Myrtle Beach, SC -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford baseball team was back in action at the Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach on Friday for a 9-inning contest against Neumann. The Panthers batted back from an early deficit to tie the game at 5, but gave up two in the 9th to fall 7-5.
Trent Bielak started on the hill for the Panthers and after striking out the first two batters of the game, ran into trouble in the opening inning. He extended the inning with a walk, and then after a wild pitch allowed three straight singles, which brought in two Neumann runs. The Panthers immediately responded, cutting the deficit in half in the bottom of the first. Braden Meadows lined a one-out double to right center, and then scored when Maxwell Rogers doubled off the wall in left.
After a quiet 2nd inning, Neumann added to their lead in the 3rd. Bielak gave up a one-out solo home run and then hit a batter and allowed a single to put runners on 1st and 2nd. Following a fielder's choice, Neumann singled to right to bring in their second run of the inning and go ahead 4-1. The Panther threatened in the 3rd and 4th, but could not find the big hit to bring the runners around. Bielak retired the leadoff batter in the 5th, but then allowed two singles and a walk to load the bases. He was relieved by Jacob Sherdel, who was able to limit the damage, inducing a sacrifice fly which brought in one inherited runner and then got a grounder back to the mound to end the inning.
The Pitt-Bradford comeback started in the next half inning when Rogers crushed a pitch over the left field wall for a no-doubt home run. The blast was his first long ball of the year. Sherdel retired the side in order in the 6th, and the Panthers continued to rally with another run in the bottom half. Seth Helgert led off with a single and then moved to third when Noah Avey singled through the right side. He scored a batter later when Tim Johnson reached on a fielder's choice, cutting the deficit to 2.
Sherdel worked around a leadoff single to post another shutdown inning in the 7th, and then saw the offense rally again, scoring 2 runs to tie the game. Rogers led off with a single and then stole second. After two outs, Alex Colwell reached on an infield single and Helgert lined a single through the left side to load the bases. Avey came through with the clutch hit, lining a ground-rule double to right center, bringing in a pair and tying the game at 5.
Neither team threatened in the 8th, moving the game to its final inning all square. Sherdel allowed a lead off single to start the 9th, and then balked, moving the runner into scoring position. After a flyout, he gave up another hit which brought in the go-ahead run. The rally continued with an error in the infield and then the Knights added an extra run with another single up the middle. After the hit, the Panthers turned to Ethan Zimmerman. The lefty allowed a bunt single, but then got an infield fly and a fly ball to right to end the inning. In the bottom of the inning, the Panthers hit the ball hard twice, but the line drives were right at Neumann fielders. They went down in order to end the game.
Jacob Sherdel (1-1) picked up the loss, despite a strong relief outing. He pitched 4.0 innings, allowing 2 runs, 1 earned, on 4 hits. He struck out 3. Trent Bielak picks up a no decision, allowing 5 runs on 9 hits in 4.1 innings pitched. He struck out 4. Ethan Zimmerman got the final two outs. Maxwell Rogers and Noah Avey led the offense, both going 3 for 4. Rogers hit a home run, scored twice and drove in two. Avey had a double and drove in two. Alex Colwell and Seth Helgert also had multihit games for the Panthers.
The loss drops Pitt-Bradford to 5-3 on the year. They will bring their spring break trip to an end tomorrow with one final doubleheader against FDU-Florham. They will play at 10 and 1 at Socastee High School in Myrtle Beach.
