DuBois, PA -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford softball team continued play in the elimination bracket of the AMCC Championship Tournament on Thursday, facing Pitt-Greensburg in a rematch of the tournament's opening game. The Panthers' bats came alive, registering 14 hits in an 11-3 win that took just 5 innings.
Tae-Lynn Brabant started in the circle for the Panthers and got off to a rough start. The first three Bobcats to come to the plate reached on singles to score the opening run. She settled in after the run scored, striking out a pair before ending the inning with a flyout to center. The Panthers came right back in their half of the inning, scoring three times to move in front. Miranda Groll and Sasha Ginsberg led off with consecutive singles. On a double steal attempt, the throw to third went down the line, allowing Groll to scamper home and tie the game. After a strikeout, Kalie Dixon came to the plate and blasted a two-run home run the other way to right center, putting the Panthers up 3-1. It was her 3rd home run of the season. Lillt Hamels followed the home run with a single, but the inning came to an end shortly after as the next two batters struck out.
The Bobcats looked to cut into the lead in the 2nd, but their rally was shortened as Pitt-Bradford forced two outs on the base paths. After a leadoff single and a walk, Brabant got the first out of the frame on a fielder's choice at second. During the subsequent at-bat, Brabant uncorked a wild pitch, but was able to get to the plate and receive a toss from Hamels in time to get the lead runner out at the plate. As the at-bat continued, the Bobcat batter lined a hit into the gap, but it was cut off by Groll in center, who made a strong throw to the base. A run scored on the play, but the throw to second was in time to get the out and end the frame. The Panthers went down 1-2-3 in the bottom half to send the game to the 3rd with a 3-2 lead.
Brabant worked around a pair of singles in the 3rd to keep the Panthers in front, and was rewarded in the Panther half of the inning, as Pitt-Bradford scored 3 times to double their tally. Sasha Ginsberg led off with a single down the left field line and then moved to third on a ground ball and a stolen base. Dixon drove her in on an RBI groundout, pushing the lead to 2. Hamels restarted the inning with a walk, and then moved to third when Sandra Watne hit a double off the wall in left field. Keelie Schneider came to the plate next and lined a single up the middle to bring in both runners and put the Panthers ahead 6-2.
In the 4th, Brabant was able to post a shutdown inning, stranding a pair of runners on base after a walk and a single. Ginsberg reached on her third single of the day in the bottom of the inning, but was left on second after another stolen base.
Pitt-Greensburg was able to cut into the lead in the top of the 5th, using two singles and a walk. Brabant was able to limit the damage in the inning, inducing a pair of outs on fielder's choice grounders, and then ended the frame with a strikeout. The Panthers went into the bottom of the inning with a 3-run advantage, but were able to rally and score 5 runs to end the game early via the 8-run rule. Dixon started the inning with a double down the right field line, but had to remain on 2nd when Hamels blooped a single into left field. Watne registered her second double of the game to bring in pinch runner Kearstin Foster, forcing a Bobcat pitching change. Schneider welcomed the new pitcher with an RBI single through the left side of the infield, and then, after a fly out, Lexi Najdusak hit an infield single to shortstop to bring in Watne. Groll drew a walk to load the bases before Ginsberg picked up her fourth hit of the game, lining a single into right field to drive in two runs and finish the game.
Tae-Lynn Brabant (3-6) earned the win for the Panthers. She pitched a complete game, allowing 3 earned runs on 10 hits. She struck out 4 batters. The Panthers registered 14 hits in the win, and had 5 different players record multi-hit games. Sasha Ginsberg led the way, finishing 4 for 4 with 3 stolen bases, 2 runs scored and 2 RBI. Kalie Dixon went 2 for 3, recording 6 total bases as she hit her 3rd home run of the season and added a double. She drove in 3. Keelie Schneider also drove in 3 runs, finishing 2 for 3. Sandra Watne had 2 doubles, an RBI, and 2 runs scored, while Lilly Hamels was 2 for 2 with a walk and two runs scored.
The win moves the Panthers to 15-22 on the season. They remain alive in the elimination portion of the bracket and will be back in action tomorrow in another must-win game. They will take on #2 Penn State-Altoona in teh 2nd game of the day, scheduled for a 2:00 p.m. start.
