New Wilmington, PA -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford softball team played its second doubleheader in as many days on Thursday, as they traveled to Westminster for a doubleheader that was originally scheduled last month. The Panthers split the twin bill, winning game one 8-3 before falling in game two 11-1 in five innings.
Game One - Pitt-Bradford 8 - Westminster 3
Pitt-Bradford fell behind early in the opener, but the Panther bullpen kept the Titans off the board for the final 5 frames, allowing the Panthers to come back and win the game 8-3.
Alyssa Tollini took to the circle after a quiet top of the first for the Panthers and allowed two runs to score on a two-out rally. She got the first two batters of the game to pop up to short, but then extended the inning with a walk. A double to the gap drove in the first run, and then, after a throwing error kept the Titans at the plate, the hosts scored again on a double steal.
The Panthers went down in order in the top of the 2nd, and the hosts capitalized on their momentum, tacking on another run in their half of the inning. Tollini retired the leadoff batter on a fly ball, and then saw the second batter tagged out at second trying to stretch a hit into a double. With two outs, the Titans rallied again, picking up two singles around a walk to push their advantage to 3.
Tae-Lynn Brabant replaced Tollini to start the third and, thanks to another out on the basepaths, was able to keep the Titans off the board. The Panthers finally struck back in the 4th, getting on the board with 3 hits. Krislyn Clement started the rally with a single through the left side, and then, following a pop-up, moved to 2nd when Jada Walowen also singled between third and shortstop. Dani Hatch followed with an RBI single up the middle, but Walowen was caught off 2nd base to end the frame. In the bottom half, the Titans looked to get the run back, as they loaded the bases on an error, an infield single, and a walk. Brabant was able to wiggle out of the jam, retiring three in a row on pop-ups in the infield to post an important shutdown inning.
Pitt-Bradford used the momentum in the 5th, scoring 5 times to move into the lead. The Panthers loaded the bases on two hits and a walk, and then Lexi Najdusak cleared the bases with a single to give the Panthers the lead. A batter later, Clement singled up the middle to drive in Najdusak to double the lead, and then scored on a Walowen single down the left field line. Jenna Opel replaced Brabant to begin the bottom of the 5th, but was removed after walking the first three batters she faced. Christa Koagel took over in the circle and retired three in a row to end the threat.
After the Panthers were set down 1-2-3 in the 6th, Koagel worked around a leadoff double to maintain the 3-run lead heading into the 7th. The Panthers were able to tack on two insurance runs in the final frame. Clement started the rally with a double to center and then scored when pinch-hitter Cassie Scarbrough singled to left center. After Walowen recorded her third hit of the game and Scarbrough was forced out at third, Kailey Ripley lined a single through the left side to drive in Walowen and put the Panthers up 8-3. Koagel made quick work of the Titans in the bottom half, retiring the side on 11 pitches to close out the game.
Starting pitcher Alyssa Tollini received a no-decision in the victory after allowing 3 runs, 2 earned in 2.0 innings pitched. Tae-Lynn Brabant (2-4) was credited with the win after pitching two shutout innings in relief. Christa Koagel (1) got the save after entering the game with the bases loaded and shutting down the Titans for the final three frames. She allowed just 1 hit and struck out one. The Pitt-Bradford offense pounded out 14 hits in the game. Krislyn Clement and Jada Walowen each went 3 for 4 for the Panthers. Clement had a double and scored 3 runs with an RBI. Walowen had three singles, a run scored, and one driven in. Lexi Najdusak was 2 for 4 with 3 RBIs, while Dani Hatch also logged a multi-hit game, finishing 2 for 4 with an RBI.
Game Two - Westminster 11 - Pitt-Bradford 1 - 5 Innings
In the nightcap, the Panthers struggled to slow down the Titans early, and unlike game one, were never able to form a rally, losing 11-1 in 5 innings.
Kaylee Schwartz started the game for the Panthers in the circle, and after the Panthers were retired in the top of the first on three straight ground balls, allowed the hosts to take the lead with a run in the bottom half. The Titans started the game with a double, and then after a foul out, put runners on first and second on an infield error. Schwartz got the second out on another fly ball, but could not escape the inning unscathed as a single to center put the Titans in front.
Kalie Dixon led off the 2nd with a double to left center, but was erased from the bases on trying to move to third on a groundout. The hosts struck again in the 2nd inning, using a two-out rally to score 4 runs. Schweartz retired the first two batters of the frame on a strikeout and a grounder to short, but then allowed two singles to continue the frame. The Titans then hit three straight doubles to tack on 4 runs before a flyout to center ended the frame.
After a quiet top of the 3rd, Sandra Watne relieved Schwartz to begin the bottom half. Watne allowed a pair of singles around a fielder's choice and a groundout, putting runners on second and third with two outs. For the 3rd time in the game, the Panthers could not get the final out to escape trouble, as the next four batters combined for two singles and two doubles to score 5 more runs. After the second double, Hannah Schnetzer replaced Watne, and despite walking the first batter she faced, ended the inning with a fly ball to right.
In the 4th, Pitt-Bradford was able to put a rally together to get on the board. Sahsa Ginsberg led off with a single through the right side, and then, following a lineout, moved to third when Layna Dibert reached on an error. Keelie Schneider and Brabant drew consecutive walks to force in a run, but the inning came to an end with a strikeout and a force out at the plate.
The Titans got the run right back in the 4th. After a lineout to center, the Titans dropped down consecutive bunt singles. A throwing error allowed the lead runner to score, and then after a single loaded the bases, Schnetzer forced out two straight runners at the plate to end the inning. Miranda Groll singled with one out in the 5th, but then was doubled off on a line drive to short, ending the game.
Kaylee Schwartz (1-4) received the loss after allowing 5 runs, 4 earned, in 2 innings pitched. Sandra Watne allowed 5 earned runs in 2/3 of an inning, while Hannah Schnetzer gave up 1 unearned run in 1 and 1/3 innings pitched. Pitt-Bradford logged just 3 hits in the game, a double by Kalie Dixon and singles by Miranda Groll and Sasha Ginsberg. Ginsberg scored the only run for the Panthers, while Tae-Lynn Brabant forced her in with a bases-loaded walk.
The split puts the Panthers at 7-15 on the season. They will be back in action this weekend when they travel to Pittsburgh to take on La Roche for an AMCC doubleheader. First pitch is currently scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on Saturday.
