April 5, 1999

PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh Panthers women's softball team suffered two losses to visiting Wright State in its home-opener today at Frick Field. The Panthers lost a close 2-1 decision in the first game and a 5-3 decision in the nightcap.

In the opening matchup, the game remained scoreless through the initial two innings until Wright State notched the first run of the contest off Annie Divac's home run over the center field fence in the top of the third. The Panthers evened the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the inning when freshman Amy Steich (Connellsville, Pa./Connellsville Area) crossed the plate on short stop Tiffany Barrett's (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny) RBI single to center field. The Raiders registered the go-ahead run in the following inning off a Pittsburgh error to take the 2-1 victory.

In the nightcap, Wright State jumped to an early 2-0 lead after one inning. Pittsburgh rallied with two runs of its own to bring to the score to two apiece in the bottom of the second. Redshirt freshman catcher Jackie Haar (Naples, Fla./Lely) hit a two-run home run, her ninth of the season, in the Panthers' second at-bat of the inning to even the score.

The Panthers and Raiders were scoreless through the next two innings. Wright State took the lead for good with two runs off three hits in the top of the fifth. Freshman Amber Kolle hit a two-run single for the Raiders with the bases loaded to score the two runs. The Raiders added another run in the top of the seventh to give them a 5-2 lead. Pittsburgh's Haar closed out the scoring with her second home run of the game for the Panthers' third and final run.

The Panthers return to action Tuesday, April 6 when they face Ohio University in a 2p.m. away contest. They resume Big East Conference play April 10 in a double-header at Villanova.