Bradford, Pa. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford softball team returned to the win column on Friday evening, as they swept Penn State-Altoona in an AMCC doubleheader. The Panthers took game one 7-1 and then defeated the Lions 8-1 in the nightcap.
Game 1: Pitt-Bradford 7 - Penn State-Altoona 1
Coming off of a tough offensive day against Penn State-Behrend on Tuesday, Pitt-Bradford jumped right into the lead on Friday, scoring in the first inning and never looking back on the way to a 7-1 victory.
After Krislyn Clement set the side down in order in the top of the first, the Panther offense started right away as Faith McLaughlin singled up the middle to lead off the inning. After a hit batter, Clement hit a hard ground ball that could not be fielded at short, allowing McLaughlin to score from second to put Pitt-Bradford in front.
Clement got out of a jam with runners on 2nd and 3rd with 1 out unscathed in the second but was not so lucky in the third. She walked the leadoff batter and then gave up a double to put two runners in scoring position with nobody out. The lead runner was allowed to score on a sacrifice fly, but Clement was able to settle down and strand the second runner at third base with a lineout to short and a strikeout. The Panthers came right back in the bottom half rallying with two outs to retake the lead. Lexi Peters lined a single to left and then rounded the bases to score from first as Clement helped her own cause, doubling to the gap.
Clement posted a shutdown inning in the 4th, working around a two-out single, and then repeated the feat in the 5th. With a one-run lead in the bottom of the 5th inning, the Panthers rallied again, tacking on 3 more runs in the frame. McLaughlin beat out a bunt single with one out to get things started. She moved to third on a groundout and a wild pitch before Peters walked and stole second. Clement came through with the big hit once more, finding the gap in right-center once more to drive in two. She scored a batter later when Meghan Kapp lined a single into center.
In the 6th, Clement walked one batter, but kept the Lions off the board, keeping the momentum in the home dugout. She was rewarded for her shutdown inning in the bottom half, as the Panthers scored two more times with two outs. Miranda Groll led off with a single, ad then moved to third on a stolen base and a groundout. McLaughlin came to the plate with two down and hit a single to right to bring in Groll. Sara Stroup followed this with a double to left that brought in McLaughlin.
Needing three outs to secure the victory, Clement started the 7th by giving up a leadoff double. 2nd base would be as far as the Lions would go, however, as she retired the next three batters on a pop-up to first and two flyouts.
Krislyn Clement was the star of the game for the Panthers, contributing in the circle and at the plate. While pitching, Clement (7-2) picked up the complete game victory, allowing 1 run on 7 hits while striking out three. At the plate, she was 2 for 3 with two doubles and 3 RBI. Faith McLaughlin had 3 hits in the game, scored 3 runs, and drove in one more.
Game 2: Pitt-Bradford 8 - Penn State-Altoona 1
The second game of the day saw the Panthers win in a different manner, falling behind at the start before using a pair of beginnings to beat the Lions 8-1.
Bri Heller started game two for Pitt-Bradford and got off to a difficult start. After a one-out infield single the runner moved into scoring position on a passed ball. Heller struck out one batter but was not able to escape the jam, allowing a bloop single into right field, allowing the opening run to score. The Panthers stranded a runner after a two-out single in the first and nearly tied the game in the second. Heller drew a walk with one out and then moved to third on a double by Meghan Kapp. She tried to score on a groundout by Ciera Adams but was tagged out at the plate to end the inning.
In the third, Heller took advantage of a double play to keep the Lions off the board before the offense exploded for four runs in the bottom of the frame. Lizzy Hoovler started the inning with a single up the middle and then moved to third as Faith McLaughlin's sacrifice bunt attempt resulted in an error. Miranda Groll was hit by a pitch to load the bases and then Sara Stroup hit a double to left to clear them and put the Panthers up 3-1. After Stroup moved to third on a groundout, Krislyn Clement brought her in with a sacrifice fly to right field.
The Panthers threatened to score in the next two innings but left a runner on 2nd in the 4th and the bases loaded in the 5th. In the meantime, Heller was keeping Penn State-Altoona's offense in check, allowing a single in their half of the 4th and then retiring the side in order in the 5th.
Heller stranded runners on the corners in the 6th inning, and the Panther offense responded in the bottom half, scoring 4 more times to extend their advantage to 7-1. Hoovler started the rally once again, dropping a single into center field. McLaughlin reached on another error on a sacrifice bunt to continue the inning, and then promptly stole second. Hoovler was able to score as Groll groundout out to shortstop, and then after Stroup drew a walk and stole second, Lexi Peters doubled to deep left center, driving in a pair of runs. Peters took third on the throw to the plate, and then scored on another RBI groundout, this time from Clement.
Sandra Watne replaced Heller to pitch the 7th and worked quickly around an error in the infield to retire the side and close the game.
Bri Heller (6-3) earned the win after allowing 1 unearned run on 7 hits. She struck out 5 batters. Sandra Watne pitched an effective 7th, allowing just one runner to reach on an error. Sara Stroup finished the game 2 for 3 with 2 runs and 3 RBI. Lexi Peters was 2 for 4 with a two-run double and scored a run. Meghan Kapp and Lizzy Hoovler both had two hits in the game. Krislyn Kelemnt did not have a hit in the game but collected a pair of RBI.
The wins move the Panthers to 16-8 on the season with a 5-3 record in AMCC play. They will not have to wait long to return to action, as they will be right back on the field at the Kessel Athletic Complex tomorrow for a home doubleheader against Pitt-Greensburg. The action will begin at around 1:00 p.m.
