Bradford, PA -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford opened its home slate on Saturday, as it hosted Alfred State at Repchick Family Field. The Panthers dropped the opener 2-1 by allowing 2 runs in the last inning, but battled back in the nightcap with a 9-3 win to secure the season-series win over the Pioneers.

Game One - Alfred State 2 - Pitt-Bradford 1

The opening game of the double dip was a pitchers' duel that saw the Panthers lead 1-0 through six, but could not hold off the Pioneers in the final frame, ultimately losing 2-1.

Starting Pitcher Collin Porter allowed a leadoff double to start the game, but quickly settled in and retired three straight to strand the runner at third. The Panthers also put a pair of runners on in the bottom of the opening frame, but a 5-4-3 double play ended the threat.

In the 2nd, Porter walked the first two batters, but then induced a flyout and struck out two straight. The Panthers moved into the lead in the bottom of the inning. Ethan Obergfell walked with one out and then moved to second when Brayden Meadows reached on an error. Alex Ognen dropped down a bunt single, and the throw to first was errant, allowing OBergfell to score.

Porter posted a shutdown inning in the 3rd, working around two free passes, while striking out a pair. The Panthers threatened again in the 3rd, as Aiden Zimmerman and MAllick Metcalfe each singled, by a pick off slowed the inning, while the Panthers stranded a pair.

After a quiet 4th, Porter ran into more trouble in the 5th. The visitors loaded the bases with a single, a hit batter, and a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt, but Porter found a way out of the jam with the lead, getting the first out on a line drive to short and then a 4-6-3 inning-ending double play. He retired the first batter of the 6th, but then was lifted after giving up a one-out single in the frame. He was replaced by Ethan Zimmerman, who retired both batters he faced in the inning.

The Pioneers finally struck in the top of the 7th, as a one-out single was followed by a double to the gap, tying the game at one. The next batter singled to left to put the Pioneers in front. After a stolen base, the Panthers nabbed a runner at the plate and then ended the inning on a ground ball to send the game to the bottom of the 7th, trailing 2-1. Unfortunately, the Panthers were unable to formulate a rally, as they were retired in order to end the game. 

Collin Porter picked up a hard-luck no-decision after pitching 5.1 scoreless innings. He scattered 3 hits while striking out 7. Ethan Zimmerman (0-2) got the loss after allowing 2 earned runs in 1.2 innings pitched. Aiden Zimmerman had the only multihit game for the Panthers, finishing 2 for 4. Ethan Obergfell was able to reach in all three of his plate appearances. He had a single and 2 walks, while scoring the Panthers' only run.

Game Two - Pitt-Bradford 9 - Alfred State 3

The nightcap featured another sparkling pitching performance by the Panthers, as Patrick Synan kept the Pioneers off the board for 7 innings while the Panthers built a 9 run lead. The visitors were able to score 3 late runs, but the deficit was far too great, and the game ended 9-3 in favor of the Panthers. 

Synan allowed just two hits through the first three innings of the game and was given a lead in the bottom of the third. Aiden Zimmerman hit a one-out double to left before the Panthers loaded the bases with a hit batter and an error on a line drive in the infield. Alex Colwell put Pitt-Bradford in front, drawing a bases-loaded walk to force in Zimmerman. Pitt-Bradford could not tack any more runs onto their total in the frame, however, as the next two batters were retired on a strikeout and a groundout.

Synan worked around a hit batter to start the 4th to post a shutdown inning, and then retired the side in order in the 5th to keep the Panthers in front. In the bottom of the inning, the Panthers scored 3 times to provide Synan with a few insurance runs. Noah Avey started the inning with a double to center, and then moved to third two batters later on a Trent Bielak single to center. Ethan Obergfell drove him in with a sacrifice fly. Logan McConnell reached on an infield single before Alan Compres also beat out an infield single on a check swing. The throw to first on Compres's hit was up the line, which allowed both runners to score. 

In the 6th, Synan posted another shutdown inning, stranding a runner on second after a single with an error. The Panthers added to their lead with a run in the 6th. Zimmerman led off with a single and then moved to third on a stolen base and a fly ball to right. After a groundout, he scampered home on a passed ball to put Pitt-Bradford ahead 5-0. 

Following another shutdown inning from Synan in the 7th, the Panthers scored 4 more runs in the 7th. Logan McConnell led off with a single, and then, after Compres was hit by a pitch, scored when Alex Ognen beat out a bunt single with a throw that got away from first. After Zimmerman walked, Metcalfe brought in a run on a groundout, and Noah Avey drove in two more with a single through the left side. 

Synan trotted back to the mound for the 8th, but after walking the leadoff batter, was lifted for Maddox Stadler. Stadler allowed a 2-run home run to the first batter he faced, and then walked the next batter. He induced a double play for the first two outs and then, after a pair of singles, ended the frame with a fly out. In the 9th, he allowed a bloop double to start the frame, but then retired the next two batters on a groundout to short and a strikeout. He could not get out of the inning unscathed, allowing a single to right, but then got the next batter to fly out to left, ending the game.

Patrick Synan (2-3) got the win after allowing just 1 run in 7+ innings pitched. He scattered 3 hits while striking out four batters. Maddox Stadler pitched the last two innings, allowing 2 earned runs with one strikeout. Aiden Zimmerman sparked the offense, finishing 3 for 5 with a double, a walk, and 3 runs scored. Alex Colwell also went 3 for 4 with an RBI. Noah Avey, Logan McConnell, and Alex Ognen all had two hits in the win.

The split moves Pitt-Bradford to 8-14 overall and 4-3 in AMCC play. They will be back in action on Monday, April 6th, when they host Fredonia in a single 9-inning contest. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.