CHARLESTON, W.Va.—No. 19 University of Charleston Softball sweeps University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown 4-1 in game one and 4-3 in game two to improve to 6-0 on the season. The matchup was a pitching duel with zero runs scored until the fifth inning in the first game and the seventh inning in the second game.
 
Brianna McCown picked up both wins, throwing a perfect game in the first and coming in relief in the second. Currently McCown is credited with five of the six wins for Charleston this season. With it just getting started for the Golden Eagles, McCown has already tallied 27 strikeouts in 21.1 innings pitched with zero walks. Her Earned run average is also a crisp 0.66, as she has allowed just two runs to score on 10 hits. Due to her outstanding performance this past week, McCown received Mountain East Conference Pitcher of the Week honors.
 
The Basics:
Location: Charleston, W.Va.
Score: Game One-4-1 (UCWV); Game Two-4-3 (UCWV)
 
How it Happened:
Game One-
The first game of the day was special, as McCown threw her second perfect game as a Golden Eagle with 11 strikeouts in seven innings pitched. Her first perfect game was last year against Virginia State where Charleston won 9-0 in a five-inning mercy rule, making the perfect game against the Mountain Cats all the more special. 
 
Offensively UC could not break through Pitt's pitching and defense until the bottom of the fifth inning. The inning started off with a walk by Brittny Ogg, which was her second walk of the night in two at bats. A single to second by the speedy Hannah Rose moved Ogg into scoring position, however, she was thrown out at third after Isabella Andujar hit into a fielder's choice. Allysa Lake then tapped one up the middle, but a bobble by the second baseman allowed Rose to score and Lindsey Reavis, who pinch ran for Andujar, to reach second base safely. A walk by Hannah Meyer loaded the bases, and another fielder's choice, hit by Lindsey Phares, allowed Reavis to score, making it 2-0 in favor of UC to close out the bottom half of the fifth.
 
Even though the Mountain Cats secured two quick outs to start the bottom of the sixth, the Golden Eagles stood on business and notched two more runs. Ogg continued to see the ball well at the plate, as she drew her third walk of the game with the 2023 First-Team All-American and Mountain East Conference Player of the Year coming up to bat. Rose quickly made the pitcher pay for her mistakes with a two run blast to center field to close out the scoring for the game. The senior went 2-4 on the night with two runs-batted-in and two runs scored. 
 
 
Game Two-
Like the first game, game two was also a pitching duel. Freshman Layla Jelenic mowed down the Mountain Cats with 10 strikeouts in six innings pitched, but Jelenic's offense was not helping her out though. Things got shaky in the top of the seventh inning after a walk and a double put Pitt in scoring position with no outs. McCown came in relief for the freshman and struck out the first batter she faced, but after throwing a perfect game, a dribbler to second base scored the runner from third despite their efforts to throw her out at the plate. The next two runs came off a single to give Pitt the 3-0 lead with just a half of an inning to go. 
 
The cardiac kids did not disappear in the off season though. Sophomore transfer Bianca Polistina led off the inning with a walk and quickly moved to third on a double by pinch hitter Raegan West. Allison Rubal also pinch hit for Charleston, picking up a single to score Polistina and move West to third. The junior then went on to swipe second to put two runners in scoring position for UC. Coach Frew then called on junior transfer Kayla Moran who walked to load the bases for Rose. Rose went on to do what she does best, clutching up and tapping the ball over the shortstop's head to score two runs to even the score at three. The Mountain Cats secured one more out, but a single up the middle by Lake sealed the deal and gave the Golden Eagles the walk-off 4-3 victory over University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown.
 
Up Next;
Today Charleston will take a flight down to Clermont, Florida to participate in the Spring Games tournament from February 28 to March 2.  They will be facing the University of Mary, University of Findlay, Upper Iowa University, Winona State University, Ashland University and Clarion University.