Bradford, PA -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford Softball team was back in action at the Kessel Athletic Complex on Wednesday, as it hosted Penn State-Behrend in a pair of AMCC contests. The Panthers fell behind early in each game, and could not fully recover, losing game one 15-11, and game two 12-4 in five innings.
Game One - Penn State-Behrend 15 - Pitt-Bradford 11
In the opener, the Panthers fell behind right at the start, allowing 5 runs in the opening frame. They rallied to cut into the deficit with 5 of their own in the 2nd inning, but the Lions pulled away later, eventually winning the game 15-11.
Sandra Watne got the start in the circle for the Panthers, but was unable to get out of the opening frame. She allowed three runs to score on two doubles and three singles to start the game, and then, after getting an out on a play at the plate, walked a batter and gave up a two-run single. She was relieved by Tae-Lynn Brabant after the hit, who walked the first batter she faced before ending the inning with a strikeout and a fly ball to right. The Panthers looked to strike back as they scored a run on an error in the infield and a single with another error in the outfield, but could not tack on any more runs as the next two batters sharply lined out to centerfield.
In the second, the visitors tacked on two more runs on 2 hits, a walk, and an error, but the Panthers were able to rally in the bottom half, cutting into the lead with a 5-run frame. Kalie Dixon led off with a single to left, and then, after a flyout, the Panthers loaded the bases with a walk and a single to right-center. Miranda Groll continued the rally with a single up the middle to drive in Dixon, and Sasha Ginsberg drew a bases-loaded walk to force in another run. Sara Stroup lined a single into left field for two runs before Krislyn Clement doubled to right for the 5th run of the frame. After a pitching change and a walk, the Lions got out of the inning with a fielder's choice at third and a lineout to left.
After a quiet 3rd, the visitors posted another big inning in the 4th, scoring 5 more times. Brabant retired the leadoff batter, but then saw the bases loaded with a single, a walk, and an error. Another free pass drove in a run before a sacrifice fly put the Lions up 9-6. The next three batters drove in a run each with an RBI single and a fielder's choice before Brabant ended the inning with a strikeout. The Panthers pulled a few runs back in the bottom of the inning to trim the deficit back to 4 runs. Stroup started the rally with a single down the right field line, and then came around to score when Clement doubled into the gap. After a walk and a single, Keelie Schneider grounded one through the left side of the infield to bring in Clement. Unfortunately, the rally came to a quick end as the next two batters were retired.
Alyssa Tollini replaced Brabant to start the 5th and ran into trouble as the visitors loaded the bases with two walks and an error before an out could be recorded. A run scored on a fielder's choice to third base, and then after a sacrifice bunt, two more scored on a double to left. After a quiet 5th, Tollini faced the minimum in the 6th using a strikeout and a double play to keep the Lions off the board. The Panthers got a run back in the 6th as Clement led off with a walk and then scored two batters later on a Dixon double.
Tollini worked around a hit batter and an error in the 7th to keep the deficit at 7 heading into the bottom of the inning. Lexi Najdusak led off the 7th with a single, and then moved to second when Groll registered a hit through the left side. Both runners moved up on a groundout to first, and then scored when Stroup beat out an infield single. The Panthers put runners on the corners with a groundout and a walk, but the game came to an end when Dixon's long fly ball to left was caught for the third out.
Sandra Watne (3-1) picked up the loss after allowing 5 earned runs in 1/3 of an inning pitched. Tae-Lynn Brabant threw 3.2 innings, allowing 7 runs to score, only one of which was earned. She struck out 4. Alyssa Tollini threw the final three innings, allowing 3 runs, 1 earned, on 2 hits with a strikeout. Sara Stroup led the offense, finishing 4 for 5 with 4 runs batted in. Kalie Dixon had 3 hits with a run scored and an RBI, while Krislyn Clement was 2 for 4 with 2 RBI doubles. Miranda Groll had 2 hits and scored 3 times, while Lexi Najdusak was 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored.
Game Two - Penn State-Behrend 12 - Pitt-Bradford 4 - 5 Innings
In the nightcap, the Panthers once again fell behind early, and after cutting into the lead in the 3rd and 4th, gave up 5 in the 5th, leading to a run-rule shortened 12-4 loss.
Hannah Schnetzer started in the circle for Pitt-Bradford and started strong, retiring the first two batters of the game. Unfortunately, she could not finish off the Lions and allowed a single and two walks to load the bases. Another single drove in two runners to put the Lions in front before a groundout to second ended the frame.
The Panthers were retired 1-2-3 in their half of the inning, and the visitors used the momentum to tack on 3 more runs in the 2nd. Schnetzer retired the leadoff batter on a groundout back to the circle, but then saw the bases loaded with a walk, single, and an error. A single up the middle brought in two runs, and then after a runner was caught stealing, an infield single brought in a third. In the bottom half, the Panthers loaded the bases with two outs, but Najdusak's line drive down the right field line was snagged at first base, ending the rally.
Christa Koagel replaced Schnetzer to begin the 3rd, and after getting the leadoff batter to line out, allowed two runners to reach on a walk and an infield hit. After a fielder's choice got the second out of the inning, the visitors drove in a run with a double to right, and then had another run score when the inning was extended with an error in the infield.
In the bottom half, Pitt-Bradford's offense struck back, scoring three times. They loaded the bases with three straight one-out singles before Lillt Hamels drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly to right. The next two runners scored when Dixon reached on an error at shortstop, cutting the lead to 4. Keelie Schneider extended the frame with a single up the middle before a fielder's choice at second ended the rally.
Koagel made quick work of the Lions in the 4th, retiring the side in order for a shutdown inning. The Panther offense came right back and scored another run in the bottom of the inning. Najdusak led off with a single to center, and then, after moving to 2nd on a sacrifice bunt, scored when Sasha Ginsberg lined a triple into centerfield. The Panthers looked to continue to rally as Stroup reached on an error, but the next two batters lined out sharply to shortstop and right field to end the inning.
In the 5th, the visitors put together another big rally to push their lead to 8. They loaded the bases with one out after two singles and a fielder's choice that did not result in an out, before hitting two singles to drive in two more runs. Kaylee Schwartz replaced Koagel after the 2nd run-scoring single and saw all three inherited runners score on a sacrifice fly to right and a throwing error in the infield. She struck out the next batter to end the frame.
Needing a run to extend the game in the 5th, the Panthers put a runner in scoring position when Schneider lined a double to right field. Unfortunately, the runner was stranded there as the next two batters were set down on a line drive to 2nd and a fly ball to left, ending the contest.
Hannah Schnetzer (1-2) received the loss after allowing 5 runs, 3 earned, in 2.0 innings pitched. Christa Koagel allowed 7 runs, 4 earned, in 2.1 innings pitched, while Kaylee Schwartz got the last two outs without being charged with a run. Keelie Schneider led the offense in the nightcap, finishing 3 for 3 with a double. Sasha Ginsberg also registered a multi-hit game, going 2 for 3 with an RBI triple.
The losses drop Pitt-Bradford to 6-14 on the season and 4-2 in conference play. They will be right back in action tomorrow, as they travel to Westminster for a doubleheader that was postponed last month. First Pitch is slated for 3:30 p.m.
