Hamburg, NY -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford softball team made the short trip to Hamburg, NY, on Wednesday to take on the Hilbert Hawks in an AMCC doubleheader that had been postponed by weather twice. The Panthers dominated the twinbill, taking game one 19-0 in five innings before winning the nightcap 7-3.
Game One: Pitt-Bradford 19 - Hilbert 0 - 5 Innings
In the opener, the Panthers picked up their biggest win since 2014, when they defeated Franciscan 25-0. The Panthers took down the hosts 19-0 in 5 innings.
The Panthes jumped in front with 6 runs in the opening frame. Miranda Groll led off with a single and a stolen base. After a walk by Sasha Ginsberg, Groll came around to score when Sara Stroup's flyball was misplayed in the outfield. A batter later, Krislyn Clement drove in a pair with a double to left. After Lilly Hamels walked and took second on a wild pitch, Keelie Schneider's soft line drive was missed in the infield for an error, allowing both runners to score. Two batters later, Lexi Najdusak finished the inning with an RBI double to right. Hannah Schnetzer got the start for Pitt-Bradford and made quick work of the Hawks in the bottom half, retiring the side in order.
Pitt-Bradford was kept at bat in the 2nd, but tacked on 4 more runs in the top of the third. Schneider started the inning with a single to right, and then, after an error in the infield, allowed Kalie Dixon to reach base, Kailey Ripley dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move both into scoring position. Najdusak came through again, driving a single through the right side to bring in both runs. Groll and Ginsberg each singled to left to load the bases before Stroup drove in a run on a fielder's choice groundout. Clement popped into an infield fly in the next at-bat, but the ball was dropped in the infield, allowing Groll to scamper home on the play and put the Panthers up 10-0. Schnetzer continued her perfect run through the lineup in the bottom half, inducing two groundouts and a pop-up for her second shutdown inning of the game.
Schnetzer was rewarded in the 4th as the Panthers tacked on 3 more runs. Dani Hatch led off with a walk and then moved to third on a wild pitch and a passed ball. Ripley also walked and stole second before Najdusak lined a single to center, driving in two more runs to bring her RBI tally to 5. She took second on a passed ball and then scored on an error in the infield. Schnetzer finally got touched up in the bottom of the inning, as she allowed a double and a single to right field, but she was able to strand both runners with back-to-back groundouts.
The Panthers put away any doubt in the top of the 5th, tacking on 6 more runs on 5 hits, all with two outs in the frame. Tae-Lynn Brabant walked and moved to second on a passed ball, and then, after two outs, scored when Layna Dibert reached on an infield single. The next batter, Lauren Frascella, struck out, but her third strike was a wild pitch, allowing her to reach and the inning to continue. Groll drove in a pair with a double to left center, and then after a walk and a stolen base, Stroup singled to center to bring around two more. Clement continued the rally with a single up the middle, and then Brabant followed with another hit, driving in Stroup to extend the lead to 19. Schnetzer allowed a one-out single in the bottom half, but induced three groundouts in the frame to end the contest.
Hannah Schnetzer (2-3) picked up the complete game shutout victory, scattering 3 hits over 5 innings pitched. She struck out 4. Three different Panthers registered 3 hits in the game. Lexi Najdusak was the most potent, finishing 3 for 3 with a double, 2 runs scored, and 5 RBI. Miranda Groll and Krislyn Clement each went 3 for 5 in the win. Groll scored 3 times, drove in two, and had a double and a stolen base. Clement had a pair of two-baggers, scored once, and drove in two. Sara Stroup also had a multi-hit game, finishing 2 for 5 with two runs scored and 3 RBI.
Game Two: Pitt-Bradford 7 - Hilbert 3
In the nightcap, the Panthers jumped out to another early lead with 3 runs in the first. They held the hosts at bay until they scored 3 runs in the 7th to extend their lead before limiting a Hilbert rally to win 7-3.
Miranda Groll led off with a double to left, and then, after moving to third on a passed ball, scored on an RBI groundout by Sasha Ginsberg. Sara Stroup restarted the inning with a walk, and then Krislyn Clement followed with a single through the left side. Both runners moved into scoring position on a wild pitch before starting pitcher Sandra Watne helped her own cause by driving in both runners with a single up the middle. In the bottom of the inning, Watne walked the leadoff batter, but was able to work around it to post a shutdown inning in the first.
The Panthers stranded a pair of runners on base in the 2nd and 3rd innings, but Watne was able to keep the Hawks at bay despite allowing two hits and a walk. The Panthers tacked on a run in the 4th. Groll reached on an error to start the frame, and a batter later scored when Stroup grounded a single up the middle. Watne allowed three more hits in the bottom of the frame, but left the bases loaded after a line drive to first base ended the inning.
After the Panthers were kept off the board in the 5th, Tae-Lynn Brabant replaced Watne in the circle, looking to shut the door on the Hawks. Despite a one-out single, she had a solid opening frame, keeping the Hawks off the board with a strikeout and a double play. In the 6th, the Hawks were finally able to get on the scoreboard. Brabant walked the leadoff batter, and then, after a groundout, allowed a single to right. She struck out a batter for the second out, but then allowed a double to left to drive in the run. She was able to avoid further damage with another strikeout, which ended the inning.
In the top of the 7th, the Panthers tacked on three insurance runs. Clement led off the frame with a home run to centerfield, and then, with one out, Brabant and Keelie Schneider each singled in the infield. After a groundout, Lexi Najdusak singled up the middle to drive in a pair and force a pitching change. Groll singled, and Ginsberg walked to load the bases, but Stroup's line drive was snagged at first to end the frame. The Hawks pulled two runs back in the second with a pair of singles around an infield error, but Brabant induced two final groundouts to end the game.
Sandra Wate (4-2) picked up the win after pitching 4.0 shutout innings. She scattered 6 hits and 2 walks while striking out one. Tae-Lynn Brabant (1) earned a save, pitching the final three frames without losing the lead. She allowed 3 runs, 2 earned, on 5 hits. She struck out 3 batters. Krislyn Clement finished 3 for 4 with her 6th home run of the year. Miranda Groll also registered 3 hits, while scoring 2 runs. Sandra Watne was 2 for 3 with a pair of RBI, while Lexi Najdusak also drove in a pair.
The sweep moves the Panthers to 10-19 on the season with a 7-6 mark in AMCC play. They will be right back in action tomorrow, as they host Allegheny in a non-conference doubleheader. First pitch is slated for 3:30 p.m.
