PITTSBURGH — The ending was harsh, almost to the point of cruel.

But Mars graduate and University of Pittsburgh senior center fielder Erin Hershman is keeping the Panthers' 5-4 loss to Florida State in the Atlantic Coast Conference softball championship game in perspective.

Pitt had a 4-2 lead on the five-time ACC champion Seminoles with two outs in the bottom of the final inning last weekend, only to lose on a three-run homer. The Panthers were then denied a berth in the NCAA regionals when those pairings were announced the following night.

“Definitely a tough pill to swallow,” Hershman admitted. “But we have to look at the big picture.

“We had a great season. We proved we could play with the best teams in the country. Other people chose to leave us out (of the regional). There's nothing we could do about that.”

But Hershman could do plenty on a softball field. No one appreciated that more than Panther head coach Holly Aprile.

“Erin is an incredibly versatile player who helps in so many ways,” Aprile said. “You don't look at the numbers with her, whether she hit .300 or not ... It doesn't matter.

“She plays an outstanding center field. She's a power hitter who can lay down a bunt. She has excellent speed and she's an excellent base-runner. All the intangibles are there.

“We're going to miss her terribly,” Aprile added.

Hershman started 147 of Pitt's 150 games her sophomore through senior years, all in center field. She played 40 games and started 12 for the Panthers her freshman year, when her team also reached the ACC title game.

After hitting .366 with seven homers and 41 RBI as a sophomore — and being named first team All-ACC — Hershman slipped to a .202 batting average her junior season. She hit .239 this year with nine doubles, five homers and 19 RBI.

The Panthers put together winning seasons in each of her four years, including this year's 33-18 mark.

“I was healthy throughout my career here, though my labrum bothered me a little bit this season,” Hershman said. “I had labrum issues when I played in high school.”

Hershman owns the career home run record at Mars. She hit .500 with nine homers as a senior in 2014, leading the Planets to the WPIAL championship game.

She played catcher, second base, shortstop and center field one season each at Mars. At Pitt, it's been all center field.

“We love her speed and defense out there,” Aprile said. “There was no doubt she'd be playing center for us.”

Hershman wound up hitting 18 homers and stealing 32 bases in 36 attempts in her Panther career. She made a running catcher in center field in a game against Providence her sophomore year, preserving a perfect game for pitcher Sarah Dawson.

Hershman said her most memorable moment came against North Carolina State last season, when she hit a game-tying home run in the final inning.

“We wound up winning that game with a walk-off homer in the same inning. It was really cool, a great memory,” Hershman said.

Hershman's fondest memory — and what she'll miss the most — is the bond with her teammates. She was one of five seniors on the roster this spring.

“We did everything together,” she said. “We hung out as a team, not just played as one. I will sorely miss that.

“I had an up and down career in terms of my production. I appreciate the way Coach Aprile never lost confidence in me, never got down on me. She was always positive and encouraging with everyone.”

Aprile said Hershman “had numerous big hits for us over the years. She was a clutch hitter in that regard.

“When we needed her, she delivered. This level (of softball) is tough. It's easy to get into slumps and struggle at the plate. Even when Erin was struggling, she'd still lay down a critical bunt. move a runner, deliver a well-timed hit. Fundamentally, she was solid.”

Hershman will continue her pursuit of a career in speech pathology in the fall. She is headed to Edinboro University to study for her masters.

She plans to do some softball coaching there as well.

“I've talked to the coach about being a graduate assistant on the team and it looks like that will happen,” Hershman said. “I'm excited about it.”

Aprile is confident she'll do well.

“I've watched Erin grow into a leader with us,” the coach said. “She loves to help others and she's excellent in the classroom.

“She has become an exceptional young woman.”