BRADFORD, Pa. – The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford softball team (8-17) swept Alfred State (4-15) in a non-conference doubleheader Thursday afternoon at the Kessel Athletic Complex.
The Panthers won a 6-5 thriller in the opening game and then dominated the Pioneers, 4-0, in the finale.
"It was great to get two more big wins today to get some confidence and momentum as we head into a very important stretch of conference games," said Pitt-Bradford head coach Tina Phillips. "We had a lot of quality at bats and we have been more patient at the plate."
Liz Dzurisin had a big game at the plate in the opener, going 1-3 with a bases-clearing double to lead the Panther's offense in the opener. Emily Fair had two hits while Amber Fox and Grace Dadzaa added one hit each and Jenna Dean drew a bases loaded walk in the game one victory.
"Liz came up huge for us with a big double to help get the offense going in the first game," Phillips said. "We haven't been able to catch a break all season, but we got one in the seventh to end the game."
Taylor Collins pitched well in the circle, picking up her first win of the season by allowing just one earned run on eight hits while striking out two over seven innings.
The Pioneers took a 1-0 lead in the third on a Stormi Kruger RBI double just out of the reach of Dadzaa in centerfield. They then added two more in the fourth on a throwing error and sacrifice fly to extend their lead to 3-0 after four.
The Pitt-Bradford offense struck back, exploding for five runs in the fifth. The Panthers first run came in on a Pioneer fielding error and then Dzurisin cleared the bases with a three-run double. Later in the inning, Dean drew a bases loaded walk to give the panthers a 6-4 lead after six.
The Pioneers made it interesting by picking up two unearned run in the top of the seventh to tie the game at 6-6.
However, the Panthers capitalized on a Pioneer's fielding miscue to walk off winners in the home half of the seventh. With Fox on first, Meagan Hillard dropped down a bunt and the throw to first went sailing to the fence, allowing Fox to score all the way from first to give the Panthers a 6-5 victory in bunt-off fashion.
Nicole Nolte led the Pitt-Bradford offense with a 2-3 performance in the finale, including her first collegiate home run. Natalie Harding added a two-run double while Hillard, Fair and Fox added a hit to help the Panthers complete the sweep.
Cassidy Lewis picked up the win in the circle, tossing four shutout innings, allowing just three hits to improve to 4-5 on the year. Liz Dzurisin surrendered just two hits over the last three innings to earn her first save of the season.
"All three pitchers gave us quality innings and the defense was solid for the most part," Phillips said. "It was nice to see Nicole get her first home run of her career. She has really swung the bat well the last two days."
The Panther's offense built off the momentum created in game one to score four early runs in game two. Pitt-Bradford picked up two in the second and two more in the third and that's all they would need to complete the sweep.
Harding gave the Panthers their first two runs with a two-run double to the left-centerfield gap while Nolte crushed a two-run home to left in the third to cap the Panther's scoring. The pitching and defense held up and Pitt-Bradford hung on for the 4-0 victory.
The Panthers dive right back in to conference play as they head to Buffalo, N.Y. to play the final game of a two game series with D'Youville. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m.
