Altoona, Pa. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford baseball team jumped out to immediate leads in both of their games at Penn State-Altoona on Sunday, but could not take advantage of the early advantage, losing both games by scores of 4-3 and 9-4.

Game 1-

The day got off to a terrific start for the Panthers as they quickly scored three runs in their opening at-bat of game one. Andrew Bokulich and Maxwell Rogers hit back-to-back singles with one out before Evan Fragela hit a long fly ball to right field. His hit carried over the fence for a three-run home run, his first of the year. Kyler Majka started the game on the mound for the Panthers but was not able to hold off the hosts, as they came right back with three runs of their own in the bottom of the first. The Lions loaded the bases with one out and drove in their first run with a sacrifice fly to left. The next batter was able to slap a double down the right-field line to clear the bases and tie the game at three.

Both teams went down in order in the 2nd inning before the Panthers rallied with two outs in the 3rd to threaten to take the lead. Fragela started the rally with a single through the left side and then stole second base. Trent Bielak drew a walk to put a second runner on, but the Panthers could not come up with a clutch two-out hit as the next batter grounded into an inning-ending fielder's choice. The Panthers would later rue the opportunity to retake the lead, as the hosts were able to go ahead in the 4th. Majka allowed a lead-off double to right in the inning, and then a single back up the middle to score the go-ahead run. The runner eventually moved over to third base on a sacrifice bunt and a groundout, but Majka was able to limit the damage, getting a final strikeout to end the inning.

Majka retired the last 9 batters of the game in a row, giving his offense the opportunity to tie the game. Their next chance was in the 6th inning when Fraglea picked up his third hit of the game to start the frame, hitting a double to right. After Bielak drew another walk, Kevin Rehak successfully moved the runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Unfortunately, the Panthers once again could not come up with a clutch hit, as the next two batters struck out swinging to end the inning. In the final inning, Nico Hall drew a one-out walk but was unable to move further as following a pitching change, the next two Panthers were retired on a strikeout and a pop-up to first.

Kyler Majka (2-5) went the distance in the loss, allowing 4 earned runs in 6.0 innings pitched. He scattered 6 hits in the game and just two in his final 5 innings of work. He struck out 4. Evan Fragela led the offense for the Panthers, finishing the game 3 for 3. He drove in all three Panther runs with his first-inning home run and then added a single and a double. 

Game 2-

The second game of the day started in a familiar manner as the Panthers exploded for four runs in the top of the first inning. Nico Hall drew a walk to begin the game and then the Panthers quickly loaded the bases on singles from Bokulich and Fragela. After noticing a long windup from the Lions starter on the first pitch to the next batter, Hall broke towards home plate on the next pitch and dove in ahead of the tag for a steal of home. The Panthers were able to add three more runs in the inning without a hit. Consecutive walks to Bielak and Justin Dattoli reloaded the bases and forced in a run before Rehak drove in another with an RBI groundout. Bielak was able to scamper home for the fourth run on a wild pitch.

Shawn Mannering took the hill for the Panthers in game two, and despite the four-run lead, ran into trouble right away in the first with a leadoff walk and a single. He was able to limit the damage, as he got the next batter to ground into a double play which allowed a run to score. Following the second walk of the inning, Mannering struck out the next batter for the final out of the first. The Panthers went down in order in the 2nd and the Lions continued to cut into the lead with a two-out rally in their half of the inning. After retiring the first two batters of the inning, Mannering allowed four straight hits, including a double to right center. On the double, the Panthers were able to get the final out of the inning, and maintain a one-run lead, as they cut down the runner at home plate on a relay from Rehak at short. 

Following a quiet third inning, the Lions were able to rally again in the 4th, scoring twice to take the lead. Mannering allowed a leadoff single and a one-out walk before a double down the right-field line tied the game and brought his day to an end. He was replaced by Jacob Sherdel, who was able to get the next batter to ground out, but the go-ahead run was able to score on the play. The Lions posted an important shutdown inning in the 5th and then added a run in the bottom half with a walk followed by a run-scoring single. 

Pitt-Bradford went down in order in the 6th and the Lions added to their lead once again in the bottom of the inning. The leadoff batter of the frame reached on an error and then after a fly out to right, scored on an RBI double. Sherdel was able to get another fly out before a single into right-center brought in the second run of the inning and ended his afternoon. Sherdel was replaced by Brandon Amidon-Crawford, who was able to get the first batter he faced to ground out, ending the inning. 

The hosts followed another 1-2-3 inning in the 7th by tacking on an insurance run with a two-out single. The Panthers put a pair of runners on in the 8th as Bokulich started the inning with a single to left and then two batters later, Bielak hit a single into right center, but Pitt-Bradford could not bring the runner around as pinch-hitter Alex Colwell went down swinging to end the threat. Amidon-Crawford retired the side in order in the bottom of the inning before the Panthers were only able to put a runner on through a Bret Babcock single in the 9th, bringing the game to an end. 

Shawn Mannering (1-4) got the loss after allowing 5 earned in 3.1 innings pitched. He struck out two. Jacob Sherdel pitched 2.1 innings, allowing 3 runs, 1 earned. Brandon Amidon Crawford also pitched 2.1 innings and gave up 1 run on 2 hits while striking out a pair. Evan Fragela added to his strong game one performance with a 2 for 4 finish in the nightcap. He scored a run. Andrew Bokulich also had two hits and a run scored in the game.

The losses drop the Panthers to 6-19 on the season, with a 3-5 record in AMCC play. They will look to end an eight-game losing skid on Wednesday as they travel to Erie for a midweek AMCC matchup with Penn State-Behrend. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.