Pitt Takes Series-Opening Doubleheader Against Duke

Saturday, March 31

Pittsburgh

2:00 PM

Duke University

18-16, 4-6

Pitt

18-12-1, 7-2

Duke

Pitt

Pitt Takes Series-Opening Doubleheader Against Duke

3/31/2018 5:57:00 PM | Softball

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By: Duke Sports Information

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A pair of three-run second innings were the difference on Saturday, as the Pittsburgh Panthers (19-12-1, 8-2 ACC) swept the Duke Blue Devils (18-17, 4-7 ACC) in the series-opening doubleheader at Vartabedian Park in Pittsburgh, Pa. Pitt took game one, 6-4, before taking the series with an 8-4 win in the day's second contest.

Despite tallying 10 hits to Pitt's six, including having three players record multi-hit outings, the Blue Devils were unable to overcome the Panthers' hot start to the series. Pitt scored one in the first and three more in the second to jump ahead for good in game one.The Blue Devils were able to tie the contest in the top of the second thanks to an RBI single from Jazmine Moreno, her first of three on the day.

After Pitt's three-run second, Duke got one back in the top half of the third thanks to a pair of hits and a fielding error on the Panthers. Jameson Kavel and Rachel Abboud went back-to-back with singles to start the frame before a mishap by the shortstop allowed Kavel to score and cut the Pitt lead down to 4-2.

Pitt tacked on two more runs in the fifth with a two-run double to extend its lead to 6-2. Duke attempted a rally in the sixth, as an error scored Moreno and a single to right from Raine Wilson plated Kavel to make it 6-4 in favor of Pitt. However, the Panthers recorded a three up, three down inning in the seventh to close out a 6-4 victory in game one.

Abboud recorded her team-leading 10th multi-hit showing of the year, going 3-for-3 with a double and a walk in game one. Wilson and Moreno each turned in 2-for-4 showings, while Kavel, Kortney Dry and Amelia Wiercioch each earned a hit

Duke jumped out of the gates in the day's second game, using a walk to Abboud and a Wilson double to set up an RBI single for Dry. Moreno followed with a sac fly to right, scoring Wilson and giving the Blue Devils a 2-0 advantage. The Panthers did not take long to respond, blasting a two-run homer to tie things up at 2-all after the first frame.

The Panthers tallied another three-run second inning for the day to jump out in front for good, recording their second home run of the day with a three-run shot to go up 5-2. An RBI single from Moreno and a defensive error helped the Blue Devils push two across and cut the Pitt lead down to just one at 5-4. The momentum would not last long as Pitt tallied its second-straight three-run inning behind a fielding error that plated a pair of runs and an RBI single up the middle to make it 8-4. Pitt would hold the Blue Devils in check from there to seal game two and take the series.

Dry paced the Blue Devils at the plate in game two with her third two-hit performance of the season. All of Duke's production came in the 2-5 spots of the lineup, with Abboud, Wilson and Moreno each tallying a hit.

Abboud was the team leader on the day, going 4-for-6 over both games with a double and a run scored. Wilson, Moreno and Dry each finished with three hits each, while Moreno led all Blue Devils with a trio of runs batted in. Wiercioch (5-6) was the pitcher of record for Duke in both matchups, going 3.0 innings with a strikeout in game one and 2.1 with a pair of punchouts in game two. Peyton St. George threw 3.0 innings of relief work in game one. All four Blue Devil pitchers saw time in the circle in the day's final contest.

The Blue Devils and Panthers conclude the series Sunday, April 1 with a noon ET showdown. The contest will be live streamed on ACC Network Extra, which fans can access through WatchESPN.com or the ESPN app.

For more information on Duke softball, follow the Blue Devils on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for “DukeSoftball”. You can also find all-access coverage of all Duke athletic programs on SnapChat by searching for “dukeathletics”.

Extra Bases…

With a 3-for-3 showing in game one of the day, Rachel Abboud now owns a team-high 10 multi-hit games this season.
Second baseman Kortney Dry extended her hitting streak to five-straight games on Saturday, breaking her previous career high of three-straight games with a hit.
With hits in both games, Jazmine Moreno is currently riding a four-game hitting streak, which ties her career high.
Raine Wilson has now hit safely in 16 of her last 20 games.

Series Info…

Saturday, March 31
Pitt def. Duke, 6-4
Pitt def. Duke, 8-4

Sunday, April 1
Duke at Pitt – 12:00 p.m. ET
ACC Network Extra
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Petersen Sports Complex (Vartabedian Field)

Live Broadcast…
Sunday's contest will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra. Fans can access the broadcast through WatchESPN.com, the ESPN app or by clicking the links below.

Duke at Pitt ACC Network Extra (Sunday, April 1)

Live Stats…
Pitt will provide live stats for Sunday's contest. Fans can access them through http://www.sidearmstats.com/pittsburgh/softball/ or by clicking the link below.

Duke at Pittsburgh Live Stats

Ticket Information…
Admission for all games this weekend is free to all fans.

Weather…
Sunday, April 1 – High 44, Low 28; Partly Cloudy (0%)

A Year Of Firsts...
The Blue Devils' inaugural campaign will be filled with a number of statistical firsts as the year goes on. Here is a look at the firsts accomplished by Team One so far.

Game: Feb. 8, 2018 vs. FAU (Game 1)