Altoona, PA. – The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford Baseball team split its season-opening doubleheader with Penn State Altoona on Monday afternoon.

The Panthers lost a heartbreaker in game one, losing in walk-off fashion 2-1. They were able to recuperate before game 2, using a strong offensive performance to beat the Lions 16-10 in the nightcap.

Game One:

• The hosts were able to jump ahead early, using some early jitters to push a run across in the first. Following a leadoff walk, two wild pitches around a strikeout led to a sacrifice fly to bring in the first run.
• Starting pitcher Reid Tarnowsi was able to settle down from there, as he kept Penn State Altoona quiet for the next three innings. He finished his outing with 1 earned run on two hits. He struck out 6 batters and walked 5.
• The Panthers used a two-out rally in the 3^rd to tie the game at 1. Nick Stein singled to right center and scampered to second on a bobble in the outfield. Jake McNabb followed that with a single of his own to chase Stein home.
• Freshman Kyler Majka made his debut in the 5^th and got his career off to a terrific start. He struck out the side in his first collegiate inning and followed that up with two more to start the 6^th.
• The Lions were able to win the game in the 7^th. After seeing a runner cut down at the plate, they used a two-out single to bring home the winning run.
• Majka (0-1) picks up the loss, after allowing one run on 2.2 innings pitched. He allowed 6 hits and struck out 5.
• The Panthers were only able to muster 4 hits in the game, all singles from Stein, McNabb, Matt Hair, and Kevin Rehak

Game Two:

• Pitt-Bradford got off to a much better start in the second game of the day, scoring in their opening at bat. Stein led off with a single and scored 3 batters later on another McNabb single.
• They tacked on a second run in the 2^nd. After Matt LaBadie was hit by a pitch, Kevin Rehak doubled to deep center to put runners on 2^nd and 3^rd. Stein was able to bring in the run on an RBI groundout.
• The Lions responded in their half of the 2^nd, putting up 6 runs on starting pitcher Alex Fetter. Alex Miles entered with a runner on second and 2 outs and was able to get a strikeout to end the inning.
• Pitt-Bradford answered right away, with a huge inning of their own in the 3^rd. They were able to match the Lions 6 runs with 6 of their own before recording an out and finished the inning with 8 total.
• McNabb rapped a lead-off single to center and the Panthers quickly loaded the bases with another hit and a walk. Nico Hall picked up his first collegiate hit in a big way, driving a double into the left center gap to bring in two.
• Following a walk and a pitching change, Rehak smoked another double, this time emptying the basepaths and giving the Panthers the lead. He scored on a Stein single.
• Tyler Aires doubled to left center to continue the rally, and the player who started the rally finished it, as McNabb singled again to bring in the final two runs of the inning.
• Miles posted a shutdown inning to keep the Lions at bay and his teammates were able to tack on 3 more runs in the 4^th.
• Matt LaBadie drove his first career home run into right field to lead off the inning. Two Panthers reached on a walk and a hit batter and following a pitching change Samuel Dreistadt and McNabb brought in a run each on a single and a fielder's choice.
• Penn State Altoona rallied in their half of the inning, scoring three and loading the bases with two outs. Ben Suter was brought in and shut down the rally, striking out AMCC Preseason Co-Player of the Year Hunter Breon.
• The Lions added an unearned run off of Suter in the 5^th, scoring on back-to-back errors.
• The game remained tight until Pitt-Bradford was able to put the game away in the 7^th. The Panthers were able to get runners on the corners after two errors and a walk. Hall brought in McNabb with a clutch sacrifice fly to increase the lead to 4.
• LaBadie put an exclamation point on the win in the next at bat, driving another home run to Right field, his second long ball of the day.
• Ben Mulhall pitched the 7^th inning, allowing the first two batters to reach, but got a fly out and a double play to end the game.
• Labadie's finished with a 2-3 day with 3 RBIs, 4 runs scored, and two home runs.
• McNabb went 3-5 with 4 RBIs, and 2 runs scored.
• Stein, Aites, Dreistadt, and Rehak also collected multihit games, while Rehak and Hall brought in 3 runs apiece.
• Ben Suter picked up the win for the Panthers, allowing 1 unearned run in 2.1 innings of relief work. He gave up 1 hit and struck out 2.

The Panthers start their season 1-1 after the doubleheader, which is not counted towards their in-conference record. They are scheduled to begin AMCC play with a home doubleheader against Mount Aloysius on Saturday. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m.