Fort Myers, Fla. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford baseball team took on Haverford for two seven-inning contests on Friday. The Panthers battled the Fords to the end but lost both games by 1 run scored in the 7th inning. They lost the Opener 7-6 and then game two 5-4.
Game 1 Pitt-Bradford 6 - Haverford 7
In game one, the Panthers got off to a slow start falling behind Haverford early. They battled back late, taking a lead in the 6th, but could not hold off the Fords in the 7th and lost on a walk-off hit.
The Panthers were set down quietly in the top of the first before starting Pitcher Maddox Stadler found immediate trouble in the bottom half. Stadler walked the leadoff batter and then gave up a double to left. The Fords opened the score with an RBI groundout and then doubled their advantage with an infield single. Following another double, Haverford scored their third run of the frame on another RBI grounder. Stadler was able to strike out the next batter to end the inning.
Bret Babcock hit a one-out single to right center for Pitt-Bradford in the 2nd, but he was left on second base to end the inning. Stadler walked the leadoff batter in the second but received some help from his batterymate Evan Fragela, who threw the runner out stealing. Following a hit batter with two outs, Haverford hit a double down the left field line to increase their advantage to 4.
In the 3rd. the Panthers put another runner on base when Kyle Kimoto singled up the middle, however, the junior infielder did not advance as the inning came to a quick finish. The first two batters of the inning reached base for Haverford, forcing a Pitt-Bradford pitching change. Ben Suter got the call, and after hitting a batter, induced a 5-5-3 double play with the bases loaded. He then got the next batter to fly out to center to end the inning.
After the Panthers were set down in order in the top of the 4th, Haverford put the first three batters of the inning on base. They were able to push their lead to 5 on a sacrifice fly. The Panthers got the second out of the inning throwing out a potential base stealer before Suter struck out a batter to end the frame without further damage.
Pitt-Bradford was retired in order once more in the 5th before Joe Long replaced Suter in the bottom of the inning. Long allowed two batters to reach in the inning on a walk and a hit batter, but struck out two in a row to post a 0 on the scoreboard.
The Panther offense awoke in the top of the 6th, scoring 6 runs in the frame to take a lead. Kimoto and Nico Hall started the inning with base hits, and then after a strikeout Fragela and Maxwell Rogers were hit by pitches to force in a run. Babcock and Blake Prestash each hit RBI singles to right, cutting the lead to 2. Aaron Hair dropped a bloop into center that went down as a fielder's choice as Prestash was forced out at 2nd, but Rogers was able to score on the play. The rally continued as Justin Smulik was hit by a pitch, and then the PAntehrs took the lead as a throw to second on a Fielder's choice from Kimoto went wide of the target, allowing two runs to score. With the Panthers' first lead of the day, Long returned to the mound, and retired the side in order, sending the game to its final inning.
In the bottom of the seventh, Long returned to the hill and got the first two outs of the inning, but also allowed a 1-out single. Long was unable to retire a pitch hirrer, who drew a walk, and then gave up a single to right field to tie the game at 6. After the run scored, Long was replaced by Logan McConnell. McConnell could not get out of the inning, allowing a single on the only batter he faced, which brought in the game-winning run.
Maddox Stadler started for the Panthers and allowed 4 earned over 2+ innings. Ben Suter also pitched two innings, allowing one run without giving up a hit. Joe Long (0-1) picked up the loss. He pitched 2.2 innings and was charged with 2 earned runs. Offensively, three Panthers recorded multihit games. Bret Babcock was 2 for 2 with an RBI and a run scored. Kyle Kimoto was also 2 for 3 and scored once. Nico all finished 2 for 4 and also scored.
Game 2: Pitt-Bradford 4 - Haverford 5
In the second game of the day, Pitt-Bradford took an early lead with a three-run first, but could not hold off the Fords who tied the game in the 4th and then won it in the 7th.
Collin Porter took the hill for Pitt-Bradford and allowed two runs in the top of the first. He hit the first batter of the game but was able to strike out the next. The runner moved into scoring position on a balk and then scored on a single to right. The Haverford batter was able to move to second on the throw to the plate and then stole third base during the next at-bat. Before Porter could get out of the inning, he was called for another balk, allowing the run to score.
The Panthers were able to strike right back in the bottom of the first, scoring three runs of their own. After Nico Hall drew a walk and was picked off on the basepaths, four straight Panthers reached to score the first run. Andrew Bokulich restarted the rally with a single and then following a walk to Fragela, Rogers singled into left to load the bases. Babcock was then able to draw a walk to force in the run. After a strikeout recorded the second out, a throwing error on a pick-off attempt allowed Fragela and Rogers to score to give the Panthers a 3-2 lead.
Porter worked around a leadoff walk to post a shutdown inning in the second and then saw his offense post an insurance run in the bottom of the frame. With one out in the inning Hall hit a ground ball for a potential inning-ending double play, but could not be thrown out, the relay throw was errant on the play, allowing Hall to move up to 2nd base. With Bokulich at the plate, the Haverford pitcher uncorked two wild pitches, allowing Hall to come around and score.
Neither team was able to score in the 3rd inning, but in the 4th, Haverford scored twice to tie the game at 4. Porter walked the leadoff batter and then after a strikeout, allowed a double down the line to cut the lead in half. A bunt single put runners on the corners before a groundout to the pitcher brought in the tying run. In the bottom of the inning, the Panthers were unable to start a rally, going down without a hit.
Haverford put the first two batters of the 5th on base, but Porter was able to strike out two in the inning, keeping the game tied. In the bottom of the inning, the Panthers put two runners on base with one-out walks, but a double play brought the inning to a quick end.
Branson Scarantine replaced Porter in the 6th, and made quick work of the Fords, posting a 1-2-3 inning. Babcock led off the 6th with a single, but was quickly erased with a double play before the inning ended on a strikeout.
In the 7th, Scarantine was able to get two outs around a bunt single, however, he was not able to get out of the inning unscathed, as a double to the gap brought in the go-ahead run. The Panthers went down in order with a strikeout and two groundouts to end the game.
Collin Porter pitched 5.0 innings for the Panthers, allowing 4 earned on 5 hits and 3 walks. He struck out 5. Branson Scarantine (0-1) picked up the loss after allowing 1 earned on 2 hits in 2.0 innings pitched. On the offensive end, the Panthers could muster three hits, singles from Bokulich, Rogers, and Babcock.
Pitt-Bradford falls to 5-8 on the season with the sweep. They will return to action tomorrow for one more day of action in Florida. They will play a split doubleheader, taking on Franklin & Marshall at 9:00 a.m., and then Skidmore at 12:00.
