Naples, FL -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford softball team was back in action for two more games on its 4th day of competition at the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic. The Panthers fell 5-2 to Geneva in game one, before losing to RIT 6-1 in their second game of the day.

Game 1: Geneva 5 - Pitt-Bradford 2

In the opener, the Panthers answered an early run and then stayed with the Golden Tornadoes until a 4-run frame opened up the contest. The Panthers scored late, but ultimately lost 5-2.

Kaylee Schwartz started the game for the Panthers and retired the first two batters of the game. Unfortunately, she was unable to close out the inning, allowing a single and a triple to right, which put Geneva up 1. The Panthers came right back in the bottom of the inning to tie the game. Miranda Groll led off with a single to left, and then, after a sacrifice bunt, scored when Lilly Hamels lined a hit through the right side of the infield. 

Both teams stranded a runner in scoring position in the 2nd and were retired in order in the third. In the fourth, the Golden Tornadoes broke through. Schwartz allowed a leadoff single, and then two more hits following a pop-up in the infield, loading the bases. The next batter lined a double into the right-center gap, clearing the bases for three runs. The batter scored a few pitches later after a stolen base and a sacrifice fly. 

In the bottom half of the inning, the Panthers put two on with a hit batter and a single to right, but could not move the runners beyond second. Schwartz worked around a one-out single to post a zero in the 5th, while the Panthers put together a rally. Groll started the inning with a single through the right side, and then moved to second on a Stroup walk and a wild pitch. The Panthers nearly cut into the deficit as Hamels hit a line drive into center. The Geneva center-fielder made a diving catch on the play and was able to double off the runner at second, ending the threat.

Both teams worked around a single in the 6th to keep the score 5-1 heading into the final inning. After entering the game as a pinch hitter the inning before, Krislyn Clement replaced Schwartz in the circle to pitch the 7th. She allowed a single up the middle, but induced a 4-4-3 double play to end the frame. In the bottom half of the inning, Groll hit a two-out double down the line and then scored when Sasha Ginsberg singled to left. The game ended a batter later with a pop-up.

Kaylee Schwartz (1-2) picked up the loss after allowing 5 earned runs in 6.0 innings pitched. Krislyn Clement pitched a scoreless inning, allowing one hit in the frame. Miranda Groll led the Panthers' offense, tallying 3 of the team's 6 hits. She was 3 for 4 with a double and 2 runs scored. Sasha Ginsberg and Lilly Hamels each had RBI singles.

Game 2: RIT 6 - Pitt-Bradford 1

In the second game, the Panthers fell behind RIT early, and despite limiting them to a run an inning, could not string together hits to score themselves. They scored a run late before falling 6-1. 

Pitt-Bradford was retired quietly in the first, as Sasha Ginsberg singled, but was caught stealing. Hannah Schnetzer started for the Panthers, and despite allowing a leadoff single, limited the Tigers to one run after a pair of groundouts. She gave up a single to continue the inning, but ended the frame with a flyout. 

After a 1-2-3 top of the 2nd, RIT tacked on two runs in the bottom half. Schnetzer allowed a leadoff single, but quickly induced two ground balls. The Panthers retired one runner on the first, but an error on the second allowed the Tigers to put runners on the corners. The next batter beat out a bunt single, but the throw to first was errant, allowing a run to score and both runners to move up a base. Another RBI-groundout drove in the 3rd run of the game before a groundball to first ended the frame.

Pitt-Bradford had another batter reach on a hit batter in the 3rd, but saw the runner cut down stealing for the second time. Schnetzer responded in the bottom of the inning, retiring the side in order. The Panthers left a runner on after a walk in the 4th, while the Tigers tacked on a run off of new pitcher Christa Koagel using a double and a pair of infield singles.

Lilly Hamels led off the 5th with a single, and then after two outs, Kailey Ripley singled to left to move the runner into scoring position. Unfortunately, the next batter went down on strikes, ending the inning. RIT tacked on a run in their half of the frame, using a double with back-to-back singles. 

Pitt-Bradford finally got a run back in the top of the 6th. Miranda Groll led off with a single through the left side and then moved to third on a passed ball and a fielding error. She scored a batter later when Sara Stroup also reached on an error. The next two batters grounded into identical fielder's choice grounders to shortstop before the frame ended on a strikeout.

Koagel got two outs in the bottom of the 6th, but allowed a run to score on a hit batter and two singles to left. She was replaced by Alyssa Tollini with two runners on and two outs, who needed just 2 pitches to end the inning. Pitt-Bradford went down in order in the 7th, ending the game.

Hannah Schnetzer (0-1) got the loss after allowing 3 runs, 1 earned, in 3.0 innings pitched. Christa Koagel allowed 3 to score in 2.2 innings pitched, while Alyssa Tollini retired the only batter she faced. The Panthers mustered 4 hits in the loss, all singles by Miranda Groll, Sasha Ginsberg, Lilly Hamels, and Kailey Ripley. Groll scored the lone run and was driven in by Sara Stroup.

The Panthers fall to 2-6 with the losses. They will have an off day before completing their trip to Florida with two final games on Saturday. They will take on Crown at 9:00 a.m. and Westfield State at 11:00 at North Collier Regional Park in Naples.