DuBois, PA -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford softball team continued play at the AMCC Championship Tournament on Thursday, as it took on Alfred State in an elimination game. The Panthers jumped on the Pioneers with 4 runs in the opening frame, and then after withstanding an Alfred State rally, tacked on 3 runs in the final two innings to win 9-5.
The Panthers got off to a red-hot start as Miranda Groll and Sasha Ginsberg each singled and stole a base to begin the game. After a lineout, Krislyn Clement drove in both runners with a single to left. The Panthers doubled their lead before another out was recorded, as Lilly Hamels doubled off the wall in center and Kalie Dixon sharply singled to shortstop. Following a fielder's choice, Kailey Ripley doubled down the left field line to force an Alfred State pitching change, and Lexi Najdusak walked to load the bases. The Panthers failed to tack on any more in the inning, as Groll grounded out to end the frame. Hannah Schnetzer started in the circle for the Panthers and got her offense right back in the dugout, setting down the side in order for a shutdown frame.
Neither team could muster a run in the 2nd or 3rd innings, but the Panthers added to their lead in the 4th. Najdusak singled to right to start the inning, and then Groll hit a line drive down the left field line. The hit careened off the outfield wall and moved away from the left fielder, allowing Groll to circle the bases for an inside-the-park home run. After retiring 9 of the first 11 batters, Schnetzer ran into trouble in the bottom of the frame. She walked the leadoff batter, and then saw the runner steal second and third before scoring on an errant pickoff throw. A walk and a single put runners on 2nd and 3rd with nobody out, but Schnetzer induced back-to-back groundouts to first, which each brought in a run. The inning continued as the Pioneers tallied three straight singles to score one more run, but Najdusak threw out a runner at third on the final hit to end the frame.
After Pitt-Bradford stranded two runners on base to end the 5th, the Panthers went to the bullpen for the bottom of the inning. Kaylee Schwartz replaced Schnetzer and quickly ran into trouble with consecutive hits to start the frame, but then retired two in a row. After an error in the infield extended the inning, Alfred State pushed a run across with an infield single to cut the lead to 1.
The Panthers quickly got the run back in the 6th. Groll led off the frame and blasted a deep drive to left center for a home run, restoring the 2-run advantage. Sasha Ginsberg followed with a double, but was thrown out trying to advance on a groundout, resulting in a double play. Schwartz needed just 10 pitches to set down the Pioneers in the bottom of the frame, sending the game to the 7th with Pitt-Bradford ahead 7-5.
In the 7th, the Panthers were able to tack on a pair of runs. Dixon started the rally with a single to center, and then came all the way around to score as after pinch-hitter Tae-Lynn Brabant hit a grounder to third, the throw got away and went all the way to the fence, allowing Dixon to score and Brabant to go to third. A batter later, Najdusak singled up the middle to give the Panthers a 4-run lead. Schwartz retired the leadoff batter in the bottom of the 7th, before allowing two batters to reach on a walk and a single. She was able to get out of the inning unscathed, as she got the next two batters to pop up in foul territory, ending the game.
Hannah Schnetzer (4-3) got the win for the Panthers, allowing 4 earned runs in 4 innings pitched. Kaylee Schwartz (1) earned a save, allowing one unearned run in the final three innings. Miranda Groll led the Pantehr offense, as the centerfielder went 3 for 5 in the win with 2 home runs, 3 runs, and 3 RBI. The round-trippers were her second and third of the season. Kalie Dixon also had three hits in the game, while Sasha Ginsberg and Lexi Najdusak each finished with two.
The Panthers move to 14-22 on the season and advance to the next elimination game. They will take on the lowest remaining seed in the elimination half of the bracket in today's 4th game, starting at approximately 5:30.
