Slippery Rock, Pa. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford baseball team began their 2025 campaign on Monday evening, as they traveled to Slippery Rock for a 9-inning contest against Bethany. After a slow start, the Panthers exploded for 18 runs and used a strong start from Shawn Mannering to defeat the Bison 18-6.
The Panther offense started slow, as they put runners on base in the first two innings of the game, but could not advance them into scoring position. Mannering took the hill and made quick work of the Bison in the first, working around a two-out walk to post a scoreless first. He fell behind in the 2nd, as the hosts scored with a pair of hits. Mannering allowed a one-out double, and then after a strikeout, saw the next batter beat out an infield single to put runners on the corners. The Bison successfully pulled off a double steal to bring in the run before Mannering picked up his third strikeout of the game to end the frame.
Pitt-Bradford did not trail for long and struck right back to tie the game in the top of the third. Jake Soricone drew a one-out walk, and then moved to second when Aiden Zimmerman lined a single through the left side. Maxwell Rogers stepped up next and grounded a hit back up the middle to bring in Soricone and move Zimmerman to third. Rogers quickly stole second base to put two runners in scoring position, but the Panthers could not find another hit to take the lead. Mannering posted an important shutdown inning in the third, setting down the side in order with two strikeouts to get the offense back into the dugout.
Mannering was rewarded in the top of the third when the Pitt-Bradford offense exploded for four runs to go ahead. Trent Bielak was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame, and then Alex Colwell and Noah Avey loaded the bases with back-to-back singles. Alex Ognen came through with a clutch hit, driving a double to deep left field to bring in a pair. Avey scored during the next at-bat on a wild pitch, and then Ognen scored a batter later on a Zimmerman sacrifice fly. Mannering went back to the hill, armed with a 5-1 lead, and posted a 1-2-3 inning with two more strikeouts.
Both teams put runners on base in the 5th, but were unable to tally any runs. In the 6th, the Panther offense struck again, scoring five more times with the help of 3 Bethany errors and two passed balls. Ognen started the inning with an infield single, and then after pinch hitter Tim Johnson reached on an error, Zimmerman dropped down a perfect bunt for a single, loading the bases with no outs. With Rogers at the plate, the Bison starter uncorked a wild pitch, allowing Ognen to scamper home, and the throw to the plate was also errant, which let Johnson score. Rogers drove in the third run of the frame with a sacrifice fly to deep center field. The Panthers restarted the inning with one out and quickly put a pair of runners on with a walk and a hit batter. Another wild pitch allowed the runners to advance into scoring position, and then score on a fielding error, and a passed ball.
The Bison were finally able to threaten in the 6th, as they loaded the bases before an out was recorded with a leadoff walk, infield single, and hit batter. After a mound visit, Mannering settled down and struck out the next three Bethany batters to end the frame. After a scoreless top of the 7th, Mannering was lifted for Patrick Synan. The Pitt-Bradford junior ran into trouble right away, allowing three singles in a row to load the bases. A catcher's interference brought in the first runner and then following a strikeout, Synan allowed a double to drive in two more. An RBI groundout cut the Panther lead to 5 before Synan was able to end the inning on a grounder back to the mound.
Pitt-Bradford took the momentum right back in the 8th, matching the Bison with 4 runs of their own to restore the 9-run advantage. Blake Prestash was hit by a pitch to start the frame and then Bielak grounded a double down the right-field line. Colwell brought home Prestsh with a sacrifice fly, and then after a pair of walks loaded the bases, Tim Johnson hit a fly ball to deep left center. The hit landed in the outfield, however, Johnson overran the runner on first, resulting in an RBI single and an out. Kyle Kimoto continued the rally with a walk and the Rogers lined a single into center, bringing in two more runs.
Joe Long replaced Synan for the 8th, and would also give up a run. After allowing a leadoff single, Long got the next two batters on a soft grounder to first and a strikeout. He could not escape the inning, as the next batter drove a double into left to bring in the runner. He was able to end the frame two batters later with a pop-up in the infield.
Prestash and Bielak started the final inning with a pair of singles, and then the Panthers loaded the bases when Colwell reached on an error. Following a strikeout, Ognen drove in a run on a fielding error in the infield, and then Johnson drove a ball into the left-centerfield gap to empty the bases. Collin Porter pitched the bottom of the 9th, working around a two-out walk and single to end the game.
Shawn Mannering (1-0) earned the win after a dominating season debut. He went 6 innings, allowing 1 earned run on 4 hits and 2 walks. He struck out 11 batters. Patrick Synan pitched one inning, allowing 4 runs, 3 earned, with one strikeout. Joe Long also pitched one inning, giving up 1 earned run on 2 hits, while striking out 1. Collin Porter pitched a scoreless 9th, allowing 1 hit and a walk, while striking out 1. Offensively, the Panthers pounded out 15 hits and drew 12 free passes. Senior outfielder Maxwell Rogers led the way, finishing 3 for 5 with four runs batted in. Alex Ognen went 2 for 5, scoring 4 times, while driving in 3. Tim Johnson went 2 for 4 after pinch-hitting in the 5th driving in 4 runs. Aiden Zimmerman, Blake Prestash, and Trent Bielak all had multi-hit games, with PRestash and Bielak each scoring 3 times.
The Panthers are 1-0 after winning the opening game of the season. They will have the rest of the week off before heading south, where they will spend Spring Break at the Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Pitt-Bradford will begin their trip with a doubleheader against Manchester on Sunday, March 2nd. First pitch is scheduled for 10:00 a.m.
