Cresson, Pa. – After a 9-day layoff for finals, the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford softball team returned to action on Monday afternoon, traveling to Cresson, Pa. for an AMCC doubleheader against Mount Aloysius. The Panthers split the double dip, winning the first game 10-2 in 5 innings before dropping game two 5-0.

Game 1: Pitt-Bradford 10 – Mount Aloysius 2 – 5 innings

The opening game of the doubleheader got off to a slow start for the Panthers, but Pitt-Bradford was able to rally late, exploding for 6 runs in the 5^th to win 10-2 in five innings.

After being set down in order in the first, the Panthers fell behind as Krislyn Clement loaded the bases on a walk and two hit batters with one out. Following a strikeout, the hosts extended the inning on an infield single to score a run.

The Panthers weren't down for long as they struck right back to tie the game in the 2^nd. Lexi Peters started the frame with a single and then moved to second on a passed ball. She moved to third on a groundout and then was able to score on an error in the outfield with two outs.

Clement posted a shutdown inning in the bottom of the inning and was rewarded in the next frame when the Panthers hit two home runs to move into the lead. Lexi Najdusak reached on a throwing error to start the inning and eventually moved to third with two outs. Sara Stroup came through with the big hit, crushing her first career collegiate home run to deep left field to put the Panthers ahead 3-1. Two pitches later, Lexi Peters made it back-to-back home runs, hitting a high fly ball that landed just over the wall in left. It was her first of the season.

Clement continued her dominance through the middle innings, retiring the side in order in the 3^rd and 4^th innings. The Panthers stranded a pair of runners on base in the top of the 4^th, but had no such problems in the 5^th, as they exploded for 6 runs. Miranda Groll led off with a walk and then stole second base. Stroup drove in her third run of the game with a double down the left field line, and then scored when Peters doubled to the gap in left-center.

Following a pitching change, the Panther inning continued. Meghan Kapp brought in a run with a single up the middle and after a walk, Ciera Adams singled to right to drive in another. A wild pitch allowed pinch-runner Kearstin Foster to score the Panthers' 9^th run of the game just before McLaughlin finished the scoring with an RBI single to left.

Clement returned to the circle for the 5^th and ran into some trouble. She walked the leadoff batter and then allowed the Mounties to load the bases on a fielder's choice that did not result in an out. Back-to-back singles allowed a run to score, but Clement was able to settle down and quickly end the game with two popups in the infield and a strikeout.

Krislyn Clement (9-2) picked up the complete game victory after allowing 2 earned runs on 3 hits. She struck out 8 batters. Lexi Peters finished the game 3 for 3 with 2 runs scored, and 2 RBI. She hit a single, double, and home run. Sara Stroup also hit a home run, the first of her collegiate career. She finished 2 for 3 with 2 runs scored and 3 driven in. Meghan Kapp also had a multi-hit game, going 2 for 3 with an RBI.

Game 2: Pitt-Bradford 0 – Mount Aloysius 5

Game two of the double dip saw the Panther offense struggle to come through with a clutch hit as they were unable to score in the matchup, falling 5-0.

The Panther offense was kept quiet early, as only Miranda Groll reached when she was hit by  a pitch in the first. Starting pitcher Bri Heller was successful early, working around a single and a walk to strike out 5 in the opening two frames.

The Panthers were unlucky to score in the 3^rd, leaving the bases loaded. Lizzy Hoovler started the rally with an infield single, but after moving to second was caught out on the bases when Faith McLaughlin reached on a fielder's choice. The Panthers' speed paid off with the next batter as Miranda Groll hit a ground ball up the middle, but McLaughlin beat the toss to second to keep the inning going. Sara Stroup grinded out a one-out walk before Lexi Peters lined out to shortstop to end the threat.

The hosts took advantage of the momentum in the bottom half, as they quickly opened the scoring. A leadoff single was followed by a wild pitch and a triple to right center, putting the Mounties in front. They added a second on an error in the infield and then after two quick outs, tacked on a third with a single up the middle.

Hannah Fisher started another rally in the 4^th with a one-out single to left center. After Ciera Adams drew a two out walk, Hoovler was able to bloop a single into shallow left field. Fisher rounded the bag and stopped but was caught in a rundown as the hosts threw quickly to the bag behind her, ending the inning.

Mount Aloysius added two more runs in the 4^th, pushing their lead to 5. With two outs, two straight batters singled and then scored on a double to deep left center.

The Panthers looked to strike back in the 5^th when McLaughlin led off with a triple to right center. She was left stranded at third, however, as two strikeouts and a fly ball to left ended the frame. After Heller kept the Mounties quiet in the bottom of the 5^th, the Panthers put two runners in scoring position with two outs in the 6^th, but could not bring them in.

After Heller struck out a pair to strand runners on the corners in the bottom of the 6^th, the Panthers came to the plate for their last at-bat. Groll and Stroup each drew one-out walks, but Peters sharply hit into a 5-5-3 double play, finishing the game.

Bri Heller (7-4) went the distance in the loss. She allowed 5 runs, 3 earned, on 10 hits with 1 walk. She struck out 10 in the loss, setting a new career high. Offensively, the Panthers only mustered 5 hits, led by Lizz Hoovler, who finished 2 for 3. Faith McLaughlin had the lone extra-base hit for Pitt-Bradford, hitting a triple in the 5^th.

The split moves the Panthers to 19-9 on the season, with an 8-4 record in AMCC play. They will be back in action on Wednesday when they play their final home games of the season against Wells.