March 13, 2008

PITTSBURGH-The Pitt softball team faces three opponents in its fifth tournament of the season, this weekend, as the squad travels to Harrisonburg, Va. for the three-day James Madison Tournament.

The Panthers meet Akron (9 a.m.) and host James Madison (1 p.m.) on Friday, March 14. They then play Canisius at 9 a.m. on Saturday. Additional games are based on the outcome of those three.

Pitt is coming off a 5-4 win over No. 23 Maryland, where they split a mid-week doubleheader. In the contest, freshman Reba Tutt (Culpeper, Va./Highland) became the latest member of the Panther's bomb squad, with a two-run homer.

Tutt joined seniors Jessica Dignon (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) and Mary Hecker (Roseville, Calif./Roseville) and junior Samantha Card (Miami, Fla./Our Lady of Lourdes/Florida International) on the list of home run hitters this season.

The win over the Terps was Pitt's third victory over a ranked opponent this season. The Panthers have previously upset then-No. 16 Virginia Tech (3-0) and then-No. 25 Missouri (2-1) and received votes in a national poll once this season.

Card leads the Panthers with a .333 batting average, while Dignon has a .327 average and has drove in a team-leading 13 runs.

In the circle, freshman Cory Berliner (Fort Collins, Colo./Rocky Mountain) has six wins, a 1.34 ERA and 57 strikeouts in 12 appearances.

Pitt is tied in the series against the Dukes (1-1) and the Griffs (2-2). However, the squad is 2-5 against the Zips.