Pittsburgh, Pa. -- The University of Pittsburgh baseball team opened its AMCC schedule on Saturday with a road doubleheader at LaRoche. The Panthers lost both games, dropping a pitcher's duel 4-2 in the opener and then falling on a walk-off in game two.

Game 1:

In game one, the Panthers struggled to get their offense started, as they were held without a hit through the first five frames. Starting Pitcher Sean Mannering kept Pitt-Bradford in the game, but two costly errors led to 3 unearned runs and the Panthers fell 4-2.

After a quiet first, the Panthers threatened to open the scoring in the second. They drew three walks to load the bases, including a pair with two outs, but could not find the clutch hit as the inning ended on a fly ball to center.

Mannering retired the side in order in the second but ran into trouble in the third. After a leadoff double, the Redhawks moved the runner to third on a sacrifice bunt and then brought it in on an infield error. LaRoche dropped down another sacrifice bunt to move the runner into scoring position, and then grounded a single into center to double the advantage. 

Pitt-Bradford finally broke through in the 6th. Trent Bielak led off and reached on an error, and after a flyout, moved to second on a walk. Following a strikeout, Kenny Nickson III singled into left to bring in Bielak on Pitt-Bradford's first hit of the game. They could not keep the momentum however, as the Redhawks came right back with two more in the bottom of the inning. The hosts started the frame with back-to-back singles and then dropped down a bunt. Mannering fielded the bunt, but his throw to first was wild, allowing the batter to reach and two runs to score on the error. Mannering avoided further damage with a double play and a strikeout after a double.

In the 7th, Aiden Zimmerman tried to start a rally with a one-out single. He then stole second base and took third as the throw-down got away. Tim Johnson brought him in in the next at-bat with an RBI groundout to short. Trent Bielak came up next and hit a high fly to left, but it came up short, ending the game.

Shawn Mannering (3-2) picked up the loss after allowing 4 runs, 1 earned, on 6 hits in 6.0 innings pitched. He struck out 6. The Panthers' offense only had two hits in the game. Kenny Nickson III drove in a run with one, while Aiden Zimmerman had the other. Zimmerman also stole a base and scored a run. Tim Johnson had the other RBI for Pitt-Bradford.

Game Two:

Pitt-Bradford fell behind early in game two as the Redhawks scored the first 5 runs of the game. The Panthers battled back, and eventually tied the game at 6 in the top of the 9th, but fell on a walk-off two-run home run.

The first two innings of the game were uneventful, as starting pitcher Patrick Synan matched a pair of shutout frames. The Hosts broke through in the 3rd with a two-out rally. Synan started the frame with a pair of groundouts, but after a single and a hit batter extended the inning, allowed a double to center to bring in the run.

Pitt-Bradford looked to strike right back in the 4th when Alex Colwell and Kenny Nickson III hit back-to-back singles. The Panthers had runners on the corners after a wild pitch, but the inning came to an abrupt end on a 6-4-3 double play. The momentum quickly swang back to LaRoche, as the hosts rallied to score 4 times in the fourth. Synan struck out the leadoff batter of the frame but then allowed six straight hits and a fielder's choice to bring in the runs. 

The Panthers offense picked it up in the 5th, cutting the deficit two two after a pair of home runs. Maxwell Rogers got it started, hitting a solo home run down the left-field line. It was his second home run of the season. Following a flyout, Alex Ognen drew a two-out walk before Trent Bielak blasted a two-run homer to right center. The blast was his third. In the bottom half, Synan hit two batters around two outs and was replaced by Ethan Zimmerman. The lefty reliever quickly ended the inning with a fly out to center.

Pitt-Bradford gifted the Redhawks a run in the 6th. Zimmerman hit the leadoff batter, and then on a sacrifice bunt attempt, threw the ball down the line, allowing the run to score. He settled back down after the error. Striking out the next two Redhawks before ending the inning with a flyball to left.

Neither team threatened in the 7th before Pitt-Bradford rallied with two outs to cut the LaRoche lead to one in the 8th. Kenny Nickson III was hit by a pitch before Logan McConnell grounded a single through the right side. Seth Helgert walked to load the bases and Rogers hit a single back up the middle to drive in a pair. Zimmerman posted an important shutdown inning in the 8th, retiring the side in order.

In the 9th, Trent Bielak reached on an error with one out, and then quickly moved to third on a steal and a wild pitch. Blake Prestash came through with a clutch hit, lining a single into center field to tie the game at 6. Brayden Hageter replaced Zimmerman to start the bottom of the 9th and allowed the leadoff batter to reach on a single. After a passed ball, the Panthers nearly doubled off the runner as Alex Colwell made a diving catch on a sacrifice bunt attempt, but the runner scrambled back to the bag in time. The winning run moved to third on a wild pitch before the game came to an abrupt end on a two-run game-winning home run.

Patrick Synan finished with no decision. He allowed 5 earned runs in 4.2 innings pitched. He struck out 3. Ethan Zimmerman had an effective relief outing, pitching 3.1 innings, allowing 1 unearned run on 2 hits and a walk. He struck out 2. Brayden Hageter (0-1) got the loss after allowing the game-winner. Maxwell Rogers finished 2 for 3 at the plate with a home run and 3 RBI. Trent Bielak also hit a home run, going 1 for 4 with 2 runs scored and a pair of RBI. Tim Johnson finished with a multihit game, while Blake Prestash drove in the game-tying run in the 9th.

Pitt Bradford drops to 10-8 on the season with a 0-2 record in AMCC play. They are scheduled to be back in action on Tuesday when they host Penn State-Behrend in what will be their first home game of the season. First Pitch is slated for 1:00 p.m. at Repchick Field.