March 25, 2007

Box Score

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Providence College softball team was defeated by Pittsburgh, 3-0 and 4-3, in a BIG EAST doubleheader Sunday afternoon at Raymond Field. With the losses, the Friars fell to 9-10 overall and 1-3 in the BIG EAST. The Panthers improved to 13-17 overall and 2-0 in the league.

Pitt pitcher Meghan Bostick led the way as the Panthers posted a 3-0 win in the first game. Bostick had a perfect game through four innings before PC senior catcher Rachel Bartholomew (Aliso Viejo, Calif.) led off the fifth inning with a base hit up the middle. Bostick recorded 10 strikeouts in five and two-thirds innings of action to improve to 4-4 on the season. Kayla Zinger was credited with the save as she allowed just one hit in just over one inning of action.

The Panthers scored the only run they would need in the fourth inning when Alex Shoemaker hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Sam Card, who was able to slide underneath the tag of Bartholomew. Shoemaker hit an RBI single in the sixth inning, while Sheena Hellon homered in the seventh inning to complete the scoring. Bartholomew had two of PC's five hits. On the pitcher's circle, PC senior Sara Surosky (Elmira, N.Y.) allowed just two earned runs on seven hits. She struck out five batters in over six innings of action.

Pitt jumped out to a 1-0 first inning lead in the second game en route to a 4-3 triumph. The Friars scored their first run of the afternoon in the second inning when sophomore Mary Rose Sheehy (Woodbridge, Conn.) hit an RBI single up the middle, scoring Bartholomew who led off the inning with a double. The Panthers regained the lead (2-1) in the third inning when Shoemaker hit a sacrifice fly to score Joey Scarf. In the fourth inning, the Friars tied the game once again as freshman Jenna Garcia (Morro Bay, Calif.) drove in a run with a double down the left field line. The Panthers took the lead for good in the sixth inning as they scored twice. PC cut the lead to 4-3 in the bottom half of the sixth inning on another RBI hit by Garcia. However, the Friars could not get any closer. PC had two runners on base in the seventh inning, but Pitt reliever Kaitlyn Schuster was able to strikeout the final batter to earn the save.

The Friars are back in action on Wednesday, March 28 when they play a non-conference doubleheader at Quinnipac, beginning at 3:00 p.m.