Erie, Pa. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford softball team staved off elimination in the AMCC Championship Tournament on Saturday as they defeated Mount Aloysius 2-1.
- The contest got off to a slow start as both teams were able to put a runner on in the first, but were unable to advance any further. That changed in the 2nd as both teams had opportunities to score.
- In the top of the inning, the Panthers put the first two batters on base as Imani Jackson singled down the left-field line and MArguerite DeFranco was hit by a pitch. After two quick outs, Chloe Cordova was walked to load the bases but Kindra Wessels was retired on a fly ball to right to end the threat.
- The Mounties were able to score in their half of the inning. Starting pitcher Ashley Stein walked the leadoff batter in the inning but was able to get two outs on a pair of fielder's choice groundouts. The next batter hit a triple down the left-field line to put the Mounties up one. Stein retired the next batter on a grounder to short to strand the runner on third.
- The Panthers loaded the bases again in the third but were unable to come up with the big hit to score a run. Faith McLaughlin singled to left to start the inning and moved to third on a Lexi Peters single to left-center. DeFranco walked for the second time in the game to load the bases with two outs, but a fielder's choice to shortstop ended the frame.
- Stein worked around a leadoff walk in the third to keep the Mounties off the board and was rewarded in the next inning, as the Panthers were able to tie the game at one. Madison Camp led off the inning with a single up the middle. She moved all the way to third on a sacrifice bunt and wild pitch. Wessels was able to bring her in on an RBI groundout to second. McLaughlin followed the groundout with an infield single and a Daytona Wentzel walk loaded the bases for the third time in the game but Lexi Peters was retired on a flyout to left to end the inning.
- Stein allowed a leadoff single in the bottom of the inning but got three quick outs to end the inning scoreless.
- After the Panthers were held off the board in the 5th, Kindra Wessels replaced Stein in the circle. She hit the first batter she faced with a pitch but was able to settle down and retire the next three batters to keep the game tied at one.
- Both teams were held off the board in the 6th despite each collecting a single, which set up a dramatic finish in the 7th.
- In the Panther half, Imani Jackson led off the inning with a double down the rightfield line. Following a Paige Wertheimer pinch-hit walk, two straight panthers were retired to record the first two outs. Chloe Cordova was able to singe into right field to load the bases and Wessels put the Panthers ahead with a single through the left side of the infield.
- In the bottom of the inning, Wessels retired the side in order to end the game.
Kindra Wessels (7-8) picked up the win after 3 scoreless relief innings. She allowed one hit. Ashley Stein was effective but received a no-decision. She allowed 1 earned run on 3 hits and 2 walks in four innings pitched. Wessels was also the offensive star of the game, as she drove in both Panther runs. She finished 2 for 5. Faith McLaughin and Imani Jackson both went 2 for 4 in the game.
The win moves the PAntehrs to 12-23 on the season. In the next round of the tournament, they will face elimination once again. They will take on Medaille in a rematch of their first-round game. The Panthers were tied with the Mavericks through five and a half, but eventually fell 7-4. The game is scheduled to begin at approximately 3:00 p.m.