PITTSBURGH – Kat Rodriguez hit a walk-off sacrifice fly to cap off a three-run seventh inning for the Panthers and defeat the Ohio Bobcats, 5-4, at Vartabedian Field Wednesday evening.
The Panthers trailed 4-2 heading into the final inning of play. Alena Ball and Rachael Fuerst led off the inning with back-to-back singles to put the game-tying run on base. Ball scored on a Macy Hamilton double to shallow left field to make the score 4-3. Ahmari Braden pinch ran for Fuerst and tied the game with a slide at home after Kylie Griggs put the ball in play. Rodriguez called the game with a sac fly off the first pitch of the at-bat to score Hamilton from third.
Danny Farris entered in the top of the second inning and held Ohio hitless and issued just two walks in 3.1 innings after the Panthers allowed three runs over the first two innings.
Ohio hit a leadoff home run off the first pitch of the game, followed by a walk and a single up the middle. Brown retired the next three batters to strand the runners on second and third base in the top of the first inning. The Bobcats hit back-to-back singles in the second inning and scored two more runs from a Yasmine Loga double to take a 3-0 lead after two innings.
The Panthers had just two players reach base through 5.0 innings as well Desiree Martinez got the first hit for the Panthers with an infield single in the second inning. Ana Hernandez hit a leadoff single in the third inning and advanced to second on a sac bunt from Macy Hamilton.
The Bobcats extended their lead to 4-0 with an RBI single to left field in the top of the sixth. The Panthers answered with two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
The Panthers scored all five of their runs over the final two frames. Griggs extended her on-base streak to 17 games with a single and Kat Rodriguez brought in the first run with a double to right center field. Amanda “Tuta” Ramirez brought in the second run of the inning with a hit just down the left field line.
The Panthers scored three runs on three hits in the final inning to secure the comeback victory over the Bobcats. Adriana Romano was awarded the win after allowing one hit with a strikeout in 1.0 innings of relief.
Up Next
The Panthers have a bye weekend in ACC play and will return to action on April 30, against Robert Morris for their final home game of the season. First pitch is scheduled for 4 pm
