Erie, Pa. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford baseball team saw its 2021 season come to a close after dropping its series-deciding game three to Penn-State Behrend 23-4.

Two days after using their four starters to split a doubleheader with the #2 seeded lions, the Panthers went to the bullpen for the rubber match and were unable to keep up with the high-powered Penn State-Behrend offense.

• Ben Mulhall started his second game of the season for the Panthers and got off to a rough start. The hosts scored two quick runs as the first three batters of the game hit two doubles around a single to take the lead. Later in the inning, the Lions tacked on two more runs as one scored on a sacrifice fly, and a second scampered home on an error on the play.
• Pitt-Bradford was able to get a run back in the 2nd. Jake McNabb drew a leadoff walk and moved to second when Kevin Rehak was hit by a pitch. Matt Hair dropped a sacrifice bunt and Evan Fragela drove in the run when he reached on a fielder's choice as Rehak was retired at third.
• The Panthers' momentum did not last long, as the Lions scored two more in their half of the inning. The Lions got runners on the corners after a leadoff walk, stolen base, and single to left. The Panthers were able to nab the first runner at the plate on a squeeze attempt but saw him replaced, as the Lions got runners to second and third with a double steal. Mulhall was chased on a one-run single to right field and was replaced by Alex Fetter. Fetter allowed one inherited runner to score but got the next two batters to fly out and strike out looking to end the threat. 
• The Lions opened up the lead with 4 more on Fetter in the 3rd. They used 3 hits and a walk, including a 3 run double to do the damage. Fetter was able to put up a zero in the 4th, settling down after a leadoff single to retire three straight batters. He was replaced in the 5th by Kyler Majka, who pitched two innings and allowed 2 runs in the 5th.
• In the 7th inning, the Panthers were able to get back on the board. Kevin Rehak led off the inning with a single to right. The next batter, Matt Hair hit a double to the gap in right center to bring Rehak all the way around to score. After two outs, Nick Stein was able to come through with a two-out single to left to bring Hair home. 
• The Panthers once again could not keep the momentum earned in the top half of the inning, as the Lions tagged new pitcher Ben Suter for 9 runs, 7 earned, in the bottom of the 7th. They did the damage on 6 hits, 4 free passes, and an error. Suter was replaced by Wyatt Rugar with two outs in the inning. Rugar was able to get a ground out to end the frame.
• Pitt-Bradford got a final run in the 8th. Tyler Aires led off the inning with a single down the right field line. He took second on a wild pitch and then scored when Jake McNabb hit a double down the left-field line.
• In the bottom of the eight, Rugar got two strikeouts to start the inning, but an error in the infield allowed it to continue. This came back to hurt the Panthers as the Lions used back-to-back two ut singles to tag on two more runs. Rugar struck out the final batter of the inning to end the 8th.
• Mulhall was tabbed with the loss after allowing 6 runs, 4 earned, on 7 hits in 1 and 1/3 innings.
• Alex Fetter struck out 3 batters in 2 and 2/3 innings of work, while Kyler Majka also struck out 3 in 2 innings.
• Wyatt Rugar was the most effective pitcher for the Panthers on the day, allowing two unearned runs on 2 hits in an inning and a third.
• Nick Stein finished his season on a high, going 3 for 3 in the game. He drove in a run.
• Kevin Rehak also posted a multi-hit game, finishing 2 for 3 with a double and a run scored.
• Jake McNabb and Matt Hair both went 1 for 3 with a double, run scored, and RBI.

The Panthers' season comes to a close with a 6-15 record. Sam Dreistadt finished the year as the team's offensive leader. He led the team in average, .371, and RBIs, 15. He also hit two home runs, a triple and stole 4 bases. Alex Miles led the team in ERA with a 4.50, while Alex Fetter and Kyler Majka both won 2 games.