Fort Myers, Fla. -- After encountering travel difficulties over the past two days, the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford baseball team finally returned to action at the Gene Cusic Classic in Fort Myers, Fla. sweeping their opponents from Baruch in a pair of 7-inning contests. They started with a 4-1 win in a pitcher's duel, and then exploded for 9 runs in the first inning of a 12-5 win in the nightcap.

Game 1: Pitt-Bradford 4 - Baruch 1

Pitt-Bradford started their day with a hard-fought, low-scoring battle against the Bearcats, utilizing a strong pitching performance from Shawn Mannering to win 4-1.

The game got off to a slow start, as neither team was able to score in the first frame, and then both left runners in scoring position in the second. Both starting pitchers continued to have success in the third, as each posted another 0 with two strikeouts in the frame.

The action finally picked up in the 4th. Baruch was able to score first in the top half. With one out, Baruch put a runner on with a Panther throwing error, and then following a strikeout moved the runner to third with runners on the corners. In the next at-bat, Mannering was able to pick off the Bearcat runner at first, but only after the Baruch player was able to get in a rundown long enough to allow the run to score. 

Pitt-Bradford was able to strike back, however, scoring three times in the frame. Bret Babcock started the inning with a single through the left side, but the inning looked like it would come to a short end, as the next two Panthers were retired on fly balls in the outfield. Kyle Kimoto continued the inning with a single to center, and then Noah Avey came up with a run-scoring single to right-center Nico Hall kept the Panthers at the plate with a single through the left side, loading the bases. Andrew Bokulich came up with an important 2-run single, as he found the hole in the left side to bring in two more. 

Mannering kept the momentum with the Panthers after the 3-run inning, making quick work of the Bearcats for a shutdown inning that included a flyout, a strikeout, and a lineout. In the bottom half, the Panthers had a promising start when Maxwell Rogers led off with a hit and then Babcock drew a walk. The Panthers were unable to capitalize on the situation as the next three batters went down to end the frame. 

Mannering struck out the first two batters of the 6th inning, but then ran into trouble, as the next two Bearcats singled. After the second hit, Mannering was relieved by Joe Long, who ended the inning with another strikeout. The Panthers jumped on the opportunity to add to their lead in the bottom half. They did so before an out could be recorded, as Avey drove a double into let, and then scored on a Nico Hall single. 

Long returned to the hill for the 7th inning and induced three quick flyouts to secure the victory for Pitt-Bradford.

Shawn Mannering (3-0) picks up the win for the Panthers. He lasted 5.2 innings, allowing 1 unearned run on 4 hits. He struck out 6. Joe Long pitched the final 1.1 innings to receive a save. Noah Avey was one of 4 panthers to record multi-hit games. Avey was 2 for 3 with a double, 2 runs scored, and 1 RBI. Nico Hall, Andrew Bokulich, and Maxwell Rogers all added 2 hits for Pitt-Bradford.

Game 2: Pitt-Bradford 12 - Baruch 5

In stark contrast to its predecessor, game two of the doubleheader exploded at the start with the Panthers scoring 9 in the first. The early lead allowed the Panthers to coast to a 12-5 win.

Pitt-Bradford started the contest as the visiting team and pounced immediately. Nico Hall led off with a single, and then Andrew Bokulich followed with a free pass. Evan Fragela hit next and reached on a fielder's choice that was marred by an error in the infield, which allowed Hall to score. The Panthers took advantage of another error to double their lead, when Maxwell Rogers also reached on an error. With 0 outs in the inning, Bret Babcock came to the plate next and delivered a single down the left field line to bring in Fragela, and also chasing the Baruch starting pitcher. 

The new Baruch arm did not fare much better, as Blake Prestash welcomed him with an RBI single, and after a Noah Avey hit loaded the bases, all three runners scored on a Maddox Stadler RBI groundout and an error on a pickoff throw. The inning continued as Hall walked in his second at-bat of the inning and then after he stole second, Bokulich singled in a pair of runs on a hit up the middle.

Staked with a 9-0 lead, starting pitcher Patrick Synan made quick work of Baruch, allowing only a one-out single to get the Panthers back into the dugout. The Panthers looked to add to the lead in the 2nd, as another error allowed Babcock to reach before Prestash singled into center. The rally was cut short, however, as Avey grounded into a double play and Stadler hit a groundout to short to end the frame. Synan stayed focused in the second, retiring the side in order while striking out a pair of Bearcats. 

The Panthers added three more in the 3rd, pushing their advantage into double-digits. Alex Ognen led off with a double, and then the Panthers loaded the bases with a Walk and a single. Following a Baruch pitching change, Evan Fragela and Rogers hit back-to-back run-scoring singles to push the lead to 11. The Panthers added one more as Bret Babcock grounded into a 6-4-3 rally killer. Synan Was able to post another shutdown inning in the bottom half, quickly working through the Bearcats order.

The Panthers only mustered a walk in the 4th, while Bruch was finally able to break through and score in their half of the inning. The first two batters of the inning singled, and then after a strikeout, Baruch loaded the bases with a hit batter. The subsequent batter was able to drive in the run with a sacrifice fly. Despite a wild pitch putting runners on 2nd and 3rd, Synan got out of the inning with a flyball to center. 

Pitt-Bradford was retired quietly in the 5th, while Synan was tagged for another run in the bottom of the inning. After allowing a leadoff double, Synan struck out a batter but then allowed a single to put runners on the corners with 1 out. Synan then uncorked a wild pitch, which allowed the run to score. He did limit the damage after the run, retiring the next two batters. 

The Panthers left the bases loaded in the 6th after an error, a walk, and a single for Aden Hafer. Pitt-Bradford went to he bullpen to start the 6th, as Ben Suter replaced the starter, Synan. Suter hit the first batter he faced, and then allowed a single, but was able to get out of the jam easily with a 4-6-3 double play and a strikeout looking. 

In the final inning, pinch hitter Ryota Kaneko delivered a leadoff double down the line, but was then stranded at 3rd as the next three Panthers were retired. Branson Scarantine replaced Suter in the 7th. and quickly ran into trouble as he walked the leadoff batter, and then saw the next hitter reach on an error. Scarantine struck out a batter and after the bases were loaded with a walk, got a flyout to right for the second out. Scarantine nearly escaped the jam unscathed, but allowed a 2-out, bases-clearing double to left to allow three runs to score. He was then able to end the game with another strikeout.

Patrick Synan (1-0) picked up the win after allowing 2 earned on 5 hits in 5.0 innings pitched. He struck out 7. Ben Suter posted a scoreless inning in relief with 1 strikeout, while Branson Scarantine gave up 3 unearned on 1 hit, 2 walks, and an error. He tallied two strikeouts. Offensively, the Panthers took advantage of 6 Baruch errors. Andrew Bokulich was 2 for 2 with a walk, 2 runs scored, and 2 RBIs before he was lifted for a pinch hitter. Bret Babcock and Blake Prestash both posted 2 for 5 performances with a run scored and an RBI. 

The sweep moves the Panthers to 6-5 on the season. They will be back in action on Wednesday with a single, 9-inning contest against Wisconsin Lutheran.