BRADFORD, Pa. – The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford softball team earned a sweep in a non-conference doubleheader Monday over Alfred State.
After the win in game one, Head Coach Tina Phillips earned her 300th career victory as a collegiate softball head coach. Phillips is in her 15th season as Pitt-Bradford's softball coach and also serves as the Assistant Athletic Director. As Pitt-Bradford's head softball coach, she has earned a record of 268-264-2.
"Congratulations to Coach Phillips for this fantastic coaching milestone," Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Bret Butler said. "To reach the 300-win plateau requires a lot of hard work, recruiting, teaching, ability, longevity, and love of the sport. Tina has done an excellent job in her career, and we are all very happy for her and proud of her. We wish her many, many more!"
"300, wow. It just makes me think that I have been lucky to be at this awhile and that I have had a lot of players that helped me reach this milestone," Phillips said of her accomplishment. "It's more about them and Pitt-Bradford softball than me. Makes me think back to when I first got started at the college level back at Sage and to be here now just doing something I love and be around the game I have played for seemingly my whole life. Special thanks to my Assistant Coach Meagan Hillard, who has been here for a lot of these wins as both a player and a coach."
Madison East was on fire all day at the dish, going a combined 5-for-5 with a double and a triple while scoring three runs and driving six RBIs in the two games. She delivered the big hit in game two – a bases-clearing double to right-center field.
East now has seven extra-base hits on the season and is tied for the AMCC lead.
In game one, Betty Fratercangelo scored four times while driving in a pair. East knocked three RBIs while Lindsey Hull delivered a pair of RBIs.
Pitt-Bradford saw strong pitching today. Morgan Bellush tossed four innings in game one before turning it over to Kerrigan Hoffmann for a clean fifth inning.
In game two, Samantha Hribal struck out the most batters in any Panther pitching outing this season with seven as she threw all five innings and allowed four hits while walking just one to earn the win.
Game One (Five Innings): Pitt-Bradford 16, Alfred State 2
"It took us a few innings to get the rust off, but I liked our patience at the plate and Morgan and Kerrigan did a nice job in the circle," Phillips said on game one. "They worked ahead today, which is always what we want. The middle of the lineup -- Chandler, Betty, Madison and Lindsey -- supplied plenty of big hits."
Pitt-Bradford wasted no time and scored three quick runs in the bottom of the first.
East delivered a single that scored Dadzaa and Betty Fratercangelo, and she later scored on an RBI single from Hull.
Alfred State pulled to within one in the top of the third on a two-run double, but Pitt-Bradford got one back in the bottom of the inning on a sacrifice fly from Maddy Hillery that scored Betty Fratercangelo.
Pitt-Bradford then erupted for 12 runs, using five hits and as many walks while capitalizing on two Alfred State defensive errors.
East and Hull worked RBI singles while Jenna Fellows delivered an RBI double and Chandler White sent home two on a single. East stepped in again later in the inning and drove an RBI triple to left center.
The Panthers worked a quick top of the fifth and Phillips earned her 300th career coaching win in comfortable fashion.
Bellush started in the circle for the Panthers and tossed four innings while surrendering two earned runs and striking out three.
Hoffmann threw the final frame and worked a 1-2-3 inning.
On the base paths, East stole a pair of bases while Dadzaa, Betty Fratercangelo and Jordan Uhing stole bases as well.
17 of the 23 Panthers on the active roster saw time in game one.
Six different Panthers worked a hit while East led the way with three and Hull had two to aid Pitt-Bradford's nine-hit effort.
Game Two (Five Innings): Pitt-Bradford 9, Alfred State 1
"Sammy gave us a great game in the nightcap by being very efficient, and we were hoping to get her the shutout," Phillips said of her game two starter. "Madison stayed hot and Gabby and Natalie had a great day at the plate. Now if we just need to keep this going and Mother Nature to cooperate."
The Panthers struck first with a run in the first inning.
Dadzaa led off the game with a single and later scored on a wild pitch.
The Panthers went up 4-0 with three runs in the second, all coming off the bat of East.
With the bases loaded, she stepped in and drove one to right center to clear the bases, jogging into second for the double.
Pitt-Bradford knocked in a pair more in the third as Hribal and Dadzaa worked RBI singles.
From the end of the second into the fourth, Hribal sent down eight batters in a row, striking out the side in the second inning.
The Panthers went up 9-0 with three runs in the fourth,
Gabby Carpenter lined a ball to right center that scored East and Jenna Hicks, ending up standing at third with a triple.
Sophia Fratercangelo later sent home Carpenter with a sacrifice fly to left.
Alfred State got one run in the top of the fifth, using a pair of hits and a Panther fielding error to get on the board. But Hribal induced a groundout to third base to end the game and complete the sweep.
Hribal threw all five innings and struck out seven while giving up four hits – two of which coming in the final inning. The lone run scored in the contest went unearned.
On the bases, Dadzaa stole three bags while Betty Fratercangelo, East and Hribal had one steal apiece.
Up next, Pitt-Bradford will host Pitt-Greensburg Saturday to begin conference play.
