Johnstown, PA -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford baseball team was back in action at the 2026 AMCC Championship Tournament on Thursday morning as it took on #4 Alfred State in an elimination game. The Panthers took a 2-0 lead, but fell behind after allowing 4 runs in the 5th. They eventually put the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position in the 9th but could not find the final hit and ultimately fell 4-3.
Neither team was able to get on the scoreboard in the first three innings. The Panther offense tallied three two-out singles in those innings, but failed to bring the runners around before the end of each frame. Patrick Synan started on the hill for the Panthers and was able to strand five runners on base in the first two innings before retiring the side in order in the third.
In the fourth inning, the Panthers finally broke through. Alex Colwell led off the inning with a walk, and then, following a strikeout, Aiden Zimmerman singled through the right side, and Braden Meadows walked to load the bases. After a force out at the plate, Grant Cases delivered the big hit with a two-run double to left-center to put the Panthers up 2-0. Synan posted a shutdown inning in the bottom half, working around an infield single to keep the Pioneers off the board.
The Panthers were set down quietly in the 5th, and the Pioneers grabbed the momentum in their half of the frame. Synan allowed a leadoff triple and then a double to cut the lead in half. In a must-win situation, the Panthers went to the bullpen and brought in Ethan Zimmerman, looking to hold onto the lead. Zimmerman got the first batter he faced to pop up to second, but then gave up two singles and a double, which brought in 3 runs and gave Alfred State a 4-2 lead. The Panthers turned to Collin Porter to end the inning, which was successful as the senior right-hander got the final two outs to stop the rally.
The Panthers cut the lead in half without the benefit of a hit in the 7th. Casses started the inning with a walk and then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. After a flyout, Mallick Metclafe reached on a throwing error in the infield, which allowed Casses to score. Alfred State looked to get the run right back in the bottom half, loading the bases with a single and two free passes, but Porter was able to escape the jam with a groundout to third.
After a quiet 8th, the Panthes came to bat in the 9th needing a run to continue their inning. Alex Ognen hit a two-out double off the screen in left, and then moved to third when Noah Avey lined a single through the left side. After a groundout to the pitcher allowed Avey to move to second with two outs, Alex Colwell came to the plate looking to tie the game or put the Panthers in front. After two strikes, he hit a fly ball to left, but it did not reach the short fence in left and was caught for the final out.
Patrick Synan started and received a no-decision. He pitched 4.0 innings and was charged with 2 earned runs. He struck out 3 batters. Ethan Zimmerman (1-3) got the loss after allowing 2 runs in 1/3 of an inning pitched. Collin Porter pitched the final 3.2 innings without allowing a run, while scattering 2 hits. Grant Cassed had a hand in all three Pitt-Bradford runs. He drove in the first two with a double, and then scored the other on a single. Braden Meadows reached three times in the loss, picking up a single, 2 walks, and a run scored.
The Panthers finish their season 12-24 and in 6th place in the final AMCC Standings. AMCC All-Conference honors will be released next week.
