Bradford, Pa. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford baseball team took on the Alfred State Pioneers in the 3rd game of Day Three at the AMCC Baseball Championship Tournament on Friday evening. With a spot in the championship on the line, the Panthers fell just short, losing 6-4 to the Pioneers, bringing their campaign to an end.

The Panthers looked to start quickly as Aiden Zimmerman lined a double down the right field line. After a Maxwell Rogers line drive was snagged at the hot corner, Trent Bielak hit a single into right to put runners don't he corners. Pitt-Bradford could not come up with another hit, however, as the next two batters were retired on a pop-up and a groundout. Joe Long started the game on the mound for the Panthers and made quick work of the Pioneers in the bottom of the first, retiring the side in order.

After neither team scored in the 2nd, the Panthers broke the seal with a run in the top of the third. Tim Johnson drew a leadoff walk and then moved up to third on a sacrifice bunt and a groundout to the right side. With Johnson on third and two outs, Bielak came through with another hit, finding the hole on the right side for a run-scoring single. 

The Pioneers came right back in the bottom half of the inning, taking the lead with 3 runs. Long hit the leadoff batter with a pitch, and then, after a stolen base and a strikeout, gave up a single through the right side. He got the next batter to fly out to left, but then gave up a towering home run to left, which put the Pioneers in front.

The Panthers went down in order in the 4th, and the Pioneers used the momentum to add to their lead in the bottom of the inning. Long retired the first two batters, but then allowed a double to right and hit a batter. The next batter hit another double down the left field line to drive in one run, but the Panthers were able to cut down the trail runner at the plate to end the frame. 

Pitt-Bradford put a pair on with two walks in the top of the 5th, but could not find a hit to bring them in. Ethan Zimmerman replaced Long to start the 5th and posted a zero despite allowing a two-out double. 

In the 6th, the Panthers used a two-out rally to cut into the Pioneer lead. Noah Avey hit a one-hop double off the wall in deep right-center, and then scored a batter later when Logan McConnell singled off the screen in left. Ognen continued the rally with an infield single, but a pop-up by Johnson brought it to an end. Zimmerman was not able to hold the Pioneers off the board in the bottom of the frame, allowing three hits, including a double to push their lead to 6-2.

The Panthers got the runs right back in the top of the 7th. Aiden Zimmerman led off with a walk, and then, following a stolen base, scored when Rogers doubled down the left field line. After a pitching change, Bielak found the hole on the right side of the infield for the third time, putting runners on the corners. Two batters later, Blake Prestash drove in the second run of the inning with a sacrifice fly to center.

Brayden Hageter entered the game on the mound to begin the 7th, and despite allowing a leadoff double, retired the next three Pioneers to post the shutdown inning. Neither team put a runner on in the 8th, sending the game to the 9th with Alfred State leading 6-4.

In the 9th, the Panthers looked to rally as Rogers hit a one-out single through the left side. Bielak followed with a double to the gap in left center, but Rogers was thrown out at the plate trying to score from first. A batter later, the season came to an end on a groundout to third. 

Joe Long (2-3) received the loss after allowing 4 earned in 4.0 innings pitched. He struck out 3. Ethan Zimmerman pitched 2 innings in relief, allowing 2 earned runs. Brayden Hageter pitched the final 2 innings, allowing just one hit. Trent Bielak went 4 for 5 in the game, hitting 3 singles and a double while driving in one run. Maxwell Rogers went 2 for 5 with a double, a run scored, and one more driven in. Logan McConnell also posted a multi-hit game, going 2 for 4 with an RBI. Aiden Zimmerman and Noah Avey also had doubles in the loss. 

After the game, Trent Bielak and Jacob Sherdel were named to the All-Tournament team. Sherdel pitched in the Panthers' 6-2 win over Alfred State on Thursday. He went 8+ innings, allowing 2 earned runs on 5 hits with 10 strikeouts. Bielak hit .428 over four games, tallying 2 home runs, 7 RBI, 4 runs scored, and four extra-base hits. 

The Panthers finish their season with a 16-18 record.