Alfred, NY -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford softball team was back in AMCC action on Tuesday, as they headed to Alfred State for a conference doubleheader. The Panthers won game one 10-1 in five innings, but had game two postponed due to weather and poor field conditions.
The Panthers jumped on the Pioneers at the start, scoring 9 runs in the first two innings. They slowed down offensively later in the game, but limited the hosts to just 1 run to finish the game in 5 innings.
Sasha Ginsberg started a rally for the Panthers in the top of the first, as they grabbed an early 2-0 lead. She singled down the left field line and then moved to second when Sara Stroup drew a four-pitch walk. Krislyn Clement came to the plate next and grounded a single through the right side to drive in Ginsberg. Stroup was also able to come around and score due to a pair of errors on the hosts during the play. Kaylee Schwartz took to the circle to start the game for the Panthers and made quick work of the Pioneers in the bottom of the first. She got two outs on line drives in the infield before ending the inning with a strikeout.
Schwartz started the top of the second with a single to left, and then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. After Payton Frank reached on an error, she stole second and then Miranda Groll singled to left to bring in both runs. She stole third and scored when Ginsberg lined a single to center. She also pilfered a bag and was able to score on a Stroup single to center. Stroup moved to third on a throwing error on the play, and then scored when Clement hit a sacrifice fly to deep left field. Kalie Dixon and Lilly Hamels each drew walks around a pitching change, and scored when Schwartz's line drive to left was misplayed to put the Panthers up 9-0. The hosts looked to strike back in the bottom half, but the Panther defense cut down a runner at the plate to end the inning.
Pitt-Bradford stranded a runner on third in the third inning, and then the hosts struck back to score in the bottom half. Schwartz allowed a leadoff single, and then, after a fielder's choice, two straight singles to drive in the run. She was able to avoid further damage with a strikeout and a groundout to third.
After a quiet 4th, the Panthers tacked on a run in the top of the 5th. Frank reached on an error, and then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Ginsberg followed with her 4th hit og the game to bring in the run. The Pioneers were able to put a runner on base with an infield error, but Schwartz retired the next two batters to end the game.
Kaylee Schwartz (1-5) picked up the win after allowing 1 earned run in 5 innings of work. She scattered 6 hits while striking out 3 batters. She also had a hit and a run scored at the plate. Sasha Ginsberg tallied 4 hits in the win, while also tallying 2 runs, 2 RBI, and 2 stolen bases. Miranda Groll had one hit and drove in a pair, while Sara Stroup and Krislyn Clement also drove in runs.
After the completion of game one, the nightcap was delayed by a storm and then postponed to a later date.
The win moves the Panthers to 8-17 on the season with a 5-4 mark in AMCC play. They are scheduled to be back in action on Thursday, when they head to Hamburg, NY, to take on Hilbert.
