BRADFORD, Pa. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford baseball team picked up its first Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference victory Wednesday as part of a doubleheader split with Alfred State at the Kessel Athletics Complex.
Pitt-Bradford (8-8, 1-3 AMCC) topped Alfred State 3-1 in game one before the Pioneers got the best of a 3-1 final in game two.
"Very pleased with our pitching today," Head Coach Zach Foster said. "We ran into a decent arm in game two. Our guys' work ethic and discipline have been very good. We just need to remain consistent and diligent to what we want to accomplish and things are going to click."
In game one, Kevin Rehak hit his first career homer to help back a solid 5.1 inning, six strikeout outing from Reid Tarnowski on the mound.
Pitt-Bradford got off to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third as Jason Lucarelli scored on a Pioneer fielding error.
Alfred State tied it in the top of the fifth on an RBI single, but the Panthers got the lead right back as Robert Sawicki singled through the left side to score Samuel Dreistadt in the bottom half.
In the top of the sixth, a one-out double brought the winning run to the plate and Nate Renick came on in relief looking to preserve the advantage.
Renick struck out the first batter he saw then later induced a groundout to hold the lead.
Then in the bottom of the sixth, Rehak gave the Panthers an insurance run with a homer down the line in left field.
Alfred State threatened in the seventh and managed to get a pair of runners on base.
A deep drive to left center looked like a threat for runs off the bat, but Lucarelli made a fully outstretched diving catch for the second out, holding the runners on base.
Renick would eventually outlast and earn his first save of the season.
Then in game two, all three Alfred State runs came into score in the top of the first with one swing, a three-run home run down the line in left.
The Panthers were able to plate a run in the seventh as Tyler Hoops stepped in with two runners aboard and doubled to left field, scoring Tyler Aires.
Pitt-Bradford threatened in the eighth as an Alfred State fielding error brought the leading run to the plate, but the Panthers would leave both runners stranded.
Neither team scored in the ninth and Alfred State held on for the 3-1 win.
Hoops, Austin Parent and Lucarelli recorded a hit apiece.
Parent also walked three times.
Alex Miles tossed eight strong innings on the mound for the Panthers, walking one and striking out one.
Alex Andrzejewski came on in relief for the Panthers and threw the ninth.
The Panther defense turned three double plays.
Up next, Pitt-Bradford will host Fredonia for its fifth-straight home game Friday, a single game set for a 3 p.m. start.
