Johnstown, Pa. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford baseball team made a big splash in their opening game of the AMCC Championship Tournament, defeating Pitt-Greensburg 15-4.
Pitt-Bradford took an early lead and then stayed in front with a strong start by ace Shawn Mannering. They finally added to their early advantage in the 7th, sending 16 batters to the plate to score 11 runs and put the game out of reach.
After a quiet first inning, the Panthers opened the scoring with two in the second. Following an error in the infield with one out, Kenny Nickson III drove a double into the right-center gap to put runners on 2nd and 3rd. A passed ball allowed Noah Avey to score the first run, and then a batter later, Tim Johnson tripled to deep centerfield to drive in Nickson and double the lead. Mannering gave up a leadoff single in the bottom half, but used two strikeouts and a fly ball to quickly end the inning.
The next four innings flew by, as each team only mustered a hit in the 4th. Blake Prestash singled in the 4th, and then Mannering gave up a double to start the bottom of the inning, but left the runner stranded at third to keep the shutout intact.
The Panthers sent 13 batters to the plate between innings 3 and 6, but exploded in the 7th. They scored 11 times on 10 hits and two walks to break the game open. Avey started the rally with a leadoff walk, and then scored when Nickson smashed his second double to right center. Alex Ognen dropped down a bunt hit to continue the inning, while the Pitt-Greensburg defense threw the ball down the line on the play, allowing Nickson to score and Ognen to take an extra base. Johnson followed with his second run-scoring triple, which chased the Bobcat's starting pitcher with the Panthers ahead 5-0.
The new Bobcat pitcher picked up the first out of the inning on an Aiden Zimmerman groundout, but then allowed the inherited runner to score on a Maxwell Rogers single. Trent Bielak singled and Alex Colwell drew a walk to continue the frame before Prestash extended the lead to 8 with a two-run single to left. After a groundout moved the runners to 2nd and 3rd, Nickson tallied his second hit of the inning, a single through the right side to bring in two more. The Panthers added two more on a Johnson double to left center and then a final run on a Zimmerman double down the right field line before a Rogers line drive was snagged at short to finally end the frame.
After the long layoff, Mannering struggled to refind his rhythm, allowing the first two batters of the bottom of the 7th to reach on a single and a walk. He picked up two outs on a strikeout and a fielder's choice, but could not escape the inning unscathed as the next three Bobcats singled to bring in a pair of runs. With the bases loaded, Mannering induced a ground ball to short to end the inning.
The Panthers got one of the runs right back in the 8th. Colwell beat out an infield single and then went first to third on an Avey single to right. He went on to score on a wild pitch before the inning came to an end. Ethan Zimmerman replaced Mannering to start the 8th and face the meat of the Pitt-Greensburg order. He ran into trouble after a leadoff double, and then after a groundout, hurt his own cause with a throwing error after snagging a chopper back to the mound, which brought in a run. After another single, he allowed a second run to score on a sacrifice fly to left.
Alex Ognen led off the 9th with a single to center and then moved into scoring position when Zimmerman reached on an error. Both runners moved up a bag on a wild pitch before Ognen scored on an RBI groundout by Rogers. Brayden Hageter entered the game to pitch the 9th and made quick work of the Bobcats, retiring the side in order.
Shawn Mannering (4-5) picked up the win after allowing 2 earned runs on 6 hits and a walk in 7 innings pitched. He struck out 6 batters. Ethan Zimmerman allowed 2 runs, 1 earned, in an inning pitched, while Brayden Hageter pitched a perfect 9th with one strikeout. The bottom of the lineup provided most of the pop for the Panthers, as the 7-9 hitters combined for 9 hits. Tim Johnson finished 3 for 5 with 2 triples, a double, 2 runs scored and 4 RBI. Kenny Nickson the III was also 3 for 5, tallying two doubles, 3 runs scored, and 3 driven in. Alex Ognen was the final Panther to register 3 hits in the win, picking up 3 singles and 3 runs scored. Blake Prestash was the only other Panther to record a multihit game, finishing 2 for 5 with 2 RBI and a run scored. Every Panther recorded a hit in the game.
The win moves Pitt-Bradford to 15-16 on the season, and more importantly, keeps them in the winner's bracket in the Championship Tournament. They will be right back in action tomorrow morning, as they take on 2nd-seeded Alfred State at 10:00 a.m. at Sergeant's Stadium at the Point in Johnstown, PA.
