University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt
2-1
Michigan State
3-1
Pitt Defeats Auburn in Extra Innings, Split Second Day of NFCA Leadoff Classic
2/7/2026 11:56:00 PM | Softball
CLEARWATER, Fla. – The Pitt softball team improved to 3–1 on the season with an extra-inning win over Auburn, but fell to Michigan State later Saturday during the second day of the NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic.
Game 1: Michigan State 9, Pitt 7
Pitt battled with a late comeback but came up just short in a 9–7 loss to Michigan State. The Panthers trailed early after Michigan State plated a run in the first and added five more runs in the third, but Pitt chipped away to stay within striking distance.
Pitt got on the board with two runs in the fourth and erupted for five runs in the seventh inning to mount a comeback. Gracie Helton powered the rally with a three-run home run, while the Panthers finished with nine hits and drew key production throughout the lineup.
The comeback attempt fell just short as Michigan State closed out the final outs. Amelia Long took the loss in the circle, with Mia Kliethermes and Kyra Pittman providing relief.
Game 2: Pitt 12, Auburn 11 (9)
Pitt survived a late Auburn rally to earn a dramatic 12–11 victory in nine innings over the Tigers on Saturday night.
The Panthers jumped out early, scoring four runs in both the first and second innings to build an 8–2 advantage. Alena Ball led the offensive surge, going 4-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI, while Tieley Vaughn finished 3-for-4 with three RBI. Calle Henne added a pair of hits and drove in two as Pitt capitalized on early chances at the plate.
Auburn responded in the middle innings, highlighted by a five-run fifth inning that cut the deficit to one, while Pitt added key insurance runs late, scoring once in the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings to stay in front. Auburn continued to battle, pushing across runs in the final frames, but ultimately came up just short.
Tieley Vaughn hit her first home run of the season to notch the game 9-9 with one out in the top of the seventh inning. Alena Ball beat out the throw for an infield single in the top of the eigth to score Shelby Frazier and take a 10-9 edge. The Tigers tied the game again, but Pitt scored two more runs in the ninth inning off a Vaughn single and a fielding error from the Tigers to secure the win.
Kyra Pittman picked up the win in relief, tossing 3.1 innings and limiting Auburn to two runs. Auburn pitchers Charley Butler and SJ Geurin combined to allow 12 runs, with Geurin taking the loss despite striking out five over 7.1 innings.
UP NEXT
Pitt closes out the NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic tomorrow with a single game against Eastern Kentucky. First pitch is set for 10 a.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Behlke, Autumn (2-0)
L: Long, Amelia (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Doloszycki, Sydney 1 ; Bernard, Zoie 1 ; Beshears, Britain 1 ; Grillo, Sophia 1
RBI: Beshears, Britain 1 ; Hawley, Hannah 2 ; Grillo, Sophia 2
SF: Hawley, Hannah 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Smiley, Kendall 1 ; Doloszycki, Sydney 2 ; Bernard, Zoie 2 ; Beshears, Britain 2 ; Hawley, Hannah 2
SB: Bernard, Zoie 1
Batting:
HR: Helton, Gracie 1
RBI: Vaughn, Tieley 1 ; Helton, Gracie 3 ; Braden, Ahmari 1 ; Henne, Calle 1 ; Ball, Alena 1
SF: Vaughn, Tieley 1 ; Henne, Calle 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Helton, Gracie 1 ; Braden, Ahmari 1 ; Murphy, Camryn 1 ; Harris, Payton 1 ; Frazier, Shelby 1 ; Ball, Alena 2
SB: Vaughn, Tieley 1 ; Murphy, Camryn 1 ; Harris, Payton 1 ; Ball, Alena 1
