Bradford, PA -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford baseball team faced frigid temperatures and occasional flurries on Monday as it hosted Fredonia for a single-9-inning contest at Repchick Family Field. The Panthers built an early 4-1 lead and then, after allowing a game-tying home run in the top of the 9th, struck back to score in the bottom of the inning for a walkoff 6-5 victory.
Trent Bielak took the hill for the Panthers, making his 2nd start of the season. Despite allowing a leadoff single and a walk in the first, he ended the frame with a pair of strikeouts. He also singled with two outs in the bottom half, but could not advance before the end of the inning.
The Panthers fell behind in the top of the 2nd, as Bielak allowed a one-out double and then saw the runner score on a passed ball and a sacrifice fly. Pitt-Bradford struck right back in the bottom half of the frame. Levi Laser led off with a triple to left center and then scored when Kenny Nickson III lined a single through the left side. Following a double play, the Panthers rallied with two outs to score two more times. Tim Beimel and Grant Casses each drew a walk before Ziden Zimmerman grounded a hit through the right side and Seth Helgert dropped a single into right center, each driving in a run.
Bielak worked around a two-out walk and a stolen base to post a shutdown inning in the third, and then was rewarded as the offense tacked on an insurance run in their half of the inning. Braden Meadows singled to shortstop, and then, after a flyout, moved to second when Nickson drew a walk. Following another fly out to right, Beimel lined a single into left field to drive in MEadows and extend the lead to 3.
In the 4th, the visitors scored twice to cut the lead back to one run. The leadoff batter reached on an error, and then, after a fly ball and a hit batter, scored on a single to right center. The second run scored a batter later when the 4th ball of a walk was wild and allowed the lead runner to score. Pitt-Bradford went down quietly in the 4th, but after Bielak retired the side in order in the 5th, restored their 2-run lead. With two outs, Nickson drove a line drive over the wall in left field to give the Panthers a 5-3 lead. The blast was his 2nd home run of the season.
Bielak pitched a scoreless 6th inning, and then was replaced by Kristian Kocon to begin the 7th. Kocon hit the first batter he faced, but then retired the next two batters. He nearly got out of the inning unscathed, but could not put away the next two batters, walking one and then allowing a run-scoring single through the left side. He worked around a leadoff single in the 8th to keep the Panthers in front, but the offense could not tack on a run, sending the game to the 9th with a one-run advantage.
Ethan Zimmerman replaced Kocon at the start of the 9th, looking to secure the win with his third save of the season. Unfortunately, he lost the lead after the leadoff hitter tied the game with a solo home run to left. Zimmerman walked the next batter to put the go-ahead runner on base, but after a sacrifice bunt, he got some help from his defense as Seth Helgert snagged a line drive at the hot corner and doubled off the runner to end the frame.
With the game tied, Aiden Zimmerman led off the bottom of the 9th with a ground ball towards third that was not handled on the backhand. He was not only able to reach base, but also sprinted into second base to get into scoring position. Helgert was intentionally walked to set up a force play, but Bielak lined a single through the left side of the infield to bring in Zimmerman as the winning run.
Trent Bielak picked up a no-decision on the mound, pitching 6 innings while allowing 3 runs, 1 earned, on 4 hits. He struck out 5 batters. Bielak also finished 2 for 5 at the plate and drove in the game-winning run. Kristian Kocon pitched 2.0 innings, allowing 1 earned run while striking out three. Ethan Zimmerman (1-2) lost a save but picked up a win, allowing 1 run on 1 hit in 1 inning pitched. Kenny Nickson III led the offense, finishing 2 for 3 with a home run and an RBI single. Braden Meadows also had a multi-hit game, finishing 2 for 4 with a double.
The win moves the Panthers to 9-14 on the season. They will be back in home action on Wednesday, April 6th, when they host Penn State-Behrend in a single 9-inning AMCC matchup.
