Pitt softball wins Duke series, moves into 1st in ACC Coastal

The Pitt softball team continued its roll as the team took two out of three games from Duke over the weekend. Thus far, the Panthers have won all four of their ACC series.

Pitt (19-13-1) got off to a good start and ensured another series win early, taking both games of a doubleheader on Saturday, winning 6-4 and 8-4, respectively. The team dropped the finale on Sunday, falling 2-1.

The Panthers got solid pitching performances in all three games. While Pitt allowed eight runs in the first two contests, only four were earned with starters Sarah Dawson and Kayla Harris picking up wins.

Despite no offense in the third game, Pitt was competitive in that one due to Dawson’s pitching. Dawson got another chance on Sunday starting that game as well and allowed only two runs in defeat (with only one earned). The Panthers nearly found a way to win that one, too.

Trailing 2-0, Pitt’s offense had stalled all day. But the Panthers got some life with a two-out solo home run in the bottom of the 7th (the final inning in softball) by Marissa DeMatteo. Unfortunately, Pitt couldn’t add another run to tie it and the game was over.

Even though they didn’t pick up the sweep, the Panthers climbed to first place in the ACC Coastal with the series win. Georgia Tech, who was previously in first place, was swept by Florida State, the top team in the Atlantic, over the weekend. Pitt sits ¹⁄₂ game over new second place team North Carolina as Georgia Tech dropped to third.

Next up, the Panthers will have their own shot at No. 14 Florida State next weekend.

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