Ashland, Va. -- After opening their season with a victory on Wednesday, the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford baseball team traveled south for a difficult three-game stretch at Randolph-Macon. The Panthers started the trip with a Saturday doubleheader, losing both games.

Game one started as a pitchers' duel before the hosts were able to touch up the Panther bullpen late, leading to an 8-0 loss. The nightcap saw the Panthers fall behind early after a tough first inning but they were unable to come back, ultimately falling 6-2.

Game 1:

The Panthers' offense struggled to get going in the opener, as they were limited to just 2 hits over the 7-inning game. Starting pitcher Kyler Majka was able to keep the Panthers in the game early, but the bullpen was unable to close the game out, allowing 6 runs in the 6th inning.

The Yellow-Jackets were able to take the lead in the first, as the second batter of the game hit a solo home run to left field. Majka was able to recover after the home run, allowing a two-out single but was able to induce a flyout to right to right to end the inning. 

The Panthers were only able to muster three walks over the first three innings of play, but Majka was able to keep the Yellowjackets in check after the home run. He used a double play to set the side down in order in the 2nd and then worked around a leadoff walk in the 3rd to keep the Panthers down one.

The Panthers were able to threaten in the 4th as a two-out Justin Dattoli walk was followed but a Trent Bielak single to right, but Pitt-Bradford could not capitalize as the next batter went down swinging to end the threat. After another 0 from Majka in the bottom of the 4th, the Panthers were able to put a runner on in the 5th as Kyle Kimoto hit a single through the left side of the infield. Unfortunately, they were not able to build on the hit as the next batter grounded into a double play to end the frame. 

The hosts were able to double their lead in the bottom of the inning, as they used two free passes and a two-out single to score their second run. Majka did limit the damage, however, as he was able to get the next batter to line out to the right to end the frame. 

After the Panthers were unable to take advantage of a leadoff walk in the 6th Majka was removed as the Panthers went to the bullpen. The Panthers used three relievers, but they allowed 6 runs to score on 3 hits, six walks, and a few wild pitches, opening up a big lead. The PAntehrs were set down in order in the 7th to end the game.

Majka (0-1) was saddled with the loss despite a strong start. He allowed 2 earned runs on 5 hits in 5 innings pitched. He struck out 3. Brayden HAgeter allowed 4 runs, 3 earned on 2 his without recording an out, and Austin Kitcey allowed 2 unearned runs while recording two outs. Maddox Stadler got the Panthers out of the inning with a strikeout.

Trent Bielak and Kyle Kimoto had the two hits for the Panthers, while 5 Panthers drew walks. 

Game 2:

The nightcap saw the hosts take advantage of a rough start from the Panthers, scoring 4 in the first, but starting pitcher Shawn Mannering was able to settle down, holding the yellow jackets to 2 runs in his last 5 innings of work in a 6-2 loss.

Pitt-Bradford was able to jump ahead in the top of the first. Nico Hall singled to right Justin Dattoli was able to come through in the clutch, driving a single into center with two outs to bring in Hall and put the Panthers in front. The Panthers were unable to keep the momentum on their side as Randolph-Macon rallied with two outs in the first, scoring 4 runs on 3 hits, 3 errors, and a wild pitch.

As the Panthers were only able to muster a Maxwell Rogers single to right over their next three at-bats, Mannering was able to keep the Yellowjackets in check, setting down the side in order in the 2nd and using a double play to erase a bunt single in the third.

Randolph-Macon added their 5th run with a solo shot in the 4th, but outside of the long ball, Mannering limited the Yellowjackets to one single and two walks as he finished the 4th and kept the hosts off the board in the 5th.

In the top of the 6th, the Panthers cut the lead to 43. Hall led off the inning with a walk and then scored two batters later when Evan Fragela delivered a double into right-center. Fragela moved to third on a groundout but was left stranded after the inning ended on a groundout to third.

 Once again the Panthers could not keep momentum on their side, as the hosts struck back with a two-out-rbi single in the 6th to restore their 4-run lead. The Panthers threatened in the 7th, as they loaded the bases with two hit batters and a walk, but were unable to score as the next two batters flew out to end the game.

Shawn Mannering (0-1) picks up the loss after allowing runs, 2 earned, on 8 hits and 3 walks over 6 innings pitched. He struck out 3. Evan Fragela and Justin Dattoli each had RBI hits, while Nico Hall was 1 for 2 with 2 runs scored.

The losses drop the Panthers to 1-2 on the season. They will be back in action in Ashland on Sunday, as they will play a single 9-inning contest at 12:00 p.m.