Bradford, PA -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford softball team traveled to Pittsburgh on Saturday for an AMCC doubleheader at La Roche. The Panthers dropped the opener 8-4 and then lost game two in extra innings 5-4.

Game One: La Roche 8 - Pitt-Bradford 4

In the opening game, both teams started slowly, but the hosts opened the scoring with 4 runs in the 4th. Pitt-Bradford struck back with 4 of their own in the 5th, but the Redhawks matched them with 4 more in the 5th, leading to an 8-4 loss for Pitt-Bradford.

The Panthers looked to open the scoring in the first, as Sara Stroup singled with two outs and then moved to 2nd on a Kalie Dixon walk. Unfortunately, she was caught stealing a batter later to end the threat. Tae-Lynn Brabant started the game for the Panthers and made quick work of the Redhawks in the first, inducing three straight groundouts to begin the day. 

The next 6 Panthers were retired in order in the 2nd and 3rd innings, while Brabant limited LaRoche to a two-out single in the 2nd in the same span.

The Panthers stranded a runner on third in the 4th, and the hosts took advantage, catching up to Brabant in their half of the inning, scoring 4 times. After allowing a leadoff bloop single, Brabant caught a popped-up bunt for the first out of the inning. A double to left put runners on 2nd and third before an infield single to short opened the scoring. The next batter singled into right field to bring in another run, and the ball was misplayed in the outfield, allowing a second run to score on the play. A fourth straight hit drove in the 3rd run of the inning, leading to a pitching change for the Panthers. Sandra Watne replaced Brabant and allowed an inherited runner to score on a sacrifice bunt before ending the inning with a groundout. 

Pitt-Bradford was not down for long, as the bats came alive in the 5th inning, scoring 4 times to even the score. Keelie Schneider began the inning with a single to right, and then moved to second base when Watne grounded out to third. Kailey Ripley put the Panthers on the board with an RBI single into right, and then the Panthers loaded the bases when Lexi Najdusak singled to left and Miranda Groll was hit by a pitch. Sasha Ginsberg beat out a potential inning-ending double play ball to drive in a run to continue the inning, before Stroup reached on an error to continue the frame. Dixon blooped a single into left to tie the game at 4 before the inning ended on a sharp groundout to second. 

The Panthers were unable to stay tied in the bottom of the inning, as the hosts struck for four more runs to regain their advantage. Watne allowed a leadoff single, and then, after inducing a fielder's choice groundout, allowed a bunt single and a hit to left, which brought in a run to give La Roche the lead. After a walk loaded the bases, the Panthers turned to Christa Koagel to escape the jam. She allowed one inherited runner to score on an RBI groundout before allowing a 2-run single to left that doubled the lead. 

Both teams threatened to score in the 6th, but were unable to scratch a run across. Koagel looked to help her own cause, hitting a one-out double down the left field line for the Panthers. After a strikeout, NAjdusak reached on an error, putting a pair of runners in scoring position with two outs. Groll hit a sharp ground ball to short that was fielded cleanly and thrown across the diamond in time to end the inning. In the bottom half, Koagel retired the first two batters, but then allowed a double to left to continue the inning. A single to left looked to bring in another run, but Ginsberg threw out the runner at the plate to end the frame. 

Needing to score 4 times in the 7th to extend the game, the Panthers put a runner on with an error in the infield, but flew out 3 times to end the game.

Sandra Watne (3-2) picked up the loss after allowing 4 earned runs in 1.0 innings of relief. Tae-Lynn Brabant started and pitched 3.1 innings, allowing 4 earned runs. Christa Koagel pitched the final 1.2 innings without being charged with a run. Kalie Dixon had the lone multi-hit game for the Panthers, finishing 2 for 3 with an RBI. Kailey Ripley was 1 for 3 with a run scored and an RBI, while Sasha Ginsberg drove in one and scored another. 

Game Two: La Roche 5 - Pitt-Bradford 4 - 8 Innings

In the second game of the doubleheader, Pitt-Bradford took a 4-3 lead into the final frame but could not hold off the Redhawks, who scored to tie it up in the 7th and then walked off with a 5-4 win in the 8th.

The hosts jumped into the lead in the first inning with Kaylee Schwartz in the circle. After allowing only a one-out walk to the Panthers in the top of the first, La Roche started the bottom of the frame with a bunt single and a stolen base. After a groundout moved the runner to third, a sacrifice fly to left drove the runner in to give the Redhawks a 1-0 edge. 

The lead did not last long, as Pitt-Bradford tied it up in the 2nd. Lilly Hamels led off with a single through the left side, and then Jada Walowen and Keelie Schneider dropped down consecutive bunt singles to load the bases. Kailey Ripley drove in a run with a fielder's choice, but the Panthers could not take the lead as the inning ended with two more fielder's choice groundouts. Schwartz worked around an infield error to post a shutdown frame in the bottom of the 2nd.

The Panthers were able to put a pair of runners on in both the 3rd and 4th frames, but could not come up with the hit to move into the lead. Schwartz set down the side 1-2-3 in the bottom of the third and then kept the game tied in the 4th, allowing only a two-out single. 

Pitt-Bradford moved into the lead in the top of the 5th, using three La Roche errors to score twice. Sara Stroup led off the frame and hit a fly ball to left that was dropped, allowing her to take second base. A batter later, Kalie Dixon singled to left, driving her in, while also taking second on another error in the outfield. After a pitching change, Lully Hamels lined out to second and pitch hitter Cassie Scarbrough grounded out, putting the runner on third with two outs. Schneider came to the plate next and hit a sharp grounder to shortstop that was not able to be corralled on the backhand, allowing the run to score. 

The Panthers would not be able to keep the lead, however, as the hosts struck back for two runs in the bottom half. Schwartz allowed a leadoff single before getting two outs on a strikeout and a fielder's choice. A wild pitch and an infield single put runners on the corners before a successful double steal cut the lead in half. A pitch later, La Roche singled to left field to tie the game. Hannah Schnetzer relieved Schwartz after the single and induced a groundout to end the inning.

In the 6th, the Panthers scored to retake the lead. Groll hit a one-out double to left, and then came around to score when LaRoche committed an error on a Sasha Ginsberg bunt. Ginsberg moved to second on the play and then third when Sara Stroup's fly ball to right was caught on a sliding play. Kalie Dixon was intentionally walked before a groundout to second ended the frame. Schnetzer pitched a 1-2-3 bottom half to keep the Panthers in front. 

Pitt-Bradford could not tack on any insurance runs in the 7th, and paid for it, as the hosts came back to score one in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at 4. Schnetzer allowed a leadoff single, and then after a sacrifice bunt, saw the tying run score on a grounder through the right side. Schnetzer was able to get out of the inning without further damage, sending the game into extras.

With a runner placed on second base to begin the frame, the Panthers started the inning with a sacrifice bunt, but then failed to convert, leaving her stranded at third after a pop-up and a ground ball. The hosts attempted the same strategy, and nearly had the same result. After a sacrifice bunt, Schnetzer induced a pop-up for the second out. With the winning run on third, the next batter hit a soft grounder between the circle and third base. Schneider got to the ball and made a strong throw to first, but the batter dove into the bag just in time for a hit to win the game. 

Kaylee Schwartz started the game for the Panthers and picked up a no-decision. She pitched 4.2 innings, allowing 3 earned runs while striking out a pair. Hannah Schnetzer (1-3) got the loss after allowing 2 runs, 1 earned, in 3.0 innings pitched. Kalie Dixon finished 1 for 3 with a walk, a run and an RBI. Kailey Ripley was also credited with an RBI. Miranda Groll hit a double and scored a run. 

The losses drop the Panthers to 7-17 on the year with a 4-4 mark in AMCC play. They will return to action on Tuesday, April 14th with a doubleheader at Alfred State. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.