Bradford, PA -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford softball team opened up its conference slate on Sunday as it took on Mount Aloysius in Cresson, PA. The Panthers outslugged the hosts, tallying 19 runs and 26 hits as they swept the doubleheader with a 9-5 victory in game one and a 10-6 win in game two.

Game One: Pitt-Bradford 9 - Mount Aloysius 5

In the opener, the Panthers scored runs in 6 of 7 frames to slowly defeat the hosts 9-5.

Sandra Watne got the start in the circle for Pitt-Bradford and made quick work of the Mounties in the first, matching a 1-2-3 inning from the top half. Krislyn Clement put the Panthers ahead in the next frame, drilling a no-doubt home run to left field to lead off the inning. The blast was her first of the year. The hosts responded in the bottom half, using four singles and a walk to score twice and move ahead of the Panthers. The inning could have been worse, but Miranda Groll was able to throw out a runner at the plate in the frame.

The Panthers were not deterred by the one-run deficit, as they matched the 2 spot in the following frame. Lexi Najdusak started the rally with a walk, and then after a sacrifice bunt, scored on a Sasha Ginsberg single. After Sara Stroup lined a double to left, Clement gave the Panthers the lead again, this time dropping a single into center. Watne made quick work of the hosts in the bottom half, posting her first shutdown inning of the game, working around a two-out single. 

Pitt-Bradford added to the lead in the 4th, scoring two more times. Keelie Schneider singled with one out and then moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. Miranda Groll drove in Schneider with a single and then stole second and scored on a Ginsberg single, giving the Panthers a 5-2 lead. Watne kept the Panthers rolling in the bottom half, stranding one runner on first while inducing a line drive to short and two fly balls.

In the 5th, Clement led off with a 4-pitch walk, and then moved to third when Lilly Hamels doubled to left center. Kalie Dixon drove in the run with a sacrifice fly. The Panthers were not able to add any more to their lead in the inning, but Watne kept the Mounties at bay once more, retiring three straight after a leadoff hit.

Najdusak started the 6th inning with a single, and then moved up to third on a bunt and a groundout. Stroup brought her in, sharply linging to center with two outs. Christa Koagel replaced Watne to begin the bottom of the inning and ran into trouble. After getting the leadoff hitter to fly out to right, she gave up four consecutive singles and a sacrifice fly, which brought in three runs for the Mounties. To end the frame, NAjdusak made a good play on a sinking line drive to avoid further damage.

With the lead cut down to 2, the Panthers rallied again in the top of the 7th, tacking on two insurance runs for the final at bat. Clement drew another 4-pitch walk to start the frame, and then moved to third when Dixon doubled to left. Kailey Ripley lined a single into left to drive in Clement, before pitch hitter Cassie Scarbrough hit a sacrifice fly to bring home pinch-runner Payton Frank. 

Hannah Schnetzer replaced Koagel to pitch the 7th, and despite allowing a one-out single, was able to induce a fielder's choice groundout and a fly ball to left to end the game.

Sandra Watne (2-0) earned the win after allowing 2 earned runs in 5.0 innings pitched. Christa Koagel allowed 3 runs in 1 inning pitched, while Hannah Schnetzer finished the game with a scoreless 7th. Krislyn Clement led the Panthers offensively. She reached base in all 4 of her plate appearances, hit a home run, scored 3 times, and drove in a pair. Sasha Ginsberg was 2 for 4 with a run and 2 RBI, while Sara Stroup hit a pair of doubles. Lexi Najdusak also had a multi-hit game, finishing 2 for 3 with a pair of runs scored.

Game Two: Pitt-Bradford 10 - Mount Aloysius 6

In the nightcap, the Panthers struggled early, but used a 5-run 4th inning to break open the game and eventually win 10-6.

Tae-Lynn Brabant started the game for the Panthers and fell behind in the first. After a leadoff single, she retired two batters, but then gave up 3 straight singles to continue the inning and allow a run. She was eventually able to end the frame with a strikeout. 

Following a quiet 2nd inning, the Panthers scratched a run across in the 3rd to tie the game. Najdusak led off with a single, and then Groll and Ginsberg each followed with bunt hits. After an infield fly, Clement singled in a run, tying the game at one. Unfortunately, Mount Aloysius struck back in the 3rd, scoring two runs. Just like in the first inning, Brabant got two outs after a leadoff hit, but could not put the hosts away. The next 4 Mounties reached on three singles and a walk, bringing in two more runs.

Trailing 3-1 the Panthers rallied in the 4th, using an error in the frame to score 5 runs and go ahead 6-3. Brabant started the frame with a single to left, and then moved to third on a groundout and a single by Najdusak. She scored on a Groll RBI-groundout, and then Najdusak came around to tie the game when Ginsberg reached on an error in the infield. With the game tied at 3, Stroup singled to extend the inning before Clement blasted her second home run of the day to left center to give Pitt-Bradford a three-run lead. 

The hosts continued to battle in the bottom half, getting two of the runs back. After a leadoff single and an error, the Mounties put the runners in scoring position with a sacrifice bunt and then drove them in with a single. Brabant was able to escape the inning with the lead, however, as she induced two straight flyouts to center, ending the frame.

The Panthers restored the 3-run cushion in the 5th, scoring twice with just one hit. Brabant and Dani Hatch each walked to start the inning, and then Najdusak registered her third hit of the game with a single, loading the bases. After an out at the plate on a fielder's choice, Ginsberg drew another free pass to force in a run, and Stroup drove in the second with a sacrifice fly. Brabant allowed two hits in the 5th, but was able to post a shutdown frame to keep the momentum with the Panthers.

Both teams were retired in order in the 6th, before the scoring in the final frame. The Panthers struck first in the top half, tacking on a pair of insurance runs. Najdusak drew a one-out walk and then moved to third on a Groll single. Ginsberg brought in Najdusak with a run-scoring groundout before Stroup hit a single to bring home Groll. 

Brabant returned to the hill in the bottom half, looking to close out her first collegiate win. She gave up two hits around a fielder's choice, and then, after a passed ball, saw one more run score on a groundout. She retired the next batter on a fly ball to center, ending the game.

Tae-Lynn Brabant (1-4) earned her first collegiate win in the game. She allowed 4 earned runs in the complete game victory, while striking out three. Lexi Najdusak led the offense, going 3 for 3 with a walk and 4 runs scored. Krislyn Clement went 2 for 4 with a 3-run home run and an RBI single. Sasha Ginsberg drove in 3 runs, while Sara Stroup finished 3 for 5 with 2 RBI and a run scored. 

The wins snap a 12-game losing skid for the Panthers and move their record to 4-12 on the season, with a 2-0 mark in AMCC play. The Panthers will be back in action on Tuesday, March 31st, when they head to Buffalo to take on Hilbert in another AMCC doubleheader. First pitch is slated for 3:00 p.m.