April 30, 2006

Box Score

PITTSBURGH-The University of Pittsburgh softball team earned the split in its doubleheader against Connecticut, this afternoon, when they posted a one-run shutout over the Huskies in game two. Earlier in the day, Pitt fell 6-2 to UConn and set its overall record at 29-26 and 10-12 in the Big East.

Pitt's lone run of the game came when sophomore Valerie Mihalik's (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland) sacrifice fly to center field scored junior Sheena Hellon (Sacramento, Calif./Cordova) from third. Hellon earned a leadoff walk to open the second inning for Pitt.

The Panther's posted their eighth shutout of the season, while junior Meghan Bostick (Colleyville, Texas/Grapevine) garnered her fourth of the season. Bostick (9-14) allowed just four hits in the contest.

In the first game of the day, the Panthers trailed 5-0 early, after UConn put up a run in the first inning and four more in the second.

Pitt recorded its first answer in the third inning after senior Jessica Thomas (Southlake, Texas/Carroll) recorded a lead-off single. Thomas was then replaced on base by sophomore Rebecca Stottlemyer (Charleroi, Pa./Home Schooled), who scored her seventh run of the year.

Senior Lisa McGregor (Royersford, Pa./Spring-Ford Senior) stole her first base of the season and scored the team's second run in the fifth after singling to left field.

Senior Francesca DiMaria (Pittsburgh, Pa./Montour) recoded the RBI for the third and the fifth inning runs.

Junior Laura Belardinelli (Endicott, N.Y./Union-Endicott) allowed 11 hits in the game and fell to 14-10 with the loss. Senior Christa Hunter (Sacramento, Calif/Harim Johnson West) pitched two innings and gave up two hits.

Pitt hosts its regular-season finale on Tuesday, May 2, against neighboring Robert Morris. The doubleheader is slated for a 12 p.m. start.