Fighting Irish defeat Panthers in doubleheader

The Pitt softball team was unable to find balance Wednesday afternoon as it lost both games… The Pitt softball team was unable to find balance Wednesday afternoon as it lost both games of a doubleheader to Big East foe Notre Dame at Trees Field. The Panthers had the support of their bats in game one, taking a 4-0 lead into the last inning before the defense allowed five runs. But Pitt could not muster any offense in the second game, picking up just one hit against the Fighting Irish.

Notre Dame 5, Pitt 4

The Panthers jumped out to an early lead by putting two runs across in the first inning against Notre Dame starter Steffany Stenglein. Pitt leadoff hitter Francesca DiMaria connected for her fourth home run of the season for the quick 1-0 advantage. Teammate Casey Pickard followed with her sixth home run of the year just two batters later.

The Panthers added to their lead in the bottom of the third inning when designated hitter Heather Andrews belted a two-out double down the left field line that scored DiMaria and Kelly Hulpa, giving Pitt a 4-0 lead.

Panther starter Nikki Gasti was in control on the mound through six innings before finding trouble in the top of the seventh. With one out, back-to-back errors by second baseman Angela Blackmon and Hulpa allowed the Irish to score their first run of the contest.

Notre Dame would do most of its damage with two outs, started by a short single in front of the plate that scored a runner, cutting the lead to three. Gasti then walked the next batter to load the bases but they didn’t stay full for long as Andrea Loman connected for a three-run double to score the winning runs.

Gasti suffered the loss despite all of the runs being unearned. She allowed four hits, walked four and struck out three. DiMaria went 2 for 3 and scored two runs.

Notre Dame 4, Pitt 1

The Irish struck early in game two with two runs off Pitt starter Janelle Pepe. The Panthers were able to cut the lead in half in the bottom of the second when Pickard picked up the team’s only hit of the entire game. Pickard’s hit, combined with a Fighting Irish error, allowed Andrews to score an unearned run.

But Pepe surrendered two more runs in the top of the fourth inning when she allowed a two-run home run to catcher Mallorie Lenn. Pepe pitched the complete game and was handed the loss, brining her record to 5-9 on the year. She allowed five hits and one walk while striking out three.

Heather Booth picked up the victory for Notre Dame, improving to 10-5 as she allowed one hit and walked three. She also struck out seven Panther batters. Loman continued to make her presence felt on the Irish offense, as she went 2 for 3 with a run scored.

The Panthers now fall to 17-21 on the year and 3-5 in the Big East while Notre Dame improves to 16-11 while picking up its first wins in conference play. Pitt will return to action Friday when it hosts another conference rival, Boston College, in a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.