March 17, 2009

Box Score

MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa.—Earning a sweep on the day, the University of Pittsburgh softball team held off a late inning rally from Robert Morris to record a 3-2 win in the second game of today’s doubleheader at the North Athletic Complex.

After a scoreless three innings, freshman Yvette Bravo put the Panthers on the board first with a solo homer over the left field wall. Bravo tallied her first of the season and became the fifth Panther to hit a long ball this year. She was also the third to do so on the day.

Pitt added another run the same inning with a sacrifice hit from freshman Amanda Heitmeier that sent second baseman Kristen Cheesebrew home from third. Cheesebrew smacked a double on the at-bat following Bravo’s shot.

In the bottom of the inning, freshman Niki Cognigni made a great defensive play as she fielded a groundball behind second and fired a pass to sophomore Alicia Broudy for the final out of the inning.

A few innings later, the Colonials (7-9) tied the game at 2-2 with two runs off four hits in the sixth inning. Pitt would hold off any additional damage by stranding two runners when freshman Ciera Damon fielded a groundball for the third out.

Pitt quickly responded with as Cognigni singled up the middle as the lead-off. She was later sent home with a single from pinch hitter Lauren Davis.

Sophomore Alyssa O’Connell (5-1) earned the win, while senior Kaitlyn Schuster recorded her first save of the season.

The Panthers open play at Trees Field on Friday, March 20, as Big East foe Georgetown makes its first-ever trip to campus.