Pittsburgh Panthers softball

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Pittsburgh Panthers
Pittsburgh Panthers athletic logo
University University of Pittsburgh
Conference ACC
Location Pittsburgh, PA
Head Coach Holly Aprile (5th year)
Home Stadium Vartabedian Field
in the Petersen Sports Complex
(Capacity: 600)
Nickname Panthers
Colors [[ (color)|]] and [[ (color)|]]

             
NCAA Tournament Appearances
2015

Pittsburgh Panthers softball is the NCAA Division I intercollegiate softball program of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Pitt softball team competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference and plays their home games at Vartabedian Field in the Petersen Sports Complex.

History

Pitt softball player Ashley Sills at bat during the 2013 Cherry Blossom Classic

The inaugural season of Pitt softball was in 1998 with the program guided by its first head coach, Michelle Phalen.[1] The program competed as an independent during its first season in NCAA Division I and then played in the Big East Conference from 1999 to 2013. Phalen guided the program to its first winning season (31-27) and first Big East Tournament appearance[2] in 2006 as well as its first season over .500 in Big East play (12-10) in 2008,[3] a year that saw Pitt upset multiple nationally ranked teams.[4] In 2009, Holly Aprile, and assistant coach in charge of pitchers and catchers under Phalen,[5] took over as the head coach of the program.[6] April began her tenure by leading the team to three consecutive winning seasons,[7] a first for the program to that point, and led the 2011 team to a single season school record of 34 wins[8] that included a victory over national ranked Georgia Tech.[9] On July 1, 2013, Pitt moved to the Atlantic Coast Conference.[10] In 2015, Pitt reached the ACC Softball Tournament championship game and earned the program's first NCAA tournament appearance on way to an appearance in the Regional Final and a program best 37-22 record.

Vartabedian Field

The team's home field includes the 600-seat Vartabedian Field, a softball ballpark that is part of the Petersen Sports Complex on the University of Pittsburgh campus that open for the 2010-11 school year. Vartabedian Field features a skinned infield with an artificial grass outfield. The stadium includes team dugouts, hitting and pitching practice areas, lighting, and a press box.[11] The first softball game played at Vartabedian Field was a 2-1 Pitt victory over Penn State on March 29, 2011.[12] Prior to the program moving into the Petersen Sports Complex and Vartabedian Field, the team played home games at Trees Field on the Pitt campus.[13]

Current coaching staff

  • Holly Aprile - Head Coach
  • Gina Fuchs - Assistant Coach
  • Chelsea Leonard - Assistant Coach

Conference honors

File:PeteSportsComplexEntrance1.jpg
The entrance and ticket window of the Petersen Sports Complex, home of Pitt softball's Vartabedian Field

During Pitt's time as a member of the Big East Conference, Pitt players garnered 20 All-Big East selections including five First Team All-Big East selections. Two Panthers have also received ECAC All-Star status.[14] Numerous players have also won Big East Player of the Week and Pitcher of the Week honors.[15]

  • Big East Rookie of the Year
Tori Nirschl, 2013[16]
  • Big East First Team All-Conference[14]
Francesca DiMaria, 2003
Francesca DiMaria, 2005
Joey Scarf, 2006
Jessica Dignon, 2008
Samantha Card, 2008

No-hitters

The following eight no-hitters have been thrown by Pitt pitchers over the program's history.[17]

  • March 11, 2000 Gina Bessolo vs Colgate (won 8-0)
  • April 7, 2001 Gina Bessolo at Syracuse (won 2-0)
  • March 16, 2002 Nikki Gasti vs Jacksonville State (won 2-0)
  • April 3, 2002 Gina Bessolo vs Youngstown State (won 10-0)
  • February 23, 2003 Nikki Gasti at UNC-Charlotte (won 1-0)
  • April 5, 2008 Kayla Zinger vs Connecticut (won 1-0)
  • March 30, 2010 Alyssa O'Connell vs St. Francis (won 9-0)
  • March 26, 2011 Cory Berliner at Seton Hall (won 9-0)

Professional softball

Two former Panthers have played softball professionally in the National Pro Fastpitch league.[18]

See also

References

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External links

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