April 20, 2008

Box Score

PITTSBURGH--The Panthers tied two single-season records, as the University of Pittsburgh softball team earned a 5-2 victory over St John's in its first game of today's doubleheader at Trees Field. Pitt improved to 27-17 on the year and 10-5 in the Big East, while the Red Storm fall to 16-32 overall and 2-15 in league play.

On the mound, freshman Cory Berliner (Fort Collins, Colo./Rocky Mountain) tied the single-season wins record in her 15th victory of the year. Allowing six hits and just one earned run in seven innings, Berliner tied the record last set by Laura Berlardinelli in 2006 and becomes the first-ever freshman to post more than 11 wins in her rookie season.

Additionally, Pitt tied its 2006 record for Big East wins in the contest. The Panthers came in to this contest with the fifth-best conference record and lead the league in stolen bases (67).

Pitt took the lead in the opening inning as junior Samantha Card (Miami, Fla./Our Lady of Lourdes/Florida International) tallied a two-RBI homer. Card's home run was her 10th of the season, which gives her sole possession of the second-best single-season mark. She is now five shy of tying that record, which was set by Jacki Haar in 1999.

On the career home run list, Card is now tied with Sheena Hellon (2004-07) for fourth in the record books.

Card's bomb scored freshman Ashley Amistade (Washington, Pa./Trinity) after she earned a hit and stole a base in the first inning.

Later in the third inning, freshman Reba Tutt (Culpeper, Va./Highland) scored a run after St. John's threw a wild pitch. Tutt advanced to base with a single to center field and moved to third with a double from Card.

The Panthers extended their lead to 5-2 when senior Mary Hecker (Roseville, Calif./Roseville) traded places with classmate Jessica Dignon (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) on second base.

Prior to that score, Dignon stole second after she smacked a hit to center field for her ninth steal of the season. That steal allowed Amistade to score from third for the fourth run of the game.

The Panthers traded runs with St. John's in the fifth inning, giving up two runs off one hit and a Pitt error.

Card was 2-for-3 while Amistade went 2-for-3 with two runs in the contest.