Roanoke, Va. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford softball team started its season on Saturday, with a doubleheader at Roanoke College. The Panthers struggled to get started against the Maroons as they lost both games in 5 innings. They fell 8-0 in the first and 10-1 in the second.
Game One:
- The Panthers threatened to score in the first as they put together a short two-out rally, but were unable to cross the plate. Daytona Wentzel drew a walk and then moved to second as Lexi Peters drove a single through the right side into the outfield field. Imani Jackson pushed the count full but was unable to put the ball in play, ending the rally. Kindra Wessels started n the circle for the Panthers and was unable to escape the first unscathed. She hit the second batter she faced, who quickly stole second and scored on a single up the middle.
- After the Panthers were set down in order in the 2nd, the Maroons were able to add to their lead in the bottom half of the frame. Wessels loaded the bases on a single and two walks to start the inning. She was able to force a pop-up to short, but allowed a single into left that drove in two runs. She was able to limit the damage at two as she got a short fly ball to left and grounder to second to end the inning.
- The third inning saw the Panthers threaten once again, but they were unable to break the shutout. In a repeat of the first, Wessels drew a two-out walk and then moved up to second on a single to right by Wentzel. Peters came up with runners on first and second and two outs but popped up in the infield to end the threat.
- The Panthers would pay for their inability to take advantage of runners in scoring position in the third, as the hosts exploded for 5 runs in the 3rd. Wessels walked the leadoff batter and after a pop up allowed a double to center to bring the first run of the frame around. Roanoke loaded the bases once more with a single and a walk and was able to add four more runs in the next two at-bats on an error in the infield and a single. KT Marx was able to throw out a potential base stealer to help end the rally the caught stealing was quickly followed by a pop out in foul territory to finish the 3rd.
- Following a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the 4th, Ashley Stein took over for the Panthers and quickly retired the side in order. The Panthers were able to put a runner on in the 5th as Dolcey Shunk reached on an error but were unable to move the runner as the game ended on a strikeout and a pop-up to second.
The Panthers mustered 2 hits in the game. Daytona Wentzel finished 1 for 1 with a single and a walk. Lexi Peters had the other single for Pitt-Bradford. Kindra Wessels (0-1) picks up the loss in her collegiate debut after allowing 8 runs, 6 earned, on 7 hits, and 4 walks in 3.0 innings.
Game Two:
- The second game of the day once again saw the Panthers threaten to score in the first. Wessels drew a one-out walk and was quickly replaced on the basepaths as Daytona Wentzel reached on a fielder's choice. Wentzel moved to third as Peters reached on a throwing error with two outs, but an attempted double steal failed for the Panthers as Wentzel was thrown out trying to score.
- Meghan Kapp started the game for the Panthers and was able to get off to a good start, working around a Panther error in the first to keep the game scoreless.
- Paige Werheimer singled to left in her first collegiate at-bat in the second but was unable to move further on the base paths. The bottom of the inning was not as kind to Kapp as the first, as the Maroons sent 15 batters to the plate, scoring 9 runs on 7 hits, 2 Pitt-Bradford errors, and 3 free passes.
- The Panthers were finally able to break into the run column in the third as they scored a run without the benefit of a hit. After a grounder to third began the inning, Faith McLaughlin drove a fly ball to left and was able to reach second on a two-base error in the outfield. She moved to third as Wessels reached on a fielder's choice and was able to scamper home in the next at-bat as Wessels was thrown out stealing second.
- Lindsay Steele entered the game for the Panthers in the 3rd, and struck out the first two batters she faced, but allowed a solo home run to match the Panther's run in the top half of the inning.
- The 4th inning saw the Panthers threaten to score again as Peters reached on an infield single and moved to second on an Imani Jackson walk. After consecutive strikeouts, Marguerite DeFranco ripped a line drive down to third base but saw her effort snagged on a line drive to end the frame. Steele was able to retire the Maroons in order in the bottom of the 4th to bring the Panthers to the plate needing two runs in the 5th. Unfortunately, the Panthers went down in order in the final frame, bringing the second game to an end.
The Panthers were only able to tally two hits but were able to score a run in the contest. Lexi Peters and Paige Wertheimer picked up base knocks in the game and Faith McLaughlin scored the run. Meghan Kapp picks up the loss after allowing 9 runs, 4 earned, in 2 innings of work. Lindsay Steele allowed just the home run in two innings pitched. She struck out 4.
The Panthers start their season 0-2 but have a chance to come right back tomorrow and get into the win column. They will take on Eastern Mennonite in a doubleheader starting at 1:00 p.m. in Harrisonburg, Va.