Myrtle Beach, S.C. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford baseball team started their Spring Break trip to Myrtle Beach on Sunday, splitting a doubleheader with Manchester. The Panthers fell 6-2 in game one and then came back to take game two 4-3.
Game One:
The opening game of the double dip saw the Panthers fall behind early, but quickly responded to cut the deficit to two. Late in the game, the Spartans extended their lead and held on for the win.
Shawn Mannering started on the hill for the Panthers, and needed to work out of a jam early. Mannering struck out the leadoff hitter, but then allowed a triple to the gap. He was able to escape unscathed, as Blake Prestash fielded a grounder and threw the runner out at the plate. After the Panthers were set down in order in their half of the first, Manchester was able to take the lead on the second, using a Pitt-Bradford throwing error and two sacrifice bunts to score.
The Spartans tacked on two more in the third. Mannering allowed two singles to start the inning and then uncorked a wild pitch. Noah Avey tried to throw out the lead runner on the wild pitch, but missed the target, allowing both runners to take an extra base and force in a run. Following a hit batter, the Spartans bunted in the second run of the frame. An infield single put runners on the corners, but Mannering buckled down and got out of the inning with a strikeout and a fly ball to center.
The Panthers battled back in the second half of the frame, scoring twice. Alex Ognen led off with a single down the line, and then moved to third on an Avey single. After a strikeout, Aiden Zimmerman lined a single through the left side to bring in the first run. Seth Helgert followed with a single to left, but Avey was thrown out at the plate trying to score. A batter later, Blake Prestash singled to right field to drive in Zimmerman and cut the deficit to one.
Neither team was able to muster scoring opportunities over the next three frames, as both pitchers worked effectively through the middle of the game. The best opportunity came in the top of the 6th, when the Spartans put two runners on with one out using a throwing error and a single. Mannering escaped the jam one final time, inducing a shallow fly ball to right and a groundout to short.
Branson Scarantine relieved Mannering to start the 7th and put the leadoff runner on with a hit by pitch. After a balk and a groundout, the lefty gave up a double to left center, bringing in the 4th run of the game. Later in the inning, the Spartans had runners on 2nd and 3rd with two outs. Scarantine nearly got out of the inning without further damage, but a bloop single to left with two strikes brought in two more runs to push the deficit to 4. A batter later, he ended the inning with a strikeout.
In the last of the 7th, Ognen led off with a walk and following a strikeout, stole second base. Braden Meadows nearly drove him in, sharply grounding out to second base, but Ognen was stranded on third when the game ended on a fly ball to center.
Shawn Mannering was saddled with the loss after allowing 3 runs, 2 earned, on 6 hits in 6.0 innings pitched. He struck out 4 batters. Branson Scarantine pitched the 7th, allowing 3 runs on 3 hits and 2 free passes. He struck out one. Offensively, Blake Prestsh was 1 for 3 with an RBI. Aiden Zimmerman went 1-4, scored a run and drove in another. Alex Ognen had a hit and a run scored, while Trent Bielak hit a double.
Game Two:
In game two of the doubleheader, the Panthers scored first, and then copied each Manchester scoring frame with one of their own to pick up a 4-3 win.
Pitt-Bradford was set down 1-2-3 to begin the game, sending Patrick Synan to the mound for the bottom half. Synan kept the Spartans off the board, working around a two out single while striking out one. The Panthers stranded a pair in the top of the 2nd, and Synan kept the game scoreless in the bottom of the frame.
The Panthers took the lead in the 3rd. Aiden Zimmerman drew a one-out walk and then moved to second on a soft grounder. Maxwell Rogers stepped up and drove a double off the wall in center field to bring in Zimmerman. Manchester tied the game up in the bottom of the inning with some help from the Panther defense. With one out, a fly ball was dropped in the outfield, allowing a runner to move into scoring position. After a single put runners on the corner, the Spartans drove in the run with a sacrifice fly to center.
Pitt-Bradford grabbed momentum right back in the 4th, using a two out rally to go in front. Braden Meadows started the rally with a double down the right field line, and then moved to third when Logan McConnell singled through the right side of the infield. Left fielder Alan Compres came up next, and made up for the error in the prior inning, lining a double down the right field line to bring in Meadows.
Manchester took the lead in the bottom of the frame, scoring twice. Synan walked the first two batters, but then quickly retired the next two batters on a sacrifice bunt and a strikeout. It seemed as if he might get out of the jam, as he induced a slow chopper in the infield, but the batter was able to beat the throw to first for a hit. The Spartans got aggressive on the basepaths during the play, scoring both runners. Following a stolen base and a throwing error that put a runner on third, Synan fielded a comebacker and threw to first to end the inning.
For the second straight inning, the Panthers matched the Spartans, scoring twice to regain the lead. Rogers started the frame with a one out single, and then rounded the bases when Trent Bielak's single was misplayed in the outfield. After a strikeout, Alex Colwell lined a single into left to drive in Bielak and give the Panthers the lead. Meadows tallied his third hit of the day to continue the rally, but the inning came to an end a batter later on a fly ball to right. Synan allowed a 1-out double in the 5th, but completed the shutdown inning to keep the Panthers in front.
In the 6th, the Panthers put a pair of runners on but could not extend their lead. Brayden Hageter replaced Synan in the bottom of the inning, and retired the first two batters he faced. He ran into some bad luck with two down, allowing a seeing eye single through the left side and two infield hits to load the bases. He escaped the jam however, getting an inning ending grounder to third to strand all three runners.
Meadows tallied his fourth hit of the game with two outs in the 7th, but the Panthers could not add to the lead, turning the ball over to Collin Porter to shut the door. Porter made quick work of the Spartans in the 7th, retiring the side in order to end the game and earn his first save of the year.
Patrick Synan (1-0) earned the win after allowing 3 runs, 2 earned, on 4 hits and 3 walks in 5 innings pitched. He struck out two. Brayden Hageter pitched one scoreless inning with one strikeout. Collin Porter slammed the door in the 7th with a 1-2-3 inning. Offensively, freshman Braden Meadows had an impressive debut, finishing 4 for 4 with a run scored and a double. Maxwell Rogers and Alan Compres both finished 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI, while Rogers also scored a run. Alex Colwell also had two hits and a run driven in.
The split doubleheader gives the Panthers a 2-1 record. They will be right back in action tomorrow, as they will take on Lancaster Bible College in another doubleheader. The games will be held at the Ripken Experience's Ebbets Field. First pitch is slated for 10:00 a.m.
