BLACKSBURG, Va.-The University of Pittsburgh fell to Virginia Tech 7-4 and 3-0 Saturday at Tech Softball Park despite home runs by Christa Hunter (Sacramento, Calif./Hiram Johnson West) and Heather Andrews (Zelienople, Pa./Riverside).

Hunter would unleash a three-run home run to center field early in the first inning to give Pittsburgh (16-22, 1-5 Big East) a 3-0 lead.  This was Hunter’s third home run in as many games and her fourth career homer.  

The Pittsburgh lead would not last long as the Hokies went on to post six runs over the next five innings.  Andrews drilled a solo home run to cut the Virginia Tech’s lead to three early in the sixth.  Virginia Tech (30-14, 6-4 Big East) would go on to post a run in their half of the inning.

On the mound for Pittsburgh, Laura Belardinelli (Endicott, N.Y./Union-Endicott) pitched 4.1 innings giving up six runs and nine hits, while striking out and walking two.  Meghan Bostick (Colleyville, Texas/Grapevine) pitched the final 1.2 innings allowing two hits and one run, while striking out and walking two. 

While the Hokies kept the Panthers from crossing the plate in the second game, Pittsburgh recorded six hits.  Hunter went 2-for-3 at the plate and Andrews connected on a double, her fifth of the season. 

Bostick started on the mound for Pittsburgh and allowed six hits and three runs in 3.1 innings of work.  Belardinelli struck out one and walked two in 2.2 innings of work.

The Panthers travel to Columbus, Ohio to face the Buckeyes of Ohio State in a non-conference doubleheader April 14.  The first pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.