Myrtle Beach, S.C. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford brought their Spring Break to Myrtle Beach, S.C. to a close on Saturday, sweeping FDU-Florham. The Panthers used a dominating performance from Shawn Mannering to take game one 4-1, and then responded to a late rally with a winning run in the 7th to win game two 8-7.
Game One:
Pitt-Bradford took an early lead in the opening game of the double dip, and then let Shawn Mannering take over to ride out the victory.
Mannering made quick work of the Devils in the first, striking out two batters in the process of posting an opening inning 0. In the bottom half, the Panthers started with two strikeouts, but put a pair of runners on with a Maxwell Rogers single and a Trent Bielak walk. They could not bring in the opening run, however, as the inning ended on the third strikeout of the frame.
In the second, Mannering was more dominant than the first, striking out the side to get the Panthers back into the batter's box. Alex Colwell led off with a double to the gap, and then after Alex Ognen drew a walk, Seth Helgert laid down a sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position. With two outs, Tim Johnson came through with a clutch two-out single up the middle, bringing home both runners and putting Pitt-Bradford ahead 2-0.
FDU-Florham led off the 3rd with a home run to right, but Mannering settled back down and retired the next three batters in a row, striking out two more. The Panthers got the run right back in the bottom of the 3rd when Blake Prestash hit a home run to left center, his 2nd of the year. The Devils put the leadoff batter on base with a single to begin the 4th, but once again Mannering worked through the trouble, ending the inning with two additional ks. Pitt-Bradford tacked on an extra insurance run with a two-out rally in the bottom of the 4th. Johnson was hit by a pitch, and then moved all the way to third with a wild pitch and a stolen base. He scored when Avey reached on an error, giving the Panthers a 4-1 lead.
That was all the offense Mannering would need to complete the game. He set down FDU-Florham in order in the 5th and then after walking the leadoff batter int he 6th, quickly brought the frame to an end by picking off the runner at first and then getting a lineout to third and a fly ball to right.
In the 7th, Mannering got two quick outs with a strikeout and a ground ball to second. He allowed a single and wild pitch to put a runner on second, but ended the game with his 12th strikeout.
Shawn Mannering (2-1) earned the complete game victory for the Panthers. He allowed just 1 earned run on 3 hits. He struck out 12 batters, setting a career high. Tim Johnson finished 1-3 with 2 RBI, 1 run scored and a pair of stolen bases. Blake Prestash hit his second home run of the season, and Alex Colwell had a multihit game, finishing 2-3.
Game 2:
In their final game in South Carolina, Pitt-Bradford jumped out to an early lead. They let the Devils back in the game, but answered back with the winning run in the 7th to pick up an 8-7 victory.
The Panthers put the first two batters of the game on base, but could not open the scoring on the first as the next three batters were retired. Starting pitcher Patrick Synan took the mound in the bottom half and made quick work of the Devils, striking out 2 batters in a 1-2-3 inning.
Alex Colwell opened the scoring in the top of the 2nd, leading off the frame with a home run to left. It was the first of the infielder's career. Kenny Nickson III followed with a walk and a stolen base. He moved to third when the 4th ball to Logan McConnell was wild, putting runners on the corners. The Panthers brought in their second run of the inning with a successful double steal, leading to a FDU-Florham pitching change. The Panthers loaded the bases when Johnson beat the throw to 1st on a sacrifice bunt for a fielder's choice. After a flyout to left, Rogers singled up the middle to extend the lead to 4.
Synan worked around a single and an error to start the 2nd to post a shutdown inning and keep the momentum with the Panthers. He was rewarded in the 3rd as Prestash hit his second home run of the day, crushing a pitch over the wall in left center. It was his 3rd of the season. The Panthers threatened to add more when Nickson and McConnell hit back-to-back singles, but Ognen lined sharply into a double play to end the threat. The Devils got one of the runs back in their half of the third. Synan walked the leadoff batter and then saw the bases filled after two errors in the infield. He escaped the jam with little damage, as only one run scored on a sacrifice fly.
Rogers got the run right back for Pitt-Bradford in the 4th, hitting a two-out home run to left field, giving the Panthers a 6-1 advantage. Synan struck out the two batters of the bottom of the 4th, however FDU-Florham rallied with a walk and three singles to score a run. The Panthers saved a run on the final hit, as Bielak and Colwell combined to throw out a second runner at the plate for the third out.
Pitt-Bradford went down in order in the 5th, and then the Devil's rally continued. Synan allowed a leadoff double and then after a fly out to left, gave up an infield single and a walk to load the bases. He was relieved by Joe Long, who allowed two runs to score on a single and a wild pitch before striking out the next two Devils to end the threat.
In the 6th, Ognen hit a 1-out home run to left, pushing the Panther advantage back to 3 runs. It was his first career home run. Johnson and Braden Meadows followed with singles to right center, but Rogers grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning. Long started the bottom of the inning well, retiring the first two batters on a groundout and a strikeout, but could not finish the inning. The next three FDU-Florham batters singled, and they scored twice on the final hit as it was misplayed in the outfield. Ethan Zimmerman replaced Long with two ours and a runner on third, but the lefty could not hold off the Devils, who tied the game with a single up the middle. They looked to take the lead as the next batter doubled down the left field line, but the Panthers executed another relay to throw out the go-ahead run at the plate.
Tied at 7th in the final inning, Trent Bielak led off with a double down the left field line. He moved to third when Prestash flew out to right field, and then scored as Colwell reached on an error in the infield. Zimmerman returned to the hill for the 7th, and retired the side in order, ending the game.
Ethan Zimmerman (1-0) picked up the victory, throwing the final 1.1 innings, while allowing 2 hits and no runs with a strikeout. Patrick Synan started the game for the Panthers and received a no-decision. He lasted 4.1 innings, allowing 4 runs, 3 earned. He struck out six. Joe Long pitched 1.1 innings, allowing 3 earned runs with 3 strikeouts. Offensively, the Panthers tallied 4 home runs. Alex Colwell and Alex Ognen each hit their first of the year, while Maxwell Rogers hit his second and Blake Prestash tallied his third. Rogers finished 2 for 3 and drove in 3 runs. Tim Johnson also had a multihit game, finishing 2 for 3.
The Panthers finish the trip to Myrtle Beach with 6 wins and 3 losses, putting their record at 7-3 overall. They are scheduled to return action on Thursday, March 13th with a doubleheader at Houghton.
