Panthers Split Conference Opener at Mount Aloysius

Panthers Split Conference Opener at Mount Aloysius

Cresson, Pa. – The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford softball team kicked off its AMCC schedule on Saturday splitting a doubleheader at Mount Aloysius.

Game 1:

The day's opener was a pitcher's duel that saw the teams combined for 5 hits in a 1-0 Mount Aloysius victory.

  • The Panthers looked to score in the opening frame as Kindra Wessels led off the game by dropping a single into right-center. She moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, but after a fly out to right was called out for leaving the base early attempting to tag up and advance to third.
  • Wessels started the game for the Panthers and fell behind in the first before allowing a hit. She hit the leadoff batter with a pitch, who subsequently stole second. The runner moved to third on a bunt and scored on a dropped sacrifice fly in left field. The Mounties went on to load the bases with two outs, but Wessels got a batter to pop up to second to end the inning.
  • The Panthers' offense struggled to find its rhythm against Mount Aloysius as 18 straight batters were retired.
  • In the 2nd, the Mounties threatened to add to their advantage after a leadoff single and double to left-center. With runners on 2nd and 3rd, Wessels struck out a batter and then got a grounder to third. Dolcey Shunk made the play at third and as the runner tried to score on the throw to first, Hannah Fisher was able to throw her out at the plate to end the inning.
  • While the Panthers struggled to get going offensively, Wessels stepped up as she allowed only a fourth-inning walk in her final 4 innings of work.
  • Down 1 in the 7th, Wessels picked up her second hit of the day, beating out a bunt single. She moved to 2nd on a sacrifice bunt but was unable to score as the next two batters were retired to end the game.

Kindra Wessels (2-5) got the tough loss in the pitcher's duel. She allowed just one run on 3 hits and 2 walks. She struck out two. She also had the two hits for the Panthers, leadoff singles in the 1st and 7th innings.

Game 2:

The Panthers battled back in the nightcap, scoring early and holding off the Mounties for a 3-1 win.

  • After the Panthers went down in order in the first, Ashley Stein took the circle and got out of a jam in the first. She allowed a one-out walk and the following batter reached on a fielders choice. Stein induced another grounder to the left side to force the runner out at third before getting a fly out to right field to end the inning.
  • Pitt-Bradford rewarded Stein for getting out of the jam in the 1st with 2 quick runs in the 2nd. Lexi Peters smoked a double to center field to start the inning and did not advance as Daytona Wentzel reached on an error at short. Imani Jackson followed with a double off the fence in center field to score both runners and put the Panthers up 2-0. The Panthers were unable to add to the lead as the next three batters were retired in order.
  • Stein ran into trouble again in the 2nd as the Mounties put runners on 1st and second with back-to-back hits. The runners moved up on a wild pitch after a fly ball to center, but Stein was able to settle down and get a fly out to left and a strikeout to strand the runners in scoring position.
  • Pitt-Bradford looked to add to their lead in the 3rd as Faith McLaughlin drew a one-out walk and Marguerite DeFranco drove a double to left. The Mounties changed pitchers after the double and escaped the inning unscathed as the Panthers popped up and grounded back to the pitcher to end the frame.
  • Stein was able to retire the next 6 batters in order in the 3rd and 4th before the Panthers added a third run. Kindra Wessels beat out an infield single to short and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. DeFranco dropped a bloop single into right-center to move Wessels to third before Lexi Peters dropped down a squeeze bunt to bring in the run. The Panthers nearly added a 2nd run in the inning as Wentzel delivered a single up the middle but DeFranco was called out at the plate after just missing the base and was tagged out after the play ended. Jackson made solid contact on the next play but saw her line drive snagged at shortstop.
  • Mount Aloysius was able to get the run back in their half of the inning. After a leadoff single in the infield, the Mounties dropped down consecutive sacrifice bunts. They then singled back through the middle to score the run. A second single to right followed, but Stein got out of the inning with a pop up to third.
  • The Panthers' offense was not able to add to their lead in the remaining two innings, but Stein was able to retire the side in order in the 6th and work around a throwing error and single in the 7th to finish off the win.

Ashley Stein (3-3) gets the win after allowing just 1 run in a complete-game effort. She allowed 6 hits, 1 walk, and struck out 1. Imani Jackson came up with the big hit, driving in two with her double to center. Lexi Peters finished 2 for 4 with a run scored and RBI and Marguerite DeFranco also recorded a multi-hit game, finishing 2-4.

The Panthers are now 5-15 on the season with a 1-1 record in AMCC play. They are scheduled to return to action on Wednesday, April 6th when they host Medaille in their home opener. The action is slated to start at 3:00 p.m.