COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Freshman Kylie Datil's bases clearing triple was the difference as Maryland completed a three-game sweep of Pitt with a 7-5 victory on Senior Day at the Maryland Softball Stadium Sunday.
Datil finished 3-for-4 with five RBIs, while Amanda McCann and Shannon Bustillos combined for four hits and five runs. Kaitlyn Schmeiser had an excellent day in the circle, allowing just two earned runs in a complete game effort.
“We just consistently fought and came back this weekend,” said head coach Laura Watten. “We made the adjustments and had some good clutch hitting and KK (Kaitlyn Schmeiser) had a great weekend.
“It was really great to see the seniors accomplish their goals this weekend,” said Watten. “They had a great day today. They have so much to feel good about with the way things ended, so I'm happy for them.”
The Panthers opened the scoring in the top of the first as Ashlee Sills got the ball rolling with a single up the middle. After stealing second, Sills scored on a double by Carly Thea.
Maryland answered right back in the bottom of the first, however, as McCann, Bustillos and Datil strung together three hits. Datil's hit did the damage, as she pounded a double to the right center gap to score McCann and Bustillos and give the Terps a 2-1 lead.
Pitt gained a run back in the second after some heads up base-running by Kaila Balatgek, before taking the lead, 3-2, in the third inning on a Tori Nirschl home run to straightaway center field.
The Terps then squared the game in the bottom of the third after back-to-back doubles by Bustillos and Datil. Following a Candice Beards intentional walk, Jessica Warner scored Bustillos on a sacrifice fly to right field.
Carissa Throckmorton reached base for the Panthers to begin the fourth inning. After advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt, Throckmorton scored on a well-struck hit by Kaitlin Manuel that deflected off Warner's foot and into the outfield.
The Terps tied the game again in the fifth on a Hannah Dewey single to shortstop that scored fellow freshman Sarah Calta.
Maryland then blew the game open in the sixth after Corey Schwartz, McCann and Bustillos loaded the bases for the hot-hitting Datil. The freshman delivered again with a triple to the left center gap that give the Terps a 7-4 lead.
Pitt managed to score a run in the top of the seventh, but Schmeiser shut the door as Throckmorton fouled out to end the game.
NOTES: McCann finished her career ranked fourth in Maryland history in triples (8), fifth in stolen bases (38), t-sixth in runs (114) and eighth in walks (67)…Beards finished fourth in walks (84), fifth in RBIs (110), t-seventh in triples (5) and ninth in doubles (35).
-Maryland-
