New Wilmington, Pa. -- Coming off of two wins on Monday, the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford baseball team was unable to maintain their winning form on Tuesday afternoon as they were swept by Westminster in a road doubleheader. The Panthers lost game one 6-2 and then fell late in game two by a score of 10-5.
Game 1
The Panthers took an immediate lead in game one, but quickly saw the hosts take control and then were unable to score for the remainder of the game, falling 6-2.
Nico Hall led off the game with a sharp single to center field and then scored two batters later as Maxwell Rogers clubbed his second home run of the season on a fly ball to left field. Evan Fragela restarted the inning with an infield single and moved into scoring position as Trent Bielak reached on catcher's interference, but was unable to score as the inning soon came to an end on a fly out to right field.
Freshman Maddox Stadler got the non-conference start for the Panthers and quickly retired the first batter he faced but then ran into trouble. the next 7 Titans reached base on six singles and a walk, scoring 4 runs to double the Panthers' total at 4-2. Stadler was able to settle down and get the last two outs on a strikeout and a fly ball.
Pitt-Bradford went down in order in the 2nd and then saw their deficit double in the bottom half. Stadler walked the leadoff batter and then saw the runner move to third on a double down the left-field line. The first runner scored on an infield single and then three batters later Westminster scored their 6th run on a fielder's choice as a Titan just beat out a potential inning-ending double play.
The Panthers threatened to cut into the lead in the 3rd inning as Rogers and Fragela hit back-to-back singles with one out. The rally came to an abrupt end, however, as the next two batters were retired on fly balls to right field. Following his rough start, Stadler was able to keep the deficit at 4 as he retired the side in order in the 3rd. The Panthers went down quietly in the fourth and Stadler was able to retire the first two batters of the inning but ran into trouble as the next three reached on two free passes and a single. He was replaced by fellow freshman Patrick Synan, who got the first batter he faced to fly out to center to end the threat.
Rogers picked up his third hit of the game with a 5th-inning single but was the only Panther to reach in the frame. Synan remained on the bump after getting out of a fourth-inning jam and set down the Titans quickly, allowing just a two-out walk. After a double play erased a leadoff runner for Pitt-Bradford in the 6th, the Panthers put together a short rally as Kevin Rehak singled into left and then moved to third as pinch-hitter Matt Ranallo reached on a fielding error, but was unable to score as the inning ended a batter later on a grounder to 2b. Synan hit the first batter of the bottom of the 6th with a pitch but was able to strand him on third, retiring the next three batters to keep the deficit at 4 runs headed to the 7th.
In the 7th, the Panthers were able to put a pair of runners on as Andrew Bokulich reached on an error and Fragela worked a two-out walk, but the rally fell short as Justin Dattoli pushed the count full, but went down on strikes to end the game.
Maddox Stadler (0-1) picked up the loss after a tough start. He finished his game with 6 runs allowed on 9 hits and 4 walks over 3.2 innings pitched. He struck out one. Patrick Synan had an effective relief appearance, keeping the Titans off the board for the final 2.1 innings, allowing two runners to reach without a hit, and striking out one batter. Maxwell Rogers provided the offense for the Panthers as he finished 3 for 4 with a two-run home run. Evan Fragela and Kevin Rehak both went 2 for 3. Rehak had a double.
Game 2:
The nightcap started off as a pitcher's duel as neither team could get on the board through 5 and a half innings, but the teams combined for 15 runs over the final two innings as the Panthers fell 10-5.
The Panthers threatened to score early yet again, as the first two batters of the game reached on a walk and a bunt single. Unfortunately, Nico Hall was caught attempting to steal third before Evan Fragela singled up the middle, keeping the game scoreless. Trent Bielak started the game on the mound for the Panthers and made quick work of the titans in the first, setting the hosts down in order.
Both teams were only to put one runner on base in both the 2nd and 3rd innings, but the starters for both teams were effective in not allowing any rallies, as the score remained 0-0 through three innings.
After the Panther half of the fourth ended on a 5-4-3 double play, the Titans were able to threaten to score in the bottom, as they put two runners on bse with early walks in the inning. The hosts got a runner to third base on a fielder's choice, but Bielak was able to end the threat with a strikeout. He did not allow a Westminster hit through 4.
Pitt-Bradford went down in order in the 5th and the hosts were able to break through, scoring 3 runs in their half of the inning. They picked up their first hit of the game on an infield single, and after a sacrifice bunt, loaded the bases on a double and a hit batter. With one out, Wesminster hit a bases-clearing triple to right center to go ahead 3-0. Bielak walked the next batter after the triple and was relieved by Joe Long. Long was able to end the threat immediately, getting the first batter he faced to ground into a double play to strand the runner at third.
The Panthers were able to get one back in the 6th. Maxwell Rogers and Fragela both singled to start the inning and then moved to second and third as Justin Dattoli dropped down a sacrifice bunt. Kevin Rehak drove in the run with a sac fly to right, but the inning came to an end as Alex Pasternak was also retired on a fly ball.
Westminster was able to retake the momentum right away in the 6th as they exploded for 7 runs on three Panther pitchers. Long was unable to record an out as he walked the first two batters of the inning and was replaced by Brayden Hageter. Hageter allowed an inherited run to score on a sacrifice fly, but then gave up three straight hits, a single, double, and triple, allowing four more runs to score. HE was replaced by Austin Kitcey, who gave up a pair of RBI doubles before getting out of the inning with a grounder to short and a line out to third.
Trailing 10-1 in the final inning, the Panthers started a comeback and were able to score four runs, but ultimately fell short. Bret Babcock pinch hit to start the inning and was subsequently hit by a pitch. He was followed by another pinch hitter, Alex Colwell who was able to single into right field. Hall was also hit by a pitch to load the bases and Andrew Bokulich drove in two with a double to center. Rogers drove in two more as he hit a single into right center. Fragela continued the rally as he drove a single into right field, but it would come to a quick finish as Dattoli went down looking and Kevin Rehak grounded into a game-ending double play.
Trent Bielak (0-2) was saddled with the loss after a strong start. After keeping the Titans hitless through 4 innings he was tagged for 3 runs in the 4th, ending his day. He finished with 3 Earned runs allowed on 3 hits and 5 walks over 4.1 innings of work. He struck out 3. Three Panther relievers allowed seven earned runs over the final 1.2 innings pitched. Joe Long allowed two after walking two batters to start the 6th, while Brayden Hageter allowed 4 and Austin Kitcey gave up 1. Offensively, Evan Fragela led the way with 3 hits. Maxwell Rogers and Andrew Bokulich both went 2 for 4 with a run scored and 2 RBIs.
The losses drop the Panthers to 6-13 on the season. They will return to action this weekend as they will host Alfred State for another AMCC doubleheader. The action is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 8th.
