April 26, 1999

STORRS, Conn. - The Pittsburgh Panther women's softball team captured its first-ever Big East Conference victory with a 10-6 win over host Connecticut before dropping the second game of the doubleheader, 11-2.

The Panthers tapped Connecticut's starter for 10 hits through the first four innings to score two runs in the first, three in the third and four in the fourth to take a 9-1 lead over the Huskies.

With a 2-1 lead after the first, the Panthers added three more runs in the third off third baseman Rhianna Rogers' (Camarillo, Calif./Rio Mesa) RBI triple and catcher Jackie Haar's (Naples, Fla./Lely) RBI double.

Pittsburgh continued its momentum in the following inning and increased its lead to 9-1. First baseman Katie Mitchell (Wildwood, Mo./Lafayette) began the scoring with her RBI single to left field and Rogers followed with her fourth RBI of the day, a double to center field. Haar added two more Pittsburgh runs when she singled to center field.

The Huskies staged a late rally in the bottom of the fifth with four runs, but could not close the gap. The Panthers added an insurance run in the top of the seventh with Haar's solo home run, her 13th of the season to hold on for the victory.

The Panthers received stellar performances at the plate from Haar and Rogers. Haar was 3-for-4 in the game with four RBI, a double and a home run, while Rogers was 2-for-4 with four RBI, a double, a triple and two runs scored. Freshman hurler Gina Bessolo (Lakewood, Calif./Lakewood) picked up the win for the Panthers, her sixth of the season.

Pittsburgh opened the weekend of competition against Big East-foe Providence April 24 and dropped a doubleheader to the Friars.

The Friars held a 2-1 lead after the first inning in game one and added two runs late in the game for the 4-1 victory. Pittsburgh's only run came from Haar's RBI single to score shortstop Tiffany Barrett (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny).

In the nightcap, Providence scored two runs in the third off three hits for the 2-0 shutout.

In earlier nonconference action this week, the Panthers swept Cleveland State April 20 in a doubleheader at Frick Field. Pittsburgh captured the first game, 1-0, and added another victory in the second game with a 3-1 decision.

The Panthers took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning and held on for the victory in the first game. With two runners on base, Haar hit a ground-rule double down the left field line to send Barrett across the plate for the game-winning run.

Bessolo held off the Vikings for the remainder of the game and tallied her second complete- game shutout of the season, allowing nine hits and notching four strikeouts.

Cleveland State rallied in the second game, scoring the first run of the nightcap in the top of the first inning. The Vikings held the Panthers scoreless until the bottom of the fifth when Pittsburgh tied the score at one apiece off Barrett's RBI single to center field to score right fielder Brittany Yoder (Philipsburg, Pa./Philipsburg-Osceola).

Pittsburgh captured the victory in the following inning when Rogers knocked in the game- winning runs with her eighth home run of the season, a two-run shot over the center field fence.

Junior hurler Laura LeViere (Pittsburgh, Pa./Northgate) pitched a stellar game for the Panthers in the nightcap. She pitched a complete game and recorded her sixth victory of the season allowing just one run and one hit while striking out three batters.

Pittsburgh's record stands at 13-31-1 overall. The Panthers return to action this weekend when they finish the season with three games, including two against Big East Conference foes, at Frick Field. They will face Seton Hall May 1 at 10 a.m., and St. John's May 2 at noon. Pittsburgh's final regular season contest is May 4 when they host Youngstown State at 1 p.m.