Fort Myers, FL -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford baseball team returned to action in Fort Myers, Fla., on Wednesday, as they took on Haverford in a single, nine-inning contest. The Panthers struggled to find their rhythm at the plate and fell to the Fords 7-2.
The Panthers started strong, jumping out to a first-inning lead despite not recording a hit. Alex Ognen drew a walk to lead off the game, and then moved to second when Alex Colwell also drew a free pass. After a strikeout, Ognen and Colwell pulled off a double steal that also included a throwing error on the catcher, which allowed Ognen to score. Trent Bielak started the game on the mound for the Panthers and worked around a one-out double to post a shutdown frame in the bottom half.
Neither team mustered any offense in the second, and the Panthers left two runners on base in the third before Haverford jumped in front. The first two batters of the inning reached on a single and a walk before an error on a sacrifice bunt attempt loaded the bases. The Panthers held off the Fords for a batter, forcing a runner out at the plate, but another error on a potential double play ball allowed two runs to score and extended the inning. A sacrifice fly brought in a third run before Bielak got out of the inning with a groundout.
The Panthers pulled one right back in the top of the 4th. Seth Helgert drew a leadoff walk and then moved to second on a bunt single by Levi Laser. Both runners advanced on another bunt, and then Helgert came around to score on an RBI groundout by Ethan Obergfell. Pitt-Bradford could not hold onto momentum, however, as Haverford came back with three more runs in the bottom half. Bielak walked the lead-off batter before getting two outs on a strikeout and a grounder. He could not get out of the inning unscathed, as he allowed back-to-back home runs to the next two batters. He was replaced by Ethan Zimmerman, who walked a batter before striking one out to end the frame.
Both teams were retired in order for the next two frames before the Panthers threatened to score in the 7th. Obergfell and Ognen each drew walks in the frame and moved into scoring position on a wild pitch, but Aiden Zimmerman flew out to left to end the inning. Ethan Zimmerman allowed a double to start the 7th and also hit a batter, but was able to escape the jam with a runner caught stealing, a fly ball, and a strikeout.
After a quiet top of the 8th, the Fords tacked on an unearned run off of new pitcher Kristian Kocon in the bottom of the inning. Kocon induced two groundouts to start the frame, but then hit a batter who took second on a wild pitch and stole third. He was able to get another groundball to get out of the inning, but an error allowed the run to score.
Tim Beimel and Obergfell each walked to start the frame, but the next three Panthers were retired to end the game.
Trent Bielak (0-1) picked up the loss for the Panthers. He allowed 6 runs, 3 earned, in 3 and 2/3 innings of work. He struck out four. Ethan Zimmerman pitched 3.1 scoreless innings in relief, allowing just 1 hit and a walk while striking out 4. Kristian Kocon allowed 1 unearned run in the 8th. The Panthers only registered two hits in the loss, singles by Aiden Zimmerman and Levi Laser. Alex Ognen reached 3 times on walks, while Ethan Obergfell walked twice and drove in a run with an RBI groundout.
The Panthers drop to 1-8 after the loss. They return to action tomorrow with a split doubleheader, featuring two nine-inning games. They take on Wisconsin Lutheran at 12:00 p.m. and Skidmore at 12.
