Pitt softball knocks off UNC for shot at ACC championship

The difference one year makes.

 

After failing to make the ACC tournament last year, Pitt’s softball team is headed to this year’s tournament championship game. With a 4-0 win over the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill,No. 6 seed Pitt will play No. 1 seed and No. 8 overall Florida State in the championship game at 1 p.m. Saturday.

 

Pitt took an early lead that it never gave up, scoring three in the first and one in the second inning, as the Panthers (34-19) shut out the Tar Heels (35-14) offense.

 

Pitt senior starting pitcher Savannah King threw a complete game for the win, her second of the tournament, after defeating No. 3 seed and No. 21 overall Notre Dame 8-1 on Thursday.King allowed only 4 hits while walking none against UNC, lowering her tournament ERA to 0.64.

 

Pitt junior Shelby Pickett started the game with a single and came around to score the first run on a single by senior outfielder Carly Thea. Pickett finished the game 2-4 with a home run in the second for another run and a RBI.

 

The tournament win marks the program’s first chance at a conference title since Pitt softball’s inception in 1998, including both ACC and Big East play.

 

ESPN will televise the championship game.