Softball takes doubleheader from St. Francis

It was a streaky weekend for the Pitt softball team.

Ana Velazquez’s hitting streak was… It was a streaky weekend for the Pitt softball team.

Ana Velazquez’s hitting streak was snapped at 11 games, but the Panthers extended their winning streak to seven games when Pitt swept a doubleheader from St. Francis (Pa.) Saturday.

Pitt 6, St. Francis 0

The Panthers jumped on St. Francis in the opening game, scoring four runs in the first inning and two runs in the third to take an early 6-0 lead. Pitt senior Nikki Gasti pitched seven innings of shutout softball, giving up only four runs and no walks to seal the victory for the Panthers.

First baseman Casey Pickard sparked the scoring for the Panthers in the bottom of the first, blasting a two-out, two-run homer that scored center fielder Francesca DiMaria. The home run marked Pickard’s third of the year. After a Christa Hunter walk, the Panthers got back-to-back triples from third baseman Kelly Hulpa and catcher Tiffany White to take the 4-0 lead.

Pickard added a leadoff triple to her homer in the bottom of the third and Hulpa singled to score Pickard. Hunter then hit the fourth Panther triple of the game to score Hulpa and end the game’s scoring.

Pickard went 2 for 3 with two RBIs and Hulpa added a 2-for-3 game with one RBI. Shortstop Velazquez added a first inning single to extend her hitting streak to 11 games, but went hitless in the second game to snap the streak.

Pitt 8, St. Francis 7

The nightcap was a much closer affair, but catcher Heather Andrews hit a game-winning double in the bottom of the seventh inning to break a 7-7 tie and give Pitt the sweep.

Gasti got her ninth win of the season in two innings of relief, giving up three earned runs but striking out three in the victory.

Andrews went 2 for 3 with two runs and two RBIs in the game. Hulpa had her second 2-for-3 game of the day, hitting her second home run of the season and adding two hits and two RBIs. White homered and led the team with 3 RBIs, and DiMaria, Hunter and right fielder Missy Smith added hits for the Panthers.

With the win, the Panthers improved to 12-14 on the season and 6-0 at Trees Field. The Panthers will host Cleveland State today in a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.