Bradford, Pa. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford softball team is preparing to return to action in 2023, after finishing 5th in the AMCC last season.
The Panthers finished 2022 with a 12-24 overall record while going 7-8 in AMCC play. In the double elimination tournament, the Panthers dropped their first game 7-4 to Medaille but were able to stave off elimination with a tight 2-1 win over Mount Aloysius. Unfortunately, they were not able to pick up another win, losing 6-1 in a rematch with Medaille in their third game of the tourney.
Offensively the Panthers were led by infielder Lexi Peters. Peters hit .381 for the season with 6 doubles, 1 home run, 23 RBIs and 23 runs scored. Senior catcher KT MArx hit .329 with 14 RBIs while MArguerite DeFranco also hit 6 doubles and hit .323 for the season. Kindra Wessels was 7-8 in the pitching circle with a 4.14 era, while Ashley Stein finished the year with 5 wins and a 5.68 era.
Head Coach Tina Phillips is looking forward to beginning their season, as she stated, "This year's team has a very solid foundation of experienced players, which will be enhanced by a good group of freshmen players."
The Panthers have a strong group of upper-class players that have a wealth of playing experience. Lexi Peters and Daytona Wentzel return to the infield as multi-year starters. Both Peters and Wentzel were all-conference selections in 2021. Peters is a career .356 hitter with 2 home runs and 34 RBIs. Wentzel is a .294 hitter with 28 runs batted in and 29 runs scored. In the Outfield, Chloe Cordova and Faith McLaughlin have started a combined 118 games, and return as two of the best defensive outfielders in the Conference. McLaughlin is a career .310 hitter with 20 RBIs and 34 runs scored. Cordova has tallied 16 extra-base hits with 28 RBIs and 27 runs scored.
Ashley Stein returns as the Panthers' most experienced pitcher. She tallied 74 innings last season with a 5-7 record. Sophomores Meghan Kapp and Lindsay Steele return from injury after combining for nearly 50 innings last season. They will also add a diverse group of freshmen to the staff, providing extra depth.
"We have a lot of depth and good team chemistry heading into the year," added Phillips. "We need to keep our positive attitude and chemistry, and stay healthy, especially in the pitching staff."
The Panthers begin their season with a four-day road trip to Virginia on Feb. 26th and 27th. They will open with a doubleheader against Roanoke, and then play a second twin bill against Eastern Mennonite the next day. The Panthers will then travel to Florida for spring break, playing 10 games over 6 days. They are scheduled to open their home slate on Saturday, March 18th at 1:00 p.m. against Baldwin Wallace. Conference play begins April 1st at Mount Aloysius.
"We can't wait to get started, especially since we were able to get out and get some reps on the field during the nice weather last week," said Phillips. "Our coaching staff is really excited to see what we can do this season."
The Panthers were selected to finish 4th in the AMCC standings in the Pre-Season AMCC Coaches Poll.
