Feb. 23, 2003

Box Score

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Pittsburgh's Nikki Gasti threw a no-hitter to win the pitchers duel with Charlotte's Amy Morse as the Panthers won, 1-0, on the final day of he First Pitch Classic.

In other final day action, Pittsburgh defeated East Tennessee State, 3-1, College of Charleston defeated Robert Morris, 10-0, and College of Charleston beat Pittsburgh, 5-2.

Pittsburgh scored the only run of the game in the fourth inning on Kelly Hulpa's RBI single. Ana Velazquez walked to start the inning, stole second and scored on Hulpa's two-out single.

Morse and Betsy Thompson combined on the mound for the 49ers, yielding just four hits, but Charlotte could not touch Gasti, who struck out eight and walked three.

College of Charleston won the tournament title by virtue of its .750 winning percentage (3-1). The Cougars leftfielder Amanda Cone was named MVP after cracking two home runs and adding eight RBI. Pittsburgh pitcher Nikki Gasti was named Most Valuable Pitcher after hurling one no-hitter and striking out 19 batters in 11 innings.

First Pitch Classic
Friday, February 21
East Tennesee State 11, Robert Morris 3
College of Charleston 8, East Tenneesse State 0
Charlotte 10, Robert Morris 0
Charlotte 6, College of Charleston 4

Saturday, February 22
All Games Cancelled

Sunday, February 23
Pittsburgh 3, East Tennessee State 1
Pittsburgh 1, Charlotte 0
College of Charleston 10, Robert Morris 0
College of Charleston 5, Pittsburgh 2

Tournament Champions
College of Charleston (3-1, .750)

Most Valuable Pitcher
Nikki Gasti, Pittsburgh (no-hitter, 1-0, 19 strikeouts)

Most Valuable Player
Amanda Cone, College of Charleston (2 home runs, triple, 8 RBIs)