April 1, 1999

The Pittsburgh Panthers softball team dropped a doubleheader to host Akron on March 31. The Panthers' record stands at 9-15-1 overall.

The Panthers lost a 7-4 decision to the Zips in the opening game of the matchup.

Akron and Pittsburgh were tied at three runs apiece at the end of three innings. After hitting a triple down the right field line, freshman Amy Steich (Connellsville, Pa./Connellsville) put the Panthers ahead 1-0 when she scored on an error in the top of the first. Pittsburgh added a two-run third off freshman Katie Mitchell's (Wildwood, Mo./Lafayette) homerun, her third of the season, to take a 3-2 lead, but Akron evened the score in the bottom of the inning.

The Zips took the lead for good after manufacturing a four-run fourth. Redshirt freshman catcher Jackie Haar (Naples, Fla./Lely) added the Panthers final run in the sixth off Brittany Yoder's (Philipsburg, Pa./Philipsburg-Osceola) single down the left field line, but they were unable to close the margin.

Steich finished the game going 3-for-4 at the plate, including her second triple of the season.

Akron continued its momentum and took a 7-1 decision in the nightcap.

Akron took an early 6-0 lead after two innings. The Panthers remained scoreless until Haar's solo shot to center field for her eighth homerun of the season. The Zips added one more insurance run in the fifth to seal their victory.

Pittsburgh returns to action when they open Big East conference play April 3 against Notre Dame. The game with the Irish marks the Panthers first league contest as a member of the Big East conference and will feature a sister vs. sister matchup. Panther hurler Gina Bessolo (lakewood, Calif./Lakewood) could face her sister, Angela who pitches for the Irish.

Pittsburgh will return home to play its home-opener against Wright State April 5 at Frick Field.