Panthers Drop First Two Games of Series to Louisville

PITTSBURGH – The University of Pittsburgh softball team fell twice to Louisville Saturday afternoon at Vartabedian Field.

Pitt dropped a 6-4 decision in game one and fell, 7-4, in game two.

NEWS & NOTES

• Senior Hunter Levesque hit the seventh career triple of her career in game one, scoring a run in the process. The seven triples puts her third all-time in Pitt history for career triples.
• Junior Sarah Seamans hit a grand slam home run in game two, registering her team-best seventh home run of the season. The grand slam was Seamans’ second of her career.
• Pitt fell to 9-20 overall and 4-15 in ACC play.

GAME ONE
Louisville (12-14, 6-9 ACC) jumped out to an early lead, scoring three runs in the top of the first. The Cardinals added a run in the top of the third (4-0), top of the fifth (5-0) and top of the sixth and led, 6-0, going into the bottom of the sixth inning.

The Panthers offense came alive in the bottom of the frame, as sophomore Kayla Lane hit a solo home run to center field, making it a 6-1 ballgame. After a senior Morgan Batesole walk, Levesque tripled down the right field line, scoring Batesole and cutting the deficit to four, 6-2. The next at bat, freshman Cami Compson doubled to right field, scoring Levesque (6-3).

Redshirt junior Jada Crittendon came in to pinch run for Compson and advanced to third after a groundout by Seamans. Junior Hannah Bach slapped a single through the left side, scoring Crittendon for a 6-4 game.

The Cardinals got out of the sixth and retired the Panthers 1-2-3 in the bottom of the seventh to win, 6-4.

Lane went 2-for-4 with one RBI, a run and a homer. Graduate student Brittany Knight took the loss in the circle, throwing a complete game with eight strikeouts and four earned runs.

GAME TWO

Louisville scored one run in the first inning to take an early 1-0 advantage. In the bottom of the first, Lane picked up where she left off offensively and doubled to left center. Compson reached on an error and Levesque walked, leaving Seamans with the bases loaded and two outs. Seamans cranked a shot over the scoreboard in left center field (4-1), hitting her second grand slam of her career.

The Cardinals chipped away at the Panther lead, scoring one run in the top of the second (4-2) and one run in the top of the third (4-3). Louisville tied the game at four all after a wild pitch, and took a 7-4 lead after a three-run homer by Charley Butler.

Pitt threatened in the bottom of the seventh, as senior LoLo Sanchez reached on an error and Lane walked. Batesole came up to bat with a chance to tie the game, but a groundout ended the contest.

Sanchez went 2-for-3, while Seamans finished 1-for-3 with four RBI and a run.

Pitt is back on the field tomorrow at 2 p.m. with game number three against Louisville. The four-game series concludes Monday afternoon at 12 p.m. Both games will be held on the ACCNX.