PITTSBURGH – The University of Pittsburgh softball team dropped a doubleheader to No. 7/6 Florida State Saturday afternoon at Vartabedian Field as the Seminoles defeated the Panthers 16-11 and 4-3, respectively.
Game one saw the bats come alive on both sides, as Florida State put together 16 runs on 17 hits, while Pitt put up 11 runs on 13. Those 11 runs scored were the most put up against Florida State this season.
In game two, the Seminoles led 4-0 entering the final half inning of play but the Panthers comeback fell short as Pitt was only able to push across three runs falling one short to Florida State.
Offensively, the Panthers posted 18 hits on the day, including four home runs. All four blasts came in the first game, two by senior Jenna Modic and one each by sophomore Giorgiana Zeremenko and Erin Hershman.
On the mound, sophomore Kayla Harris earned the start in game one, while Modic got the go-ahead in game two. Modic threw a complete game, giving up just one earned run and seven hits. Harris struck out five.
Game One: Pitt 11, Florida State 16
· Pitt fell to Florida State 16-11 in game one of the doubleheader with Harris getting the loss on the mound.
· After a scoreless first inning of play, the Seminoles jumped on the board in the second posting six runs on five hits and an error.With bases loaded, Victoria East singled to left center to score leadoff hitter Sydney Broderick. Cali Harrod followed Broderick home on the next play, thanks to a sacrifice fly by Morgan Klaevamann. With two outs and bases loaded, a grand slam by Jessica Warren would give FSU a 6-0 lead.
· Pitt posted its first run of the game in the bottom of the second inning, to bring the score to 6-1. Modic, who walked to lead off the inning and advanced to second on a wild pitch, scored on a single by Hershman.
· The Seminoles put up a single run in the top of the third to make the score 7-1. Harrod once again would score for Florida State as a single to right field by Gordon with two away would bring her around.
· The Panthers cut the Seminoles lead to 7-4, following back-to-back home runs by Modic and Zeremenko in the third inning. With two outs and leadoff hitter Shelby Pickett on first, Modic drove a ball deep over the right field wall. Zeremenko followed with a solo shot to left field.
· Florida State extended its lead in the top half of the fourth to 10-4 on a three-run homer by Alex Powers.
· The Seminoles scored a single run in the fifth to increase its lead to 11-4. Harrod walked to start off the inning advanced to third after stealing second and advancing an extra base on a throwing error by the catcher. A bunt by Klaevemann would be enough to bring Harrod home.
· Pitt scored again in the bottom of the fifth as a sacrifice fly by Modic would score redshirt senior Maggie Sevilla who doubled earlier in the inning. The Panthers trailed 11-5.
· Florida State posted another big inning in the sixth, scoring four runs on four hits. Two singles, and a sacrifice fly would push across three runs, while a passed ball would allow Harrod to score for the third time in the game.
· Pitt didn’t stop fighting as it scored three runs in sixth frame to cut FSU’s lead to 15-8. With one out, senior Ashlee Sillssingled on a bunt, advanced to second on a groundout by junior Kaitlin Manuel and then scored on a double by senior Kathryn Duran. Pickett walked to put two Panthers on base and Duran in scoring position, would cross the plate on the next play, a single to right field by Sevilla. In the next at-bat, Pickett scored on a McKayla Taylor single.
· In the final inning for the Seminoles, they would tack on a final run on a single to left field by Broderick.
· Pitt would score three in the final half inning but it wouldn’t be enough as the game would come to a close with a score of 16-11. Modic would post her second long ball of the game to lead off the inning and freshman Olivia Gray would come around to score on a Hershman homer to left.
Game Two: Pitt 3, Florida State 4
· Trailing 4-0 heading into the final inning of play, the Panthers comeback attempt fell short as they could only push across three runs in the bottom of the seventh to fall 4-3.
· After four scoreless innings, Florida State posted the first runs of the game in the top of the fifth taking a 3-0 lead. The Seminoles first two runs crossed the plate after nine-hold hitter Victoria Daddis blasted a shot over the center field wall. Carsyn Gordon came around on the hit after reaching first on a fielding error by Sevilla at second base. Ellie Cooper scored Florida State’s third run of the inning after being walked and moved around the bases on singles by Jessica Warren and Alex Powers.
· The Seminoles added an additional run in the sixth to extend their lead to 4-0. With bases loaded, a fielding error by Taylor at short allowed Gordon to reach home plate safely.
· In a heartbreaking seventh inning, Pitt was a single run short of coming back to tie the game after scoring three runs with two outs. Sills and Hershman got things going for the Panthers, putting up back-to-back singles. The bases became loaded for Pitt following Manuel being hit by a pitch. Duran was issued a walk in the next at-bat, bringing home Sills. With bases still loaded, Pickett sent a blooper just over the head of the first baseman which rolled away from Florida State’s fielders. This allowed Manuel and Hershman to score but the tying run in Duran was held up at third. Sevilla would ground out to third for the final out of the game.
UP NEXT
Pitt will wrap up its series with Florida State on Sunday, May 1 at 11 a.m.
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