Erie, Pa. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford baseball team was back on the road for the second time in as many days on Monday, as they traveled to Erie to take on Penn State-Behrend. The Panthers used a strong pitching performance to take game one 4-1, but fell in the nightcap 16-3.
Game 1: Pitt-Bradford 4 - Penn State-Behrend 1
The opening game of the doubleheader saw the Panthers fall behind early, but starting pitcher Shawn Mannering was able to keep the Lions off the board for the remainder of the game while the Panthers, slowly came back to win 4-1.
Pitt-Bradford went down quietly in the top of the first before sending Mannering to the mound in the bottom half. He allowed a leadoff single and then uncorked a wild pitch, moving the runner into scoring position. Mannering nearly escaped the jam, but the Lions were able to drop a two-out single into right field to go ahead 1-0.
Following a quiet 2nd inning, The Panthers struck back to tie the game in the 3rd. Andrew Bokulich hit a double to right field and then moved to third when Maxwell Rogers reached on an error. With two outs, Bokulich was able to scamper home on a wild pitch to even the game at one. In the subsequent inning, the hosts threatened right away, as they put two runners in scoring position before an out was recorded. Mannering escaped the jam unscathed, as a fielder's choice grounder to third retired the first out at the plate before Mannering struck out two straight to end the inning.
Two innings later, the Panthers maintained their patience at the plate and rallied with two outs to take the lead. The two-out rally started with back-to-back walks to Bokulich and Evan Fragela. Rogers reached on another error to load the bases before Noah Avey drew another walk to force in the go-ahead run. Mannering allowed a one-out double in the bottom half but stranded the runner on third.
In the 7th, the Panthers rallied again, tacking on two insurance runs heading to the final frame. Bokulich started the inning again, reaching on an error. After another free pass for Fragela, Rogers dropped down a sacrifice bunt, but the Lion infielder threw the ball away, allowing Bokulich to score and both runners to move into scoring position. Following a strikeout, Blake Prestash and Bret Babcock each drew two-out walks to force in the Panthers' 4th run of the game.
In the bottom of the 7th, Mannering worked around a one-out walk to retire the side on three flyouts.
Shawn Mannering (4-3) earned the win after allowing 1 earned run in a complete game effort. He scattered 6 hits and struck out 5 batters. The Panther offense only mustered 4 hits but was able to draw 7 walks. Andrew Bokulich finished 1 for 3 with a double and scored 3 runs. Evan Fragela reached 3 times, recording one single and drawing a pair of walks. Noah Avey and Bret Babcock each brought in a run with a bases-loaded walk.
Game 2: Pitt-Bradford 3 - Penn State-Behrend 16
After taking game one, the Panthers shot for a sweep came to a quick end, as Penn State-Behrend scored 9 unearned runs in the first, on the way to a 16-3 win.
The Panthers put a pair of runners on in the first inning, but could not come up with a two-out hit to open the scoring. In the bottom of the inning, starter Patrick Synan's outing started with an error in the infield. He got one out on a fielder's choice but then allowed a single and a double to fall behind. The Lions went ahead 2-0 with a sacrifice fly, but that was the last out Synan was able to record. The sac fly was followed by a double, two singles and two walks, allowing three more runs to score.
After the second walk forced in the 5th Lion run, Synan was replaced by Brayden Hageter. The hosts were able to score four more times on a passed ball and a 3-run throwing error before Hageter induced a fly ball to center to mercifully end the inning. The Panthers put a runner on in the 2nd and 3rd, but could not bring in a run. In the bottom of the third, Hageter got two quick outs, before another error extended the inning. The next batter doubled in the runner and then after another error, a single through the left side brought in the 11th Lion run and resulted in another Panther pitching change. Garrett Smith replaced Hageter and following a one-run single, picked up the final out of the inning on a flyball to center.
Penn State-Behrend added another run in the 4th before Pitt-Bradford was finally able to get on the board in the top of the 5th. Alex Ognen started a Panther rally with an infield single and then moved to second when Nico Hall was walked. Following a groundout, an errant pickoff throw allowed both runners to score and put the Panthers down 13-2. The Panthers could not build any momentum off of the runs, as the eLions started the bottom of the inning with a double and a home run. After retiring two batters, Smith allowed a single and a triple to extend the deficit to 14 runs. Branson Scarantine replaced Smith and ended the frame with a strikeout.
Scarantine posted a 0 in the 6th with a strikeout and a 6-4-3 double play, sending the game to the 7th. The top of the 7th began with a Lion error, as Shane Wetherington reached on a misplay in the outfield. After moving to third, he scored on an RBI groundout by pinch-hitter Ryota Kaneko.
Patrick Synan (2-3) struggled, lasting just 2/3 of an inning while allowing 8 unearned runs on 5 hits and 2 walks. Brayden Hageter and Garrett Smith each allowed 4 runs to score in 2 innings of work. Branson Scarantine was the Panther's most effective pitcher, throwing 1.1 innings while allowing just 1 hit with two strikeouts. Maxwell Rogers was the only Panther to record a multi-hit game, as he went 2 for 3 in the loss. Ryota Kaneko had the lone RBI for the Panthers, while Nico Hall, Alex Ognen, and Shane Wetherington all scored runs.
The Panthers record moves to 10-18 for the season with a 3-5 record in AMCC play. They will return home tomorrow to finish the grueling 3-day stretch with a doubleheader against Hilbert. The action is slated to start at 1:00 p.m. on the baseball field at the Kessel Athletic Complex.
