PITTSBURGH – The University of Pittsburgh softball team fell to Florida State, 15-5, in the final contest of a three-game series Sunday afternoon at Vartabedian Field.

The Panthers [30-18, 7-12 ACC] led 1-0 in the third, but an eight-run fourth inning by the Seminoles [42-5, 19-1 ACC] gave them the lead which they held for the remainder of the game.

“We performed pretty well offensively this weekend,” head coach Holly Aprile said. “We made adjustments against two of the best pitchers in the conference, put up runs and battled at the plate. I thought we did a really good job there.”

Sophomore McKayla Taylor and junior Kaitlin Manuel each put up long balls for the Panthers as the squad finished the day with nine hits. Taylor and sophomore Erin Hershman led Pitt with two hits apiece. Pitt finished the weekend with 27 hits and 19 runs scored.

In the circle, all three of Pitt’s pitchers saw action with senior Jenna Modic getting her second start of the weekend. She threw three scoreless innings prior to giving up a run in the fourth and was credited with two additional runs that inning as she was relieved by sophomore Kayla Harris with runners on first and second. In the same inning, freshman Sarah Dawson replaced Harris after giving up four runs. Dawson remained on the mound the rest of the game.

Pitt 5, Florida State 15

· Pitt scored the first run of the game to take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning after Manuel posted her third home run of the season with a blast over the right field wall.

· Following a scoreless third in which both teams left runners stranded, Florida State took an 8-1 lead in the top of the fourth inning. Modic issued back-to-back walks to begin the inning and allowed a run to score on a single up the middle by Zoe Casas. Modic’s day was complete as Harris entered to take over with no outs and runners on first and second. Harris walked her first batter faced to load the bases but forced to quick outs with a strike out and a pop up. However, a passed ball would allow the Seminoles to take a 2-1 lead. Following another walk, back-to-back singles would score three runs and bring Harris’ time on the mound to an end. Dawson would enter and give up two more runs to bring the score to 8-1, Florida State.

· The Panthers answered with two runs in the bottom half of the fourth inning to cut the Seminoles lead to 8-3. Pitt led off with back-to-back singles by sophomore Giorgiana Zeremenko and Hershman, which set up an RBI-single by senior Ashlee Sills. With bases juiced and one away, redshirt senior Shelby Pickett hit a ball to the shortstop who opted to get the out allowing Sills to come home.

· Pitt continued to chip away at Florida State’s lead, scoring a single run in the bottom of the fifth on a solo shot by Taylor to make it 8-4.

· A three-run home run in the top of the sixth by Zoe Casas extended the Seminoles lead to 11-4.

· Florida State put up three final runs in the seventh to put the Seminoles ahead 15-4. With one away and a runner on, a double to left brought around the first run. Back-to-back home runs would solidify Florida State’s win.

· The Panthers would score a final run in the bottom of the seventh as Taylor scored on a single by Hershman.

UP NEXT

Pitt will wrap up regular season play with a trip to Chestnut Hill, Mass., for a three-game series with Boston College beginning May 7.