Softball: Panthers split two in Lexington

In the team’s final action before Atlantic Coast Conference play begins this weekend, Pitt softball split a pair of games in Lexington, Ky., Saturday with a win against the Butler Bulldogs and an extra-inning loss to No. 7 Kentucky.

Both of the Panthers’ games scheduled for Sunday were cancelled due to inclement weather.

Pitt (8-8) cruised out to a 6-0 lead against Butler (4-12) by the end of the fourth inning, and the Panthers had enough cushion to stave off a comeback bid by their opponents. The Bulldogs scored four runs against starting pitcher Alexa Larkin in the final frame before Savannah King came in for a one-out save.

Alexa Larkin (3-3) lasted six and two-thirds innings for the Panthers and gave up four runs on seven hits and seven walks. Larkin also recorded three strikeouts before being taken out in favor of King.

King walked a run in and allowed another to score on a wild pitch before striking out the Bulldogs final batter for her second save of the season.

Centerfielder Carly Thea and third baseman Kaila Balatgek recorded two hits apiece and an RBI in the game, with Thea recording doubles with each of her hits.

In their second game of the day, the Panthers lost a tough contest against the No. 7 Wildcats (16-2) by a 4-3 tally in extra innings.

After logging a save earlier in the day, King was the starting pitcher for this matchup. King lasted eight and two-thirds innings and allowed four runs on four hits and eight walks. King also recorded five strikeouts.

The Panthers took an early lead after shortstop Carissa Throckmorton blasted a two-run home run in the first inning. Their bats were quiet from there, though, as the Wildcats tied the contest in the fifth inning.

In extra innings, Pitt was primed for a major upset win with a 3-2 lead headed to the bottom of the ninth. Throckmorton scored her second run of the day on a double by Maggie Sevilla with no outs in the top half of the frame.

But with a runner in scoring position, the Panthers were retired in order after Sevilla’s go-ahead knock.

Kentucky then loaded the bases against King and the Wildcats capitalized.

Second baseman Ansley Smith stepped up to the plate and hit a single up the left field side with one out to tie the game at 3-3. With two outs, an error by Nirschl allowed the walk-off run to score.