Bradford, Pa. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford softball team ran out of steam in their opening game of the AMCC Championship tournament as a 5-run 6th inning by Medaille led to a 7-4 Panther loss.
- The Panthers got off to a quick start as they were able to get on the board in their first at-bat. Faith McLaughlin hit a one-out double to center field and then scored on a Lexi Peters single to left. In the bottom of the 1st, Medaille was able to get two runners on with a single and an error, but starting Pitcher Kindra Wessels ended the inning with a strikeout and a lineout to short.
- Rachel Przybysz picked up a two-out single in the 2nd, but the Panthers were unable to move her any further. Medaille struck back in the 2nd inning, taking the lead with two runs in the frame. They put runners on the corners with a leadoff walk, sacrifice bunt, and a single. After Wessels got a pop-up to third base, Medaille hit a single into right-center which brought both runners around to score.
- Both teams were retired in order in the 3rd before they each had an opportunity to score in the 4th. The Panthers got another two-out single in the inning, this time from Daytona Wentzel who was able to advance to second on a bobble in the outfield. She was unable to score as the next batter popped up.
- Wessels struck out the first batter of the 4th but quickly loaded the bases on two walks and a single. Ashley Stein entered the game in relief and was able to get a shallow fly ball to left and a foul pop up to first to get out of the jam and keep the deficit at 1.
- The Mavericks were able to load the bases again in the 5th, but Stein induced a 5-5-1 double play to end the inning. With the momentum from the twin killer, the Panthers were able to tie the game in the top of the 6th. Lexi Peters led off the inning with a single up the middle and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. After a fly out to right, KT Marx delivered a single to right field, bringing in Peters to tie the game at two.
- Stein was able to retire the first batter of the 6th but then ran into trouble as Medaille was able to take the lead on three straight singles. After Stein got the second out of the inning on a grounder to third, another single brought in a second run and ended the day for Stein.
- She was replaced by Meghan Kapp, who was unable to break the momentum as Medaille quickly scored three more on another single and a double. The Panthers were able to get out of the inning with an outfield assist from Chloe Cordova.
- Needing 5 runs to extend the game, the Panthers threatened with one out as Madison Camp picked up a pinch-hit single to right and McLaughlin drew a walk. Following a fly ball to center, Lexi Peters singled into centerfield to bring in one run and an error in the outfield allowed McLaughlin to score from first, cutting the lead to 7-4. Imani Jackson came up next and hit a line drive, but it was right to first base, bringing the game to an end.
Ashley Stein (5-7) got the loss after she was tagged with 4 earned runs in 2.1 innings of relief work. Kindra Wessels received a no-decision after allowing 2 earned runs on 4 hits with 3 strikeouts. Meghan Kapp got the final out of the game and gave up one earned run. Lexi Peters led the offense as she went 3 for 4 in the game, drove in two Panther runs, and scored another. Faith McLaughlin also reached base three times as she hit a double and walked twice. She scored two runs. KT Marx had the other RBI for the Panthers.
The loss drops the Panthers to 11-23 on the season and sends them into the elimination portion of the bracket. They will take on the loser of the final game tonight between #2 Penn State-Altoona and #3 Mount Aloysius in the 2nd game of the day tomorrow.