Naples, Fl. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford softball team brought its Spring Break trip to Naples, Florida to a close on Friday, dropping a pair of games to SUNY Brockport and SUNY Potsdam. A late Panther rally fell short against Brockport, leading to a 10-8 loss and a slow start against Potsdam resulted in a 9-1 loss in 5 innings.

Game 1 -

The Panthers found themselves in a hole early against the Golden Eagles, who struck for 3 runs on 4 hits in the top of the first inning. They were able to battle right back in the bottom half of the inning, as they scored 2 runs to cut the deficit back to one. Faith McLaughlin singled up the middle to lead off the inning and Chloe Cordova followed with a walk. McLaughlin stole third base in the next at-bat, and then scored on a wild pitch. Cordova moved to third base on a groundout and then scored on a sacrifice fly from Lexi Peters.

Starting pitcher Lindsay Steele worked around a two-out single to post a shutdown inning in the 2nd, but the Panthers could not capitalize, as they were set down in order in their at-bat. In the 3rd, Brockport exploded for 5 runs on 6 hits, scoring four of them after two outs had been recorded. After the 5th and final run of the frame scored on a wild pitch, Ashley Stein replaced Steele and ended the inning with a groundout to short.

The Panthers threatened to cut into the lead in the 3rd, as Cordova singled with one out and Daytona WEntzel followed with a walk, but they were unable to take advantage of the situation, as the next two batters were retired to end the threat. Both teams went down quietly in the 4th and then added a run in the 5th. Brockport scored with two singles followed by a double steal. Rachel Prybysz scored the Panther run on her own as she reached on an error to lead off the frame, and then advanced all the way home on three wild pitches. 

Brockport added their 10th run on a two-out single in the 6th before the Panthers began their rally in the bottom of the inning. The Panthers took advantage of wild Golden Eagles pitching to score 5 runs on just 2 hits., all of them coming with two outs.  With one out Madison Camp drew a walk to put runners on first and second. The rally was then put on hold as Lizzy Hoovler singled up the middle, but Hannah Fisher was thrown out trying to score on the play. After the hit, the Panthers' patience took over as the next two batters drew walks to score the first run. After the second free pass, Brockport went to the bullpen, but their move was futile as the new pitcher uncorked two wild pitches, allowing two runs to score. Cordova drew another walk and then moved to second on a wild pitch before Ciera Adams came up with a big two-run double to left field, cutting the lead to two. Peters followed the double with another walk and then both runners moved into scoring position on yet another wild pitch. Brockport went back to the bullpen for the second time in the inning but found more success as the new pitcher induced an inning-ending groundout to short.

In the 7th, Stein logged a massive shutdown inning, stranding a runner on second to send the game to the bottom of the 7th with the Panthers down two. The Panthers got off to a strong start in the inning as Hannah Fisher and Madison Camp each drew walks. The Golden Eagles were able to get two outs on a pop-up to third and a fielder's choice, but a stolen base by Przybysz put the tying run on 2nd base with two outs. Unfortunately, the Panthers were unable to complete the rally, as a long at-bat from Lexi Najdusak ended in a strikeout. 

Lindsay Steele (0-2) was tagged with the loss after allowing 8 earned runs on 11 hits in 2.2 innings pitched. Ashley Stein had a strong relief outing, scattering 8 Brockport hits to allow 2 runs in 4.1 innings pitched. Chloe Cordova reached base 4 times in the game, hitting two singles and walking twice. Ciera Adams had a two-run double and Rachel Przybysz scored two runs.

Game 2:

In their final game of the trip, the Panthers struggled to get going, as they fell behind early, and eventually lost 9-1 in 5 innings to Potsdam.

Daytona Wentzel hit a two-out double to left center in the first but was left on second base after a grounder to shortstop ended the inning. In the bottom half, the Bears took advantage of a Panther error that extended the inning and led to a pair of runs scoring. With two outs, the Bears scored one on a double down the line and then a second on a single through the right side. The inning continued as runners moved to second and third on a single off of second base, but starting pitcher Krisyln Clement struck out the next batter to end the inning. 

Clement singled with one out in the second but never advanced in the inning, but was able to keep the Potsdam lead 2-0. In the 3rd, the Panthers put together a two-out rally but were unable to come up with a big hit. Faith McLaughlin drew a one-out walk and then after a fielder's choice, Wentzel delivered her second hit of the game, singling into right field. Chloe Cordova and Wentzel pulled off a double steal before Lexi Peters was walked to load the bases. Kylee Hertlein came up next and hit a hard line drive, but it was right at the 2nd baseman who made the catch to leave the bases loaded.

The Panthers would rue not scoring in their half of the third, as Potsdam doubled their lead in the bottom. The Bears loaded the bases on two singles and a walk. After a fielder's choice, the Bears scored a run on a sacrifice fly to center and then following a walk, added their 4th run on a wild pitch. Clement was able to escape the inning without further damage with a fly ball to right. 

The Panthers were only able to draw a walk in the 4th and then saw the bears take advantage of 3 errors in the frame to go ahead 9-0. The first run scored as the Bears' leadoff batter reached on a single, took 2nd on a wild pitch, and then scored on a single. The Panthers then committed three straight errors, allowing two more runs to score. Clement was replaced by Ashton BEckerink after a walk loaded the bases with one out. Beckerink walked in a run to start her outing and then saw another inherited runner score on a fielder's choice. She got out of the inning with a fly ball to center to strand two runners.

Pitt-Bradford needed at least two runs in the 5th and got off to a good start as Faith McLaughlin tripled down the right-field line and then was credited with a steal of home. Following a groundout, Wentzel picked up her third hit of the contest with a single up the middle but saw the game end a few batters later on pop up and a strikeout.

Krislyn Clement (2-1) was saddled with the loss after allowing 9 runs, 3 earned, in 3.1 innings pitched. She struck out two. Daytona Wentzel went 3 for 3 in the game, while McLaughlin added a triple and a steal. 

The Panthers finish their spring trip with a 4 wins and 6 losses record, bringing their overall record to 3-8 on the season. They are next scheduled to host Baldwin Wallace for a doubleheader on Saturday, March 18th. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.