Softball Takes Rubber Game at Pitt, 7-5

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PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A five run fourth inning guided the Seton Hall softball team to a 7-5 victory over Pittsburgh on Sunday to secure a series win. The Pirates improved to 19-24 overall and 8-9 in the BIG EAST, as they continue their rise in the conference standings.

Junior Michelle Reed (Wrightstown, N.J.) went 4-for-4, tying the school record for most hits in a single game, and scored two runs.

In the first inning, Reed, Jamie Gates (Emmaus, Pa.), and Nalin Bennett (East Syracuse, N.Y.) each singled to load the bases with no outs. The Panthers induced a pair of ground balls to get a force out at home and keep SHU off the board, but Brittany Hammer (Manheim, Pa.) came through with a single to bring in Bennett.

Kristen Cheesebrew evened the score in the bottom of the second with an RBI single off of senior Ashley Forsyth (Freehold, N.J.).

The Pirates loaded the bases once again in the fourth inning, and Laura Canulli (Naperville, Ill.) doubled to put SHU back on top, 3-1. Reed followed with a two-run single to make it a four-run cushion, and Gates laid a squeeze bunt to tack on another insurance run.

A Cheesebrew long ball in the bottom of the fourth gave Pittsburgh some life, but junior Brittany Schillizzi (Paramus, N.J.) answered in the fifth with a solo shot of her own to make it 7-2.

In the bottom of the inning, the Panthers drew even closer on a two-run home run by Rebecca Tutt to cut the deficit to 7-4.

Ashley Amistade led the bottom of the seventh with a walk, forcing the Pirates to call on Danielle Zanzalari (Carteret, N.J.) to come in the game and earn the save. Zanzalari got Tutt to hit a grounder to third, and Canulli was able to record the force at second base for the first out. Heather Stevens reached on a fielder's choice to put runners on first and second, and Yvette Bravo pulled Pittsburgh within two with a single. With the tying run on first base, Zanzalari struck out Amanda Heitmeier and got Cognigni to fly out to end the game.

Forsyth (11-9) earned the victory after throwing six-plus innings, allowing five runs on eight hits with four strikeouts. Zanzalari picked up her second save of the season. Canulli went 2-for-3 from the dish.

The Pirates will travel to Storrs, Conn. on Wednesday, April 28, for a doubleheader against UConn. Game one is set to begin at 2:00 p.m.