Bradford, PA-- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford baseball team brought a four-game home stretch to a close on Wednesday when it hosted Penn State-Behrend in a 9-inning AMCC matchup. The Panthers erased an early 3-run deficit before allowing 7 late runs in the final frames to fall 10-5.
Senior Jacob Sherdel got the start for the Panthers on the mound and fell behind from the start, allowing a run in the opening frame without giving up a hit. Sherdel hit the leadoff batter with a pitch, who then stole second and moved to third on an error. The next batter drove him in with a sacrifice fly to put the Panthers behind. Noah Avey doubled with two outs in the bottom of the frame but could not advance.
The visitors tacked on two more in the 2nd. They started the frame with a single and a double, and then brought in both runners with an infield error on a ground ball. With a runner on 2nd and two runs already in, Sherdel got out of the inning quickly, inducing a flyout to left before Aiden Zimmerman turned an unassisted double play to finish the inning. Pitt-Bradford pulled a run back in their half of the inning. Trent Bielak was hit by a pitch to begin the frame, and then moved to third when Ethan Obergfell singled up the middle. Logan McConnell brought him in a batter later, grounding a single through the left side of the infield. The Panthers moved both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt, but could not bring them in as the next two batters were retired on a strikeout and a fly ball.
After a quiet 3rd inning, Shredel used another double play to keep the visitors from adding to the lead before Pitt-Bradford rallied for 3 runs to take the lead. Bielak started the rally again, doubling to the left to lead off the frame. He moved to third on another Obergfell single, and then, after McConnell was hit by a pitch to load the bases, scored when Alex Ognen drew a walk. Grant Casses drove in Obergfell with a sacrifice fly to right, and due to a throwing error on the play, Ognen was able to motor around the bases and score the go-ahead run from first.
Sherdel stranded two in scoring position in the 5th to post his second shutdown inning of the game, and set down the Lions 1-2-3 in the 6th. He was replaced by Maddox Stadler to begin the 7th, who was unable to hold off the lions. He allowed a leadoff single, and then, after a wild pitch, a double down the line to tie the game at 4. Following a sacrifice bunt, Penn State-Behrend regained the lead with a sacrifice fly, and then doubled the lead with a home run to left. Stadler was lifted after a walk to the next batter and was relieved by Ethan Zimmerman. Zimmerman needed just two pitches to end the frame, inducing a flyout to left. Alex Colwell doubled with one out in the bottom of the inning, but did not advance as the next two batters were retired.
Zimmerman kept the Lions off the board in the 8th, and the Panthers rallied to cut the lead in half in their at-bat. Logan McConnell started the inning with an infield single and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. Braden Meadows pinch hit after the bunt and reached on an infield single, but the throw to first was not only late, but errant, which allowed McConnell to score on the play.
In the 9th, the Panthers were unable to keep the visitors down and from extending their advantage. Zimmerman struck out the leadoff hitter, but then scored on two walks, three stolen bases, and a throwing error. A single to right drove in another run before a second straight hit resulted in a Pitt-Bradford pitching change. Tommy Gargasz replaced Zimmerman with one out in the inning, but allowed two inherited runners to score on a pair of singles. One of the batters was thrown out trying to leg out a double, and then Gargasz ended the inning with a fly ball to left. The Panthers put a pair of runners on with a leadoff single by Metcalfe and a hit batter, but the Lions changed pitchers late and ended the game with two straight outs.
Jacob Shredel had a strong outing for the Panthers, allowing 3 runs, 1 earned, in 6.0 innings of work. He struck out two. Maddox Stadler was saddled with the loss after allowing 3 earned in 2/3 of an inning pitched. Ethan Zimmerman allowed 4 earned runs in 1.2 innings pitched, while Tmmy Gargasz got the final two outs, allowing a pair of inherited runners to score. Logan McConnell reached in all of his plate appearances, as he was 2 for 2 with an RBI single, a run scored, and was hit by pitches twice. Ethan Obergfell and Alex Colwell each had multihit games, while Colwell, Trent Bielak, and Noah Avey all hit doubles in the loss.
The defeat drops Pitt-Bradford to 9-15 overall, and 4-4 in AMCC play. They will take on the Lions once again over the weekend, with a road doubleheader in Erie. First pitch is slated for 1:00 p.m. on Saturday.
