laura Belardinelli, Meghan Bostick and Christa Hunter combined in three games this past weekend as the Panthers’ softball team traveled to Columbus, Ohio, to participate in the Buckeye Invitational.

The Panthers ended the weekend 3-0 after defeating Youngstown State 8-0 on Saturday and stayed hot against Central Michigan and Kent State on Sunday, tallying wins of 5-3 and 4-1, respectively.

The highlight of the weekend for the Panthers was the impressive pitching that featured a streak of 11 and one-third consecutive scoreless innings by Bostick to start their weekend tripleheader.

Pitt 8, Youngstown State 0 (5 innings)

Bostick, a junior right-hander, improved her record to 3-6 as she threw a complete game shutout with seven strikeouts and no walks. Bostick started the game hot, retiring the first nine batters she faced before her no-hitter was broken up in the fourth inning.

The Panthers’ offense got started in the second inning as Sheena Hellon led off and reached second base on a throwing error and then stole third. With two outs, Jessica Thomas homered down the left field line to give the Panthers a 2-0 lead.

With Bostick on the mound, the two-run lead would be more than enough. The Panthers added two more runs in the third and four more in the fifth to finish off the Penguins, 8-0.

Hunter, the designated hitter, went 1-for-3 with 3 RBIs from the seventh spot in the order.

Pitt 5, Central Michigan 3

Pitching on less than 24 hours rest, Bostick recorded four more scoreless innings before finally taking a seat in the fifth with the Panthers already ahead 5-0.

Pitt took such a huge lead from a big offensive day at the top of their order. The top three of second baseman Francesca DiMaria, leftfielder Joey Scarf and third baseman Jessica Dignon went a combined 4-for-10 and scored four of Pitt’s five runs. The three of them also combined for three walks and only one strikeout.

Pitt forced seven walks in the fourth and third innings pitched by the Chippewas’ starter, losing pitcher Jill DeRoche, but couldn’t fully capitalize, stranding 12 runners on base.

The Chippewas finally got on the board in the seventh inning and broke the scoreless inning streak. In the fifth and sixth innings, Hunter was called upon for relief. She pitched two scoreless innings but did get touched up for back-to-back doubles and three runs in the bottom of the seventh before Belardinelli came in to retire the last two batters and record the save.

The save was her first of the season and set the tone for Pitt’s second game on Sunday against Kent State.

Pitt 4, Kent State 1

Belardinelli stayed hot after recording the save against Central Michigan as she pitched a four-hitter and improved her record to 5-4 for the season. She did not give up an earned run and struck out four.

The Golden Flashes’ only run came in the bottom of the second inning to put Pitt behind for the first time over the weekend.

That small deficit lasted for two full innings until the Panthers scored two runs of their own in the top of the fifth.

Morgan Howard bunted her way on with a leadoff single, then stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by the Golden Flashes’ catcher. After another Kent State error on a Scarf grounder, Howard scored to tie the game. Dignon then tripled to centerfield to give the Panthers the go-ahead run.

That lead was all the Panthers would need as Belardinelli finished strong to record the win. The Panthers added two more in the top of the seventh to lock up a 4-1 win and finish 3-0 on the weekend.

The three consecutive wins boosted the Panthers back over .500 for the year at 12-11. Pitt has now won six of their last seven games.

The Panthers will be back in action on Thursday when they play host to the Penguins of Youngstown State for a doubleheader at Trees Field. The first game is set for 2 p.m., and the second will follow at 4 p.m.