Pittsburgh, Pa. -- Using a complete game shutout from Alex Fetter, the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford baseball team split their doubleheader with LaRoche on Saturday. The Panthers won the opener 8-0 but fell 15-1 in the nightcap.
Game 1:
The Panthers jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead in the first inning and Alex Fetter took over from there, shutting out the Redhawks 8-0.
- Pitt-Bradford took an immediate lead as leadoff batter Kevin Rehak drove a home run to left field to begin the game. It was his second long ball of the season. The Panthers did not rest there, however, as they quickly added three more runs in the frame. David Gebhard and Evan Fragela hit back-to-back singles and McNabb followed with a double down the right-field line to bring in Gebhard. Justin Dattoli brought in Fragela with a long sacrifice fly to the warning track in center field and Noah Meyers made the score 4-0 with a single up the middle to score McNabb.
- After being staked a 4-run advantage, Alex Fetter took the mound in the first and got two quick outs. He allowed a two-out double and then walked a batter, but was able to record an important shutdown inning as he struck out the next batter looking to end the threat. After the Panthers went down in order in the top of the 2nd, Fetter stopped another two-out rally to maintain the 4-run advantage.
- Fetter continued to cruise in the 3rd and 4th, as he worked around two runners on base in each frame to keep the Redhawks off the board.
- The Panthers rewarded Fetter in the 5th as they used five hits to double their advantage. McNabb hit a one-out single and then moved to third when Dattoli drilled a double to center. Following a grounder to short that did not advance the runners, Aires hit a single down the leftfield line to bring in McNabb. Maxwell Rogers followed this with a 2 RBI double to the gap in right-center and then scored when Nico Hall doubled down the leftfield line.
- Fetter recorded another shutdown inning in the bottom half. He started the inning with a strikeout, but then allowed a one-out single. With one down, Fetter struck out the next batter and catcher Evan Fragela threw behind the runner on first to pick him off and end the inning.
- In the 6th, Fetter stranded a runner after a leadoff single, using two more strikeouts to end the frame, and the Panthers were unable to take advantage of another Rogers double, as they left runners on second and third to end the top of the 7th.
- LaRoche started the bottom of the 7th with a leadoff walk and single to center but was hit with two quick outs as the next batter lined out to Dattoli at third who was able to double off the runner at second base. The Redhawks then loaded the bases with another walk and a single, but Fetter got a fly ball to right to end the game and seal the victory.
Alex Fetter (1-4) earned his first victory of the season as he also recorded his first complete game and shutout since joining the Panthers in 2020. He allowed 8 hits and walked 6, but struck out 9 in the win. The Panthers pointed out 15 hits in the game, led by Tyler Aires who finished the game 3 for 4, scoring one run and driving in another. Maxwell Rogers hit two doubles and drove in a pair of runs while Jake McNabb went 2 for 4 with 2 runs and 2 RBIs. Nico Hall was the final Panther to pick up a multihit game, while Kevin Rehak hit his second home run of the season.
Game 2:
Pitt-Bradford did not fare as well in the second game as they struggled to find their rhythm at the plate. The Panthers' pitching staff was unable to maintain Fetter's effectiveness as LaRoche ultimately won game two 15-1.
- After recording 15 hits in game one, the Panthers were unable to restart their offense in game two, as they were limited to a hit batter over the first two innings. With no early run to pick up momentum, the Panthers ceded an early lead to LaRoche in the 2nd. After retiring the first batter of the frame, starting pitcher Kyler Majka walked the next batter, who promptly stole second base. The runner scored on the next play on a throwing error in the infield. Following another walk, Majka gave up a single to center to bring in the second run. He was able to strike out the next two to limit the damage to two runs.
- Pitt-Bradford looked to cut into the lead right away as Maxwell Rogers led off the following inning with a double to right, but he was left on second as the next three Panthers were retired in order. Majka recorded a 1-2-3 inning in the 3rd, but after Pitt-Bradford was similarly set down in order, ran into trouble as LaRoche opened the score up with 6 runs in the inning. Majka recorded one out in the inning, via a strikeout, but was tagged for 6 runs on 4 hits, an error, and a hit batter. He was replaced by Sean Mannering after a double made the score 7-0 with one out in the inning. Mannering recorded a quick out on a grounder but allowed an inherited runner to score on a passed ball.
- The Panthers went down in order again in the 5th, and LaRoche piled on in the bottom half, adding 4 more runs. Mannering walked the leadoff batter before getting the first out of the inning on a strikeout. The bases were soon loaded after a walk and an error. The first run of the inning scored on a sacrifice fly, and Mannering reloaded the bases with another walk before a second run scored on an infield single. After the single, Mannering was replaced by Austin Kitcey who gave up a two-run single but got the next batter to fly out to center to end the inning.
- The 6th saw the Panthers answer a double play with a double from David Gebhard and a walk to Evan Fragela, but McNabb flew out to right to end the inning.
- The bottom of the inning saw LaRoche use a single and three straight walks to score a run before the Panthers could record an out. A sacrifice fly scored another run, which also chased Kitcey. He was replaced by Branson Scarantine, who walked his first batter faced and then allowed a run to score on a sacrifice fly to center. McNabb was able to throw a runner out stealing to end the inning.
- Pitt-Bradford was able to score a run in their final at-bat. Justin Dattoli led the inning off with a single to left. His hit was followed by consecutive strikeouts, but he moved to second as Maxwell Rogers picked up his second hit of the game with a single to right. Nico Hall hit a two-out double to left-center to score the run, but along with Rogers was left on base as the game ended in the next at-bat on a groundout to third.
Kyler Majka (3-3) picks up the loss. He allowed 8 runs on 7 hits and two walks in 3.1 innings pitched. He struck out 4. Shawn Mannering and Austin Kitcey combined for two innings, allowing 7 runs on 4 hits and three walks. Branson Scarantine recorded the final two outs, allowing only a sacrifice fly and a walk. Maxwell Rogers finished the game 2 for 3 with a double. Nico Hall drove in the only run, which was scored by Justin Dattoli. David Gebhard also had a double in the game.
The Panthers are now 8-18 on the season with a 1-7 record in AMCC play. They are scheduled to return to action this Wednesday, as they are slated to take on Medaille in Buffalo. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.