Erie, PA -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford wrapped up their 3-game set with Penn State-Behrend on Saturday, playing a road doubleheader in Erie. The Panther offense struggled to gain momentum over the two games, as they were no-hit in a 1-0 game one loss before falling 9-2 in the nightcap.
Game One: Penn State-Behrend 1 - Pitt-Bradford 0
In the opener, Pitt-Bradford got a strong performance by Collin Porter on the mound, as the Senior limited Penn State-Behrend to 1 run on 3 hits, but was outdone by his counterpart, who pitched a no-hitter in a 1-0 loss for the Panthers.
The Panthers looked to start on the right foot as Aiden Zimmerman led off the game with a walk, but the next three Panthers went down looking, stranding him on second after a stolen base. Porter made quick work of the Lions in his half of the opening frame, setting the hosts down with three straight groundouts.
Porter worked around a one-out double in the 2nd to keep the game scoreless, but after Alan Compres was left on second after being hit by a pitch and advancing on a groundout, fell behind in the 3rd. Porter allowed a leadoff homerun to begin the bottom of the third inning, but settled back down and ended the inning without further damage.
Following a quick 4th inning, the Panthers looked to get on the board after Alex Ognen and Zimmerman each drew two-out walks. Unfortunately, they were left on the corners when the inning ended on a groundout to third. Porter set down the side in order in the 5th and then worked around a leadoff infield single in the 6th to keep the deficit at one for the Panthers.
In the 7th, Pitt-Bradford put their 4th leadoff batter of the game on base when Ethan Obergfell drew a walk, but he was quickly erased on a double play. The game ended a batter later on a strikeout, completing the no-hitter.
Collin Porter (0-4) got the tough loss after allowing just 1 run on 3 hits, while striking out 4 batters. Aiden Zimmerman drew a pair of walks for the Panthers, while Noah Avey, Ethan Obergfell, Alan Compres, and Alex Ognen all reached on free passes.
Game Two: Penn State-Behrend 9 - Pitt-Bradford 2
In the second game of the twinbill, the Panthers fell behind early, as the hosts scored 5 time sin the bottom of the first. The Panthers scratched runs across in the 4th and 8th innings, but ultimately lost 9-2.
Aiden Zimmerman led off the game with another walk, but was once again left on base as the next three Panthers were retired. Patrick Synan got the start for Pitt-Bradford and ran into trouble in the bottom of the first. He induced a fly ball to start the game, but then allowed two singles before getting the second out of the inning on a groundout. The Hosts rallied with two down, as the next four Lions singled to bring in 5 runs. After a walk, Synan finished the inning with a strikeout.
Mallick Metcalfe picked up the first hit of the day for the Panthers in the 2nd, hitting a single into right, but remained on first as the next two batters popped up in the infield. Penn State Behrend tacked on another run in the 2nd, scoring on a fielder's choice after a one-out double and a bunt single.
Seth Helgert started the 3rd with another free pass, but the Panthers continued to struggle to string together successful at-bats, and the inning ended without a threat. Synan allowed two doubles around a pair of fly outs to allow his 7th run of the game, and was replaced by Maddox Stadler, who got the first batter he faced to pop up to third to end the frame.
In the 4th, the Panthers were finally able to take advantage of a leadoff runner, pushing a run across on an RBI Single. Alex Colwell started the inning with a walk, and then, after a foul out to first, Metcalfe and Ethan Obergfell were each hit by a pitch to load the bases. Logan McConnell delivered the hit, singling into left field to drive in Colwell. Unfortunately, the rally would end a batter later on a 6-4-3 double play.
Stadler kept the deficit at 6 for the next three innings, working around a single in the 4th and an error in the 5th, but the Panthers could not take advantage, as they were set down in order in each of their next three at-bats.
The hosts were finally able to get to Stadler in the 7th, scoring a pair of runs. The senior right-hander allowed a leadoff single, and then, after a strikeout, saw the Lions load the bases with a double and a walk. Penn State-Behrend drove in the runs with a sacrifice fly and a single to center, but left the bases loaded after a fly ball to center ended the frame.
Pitt-Bradford got a run back in the 8th, using a single, 2 batters hit by pitch, and two sacrifices to score. Zimmerman led off the frame with a single to center and then moved to 2nd when Alex Ognen was hit by a pitch. Following a sacrifice bunt, Colwell was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and Trent Bielak drove in Zimmerman with a sacrifice fly to left. Colwell and Ognen pulled off a double steal to put a pair in scoring position, but Metcalfe grounded out to 2nd to end the frame.
Kristian Kocon replaced Stadler to begin the 8th, and ran into trouble as he allowed a leadoff single and hit a batter to start the frame. HE was able to settle in, however, as he struck out the next two batters before getting a groundout to end the inning. The Panthes went down in order in the 9th to end the game.
Patrick Synan (2-4) got the loss after allowing 7 runs in 2 and 2/3 innings pitched. Maddox Stadler threw 4 and 1/3 innings in relief, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits and 2 walks. Kristian Kocon pitched a scoreless 8th with a pair of strikeouts. Logan McConnell had the lone RBI hit for the Panthers, finishing 1 for 4 in the game. Aiden Zimmerman was 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored, while Alex Colwell reached twice and scored a run. Trent Bielak drove in a run, and Mallick Metcalfe registered the other hit for the Panthers.
Pitt-Bradford falls to 9-17 after the sweep, with a 4-6 mark in AMCC play. They will be back in action on Wednesday, April 15th, when they host Hilbert for a single 9-inning game. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
