Orange, CA -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford softball team kicked off their 2025 campaign with a stiff test, as they faced Chapman, a 2024 NCAA Tournament team, on the road. The Panthers could not keep Chapman off the board and lost both games by the run rule. They lost game one 13-4 in 5 innings and game two 10-2 in six frames.
Game 1:
In the opener, Pitt-Bradford fell behind early and despite scoring 4 times in two innings, could not catch Chapman.
Krislyn Clement was the starting pitcher for the opener, and looked to help her own cause in the top of the first, driving a two-out triple into centerfield. She was left stranded at third on a groundout back to the circle. Clement had no such luck in the bottom of the inning. After retiring the leadoff batter, she allowed a single and then a fielder's choice with an error put runners on 2nd and third. Chapman doubled in a run to open the scoring, and then drove in a second with a sacrifice fly before the inning ended.
Pitt-Bradford went down quietly in the top of the 2nd, before the Chapman offense exploded in the bottom half. The Panthers from the west coast scored 7 times in the inning on 5 hits, 2 Pitt-Bradford errors and a walk.
In the 3rd, the Panthers struck back, scoring twice. Lexi Najdusak started the Pitt-Bradford rally with a single down the right field line, and then moved to second on a single by Miranda Groll. After a strikeout, Clement singled up the middle to drive in the Panthers' first run of the season, and Ciera Adams dropped a single into left to bring in Groll.
Christa Koagel replaced Clement to start the third, and was met by a productive Chapman offense that registered a double, a walk and 3 singles to score 3 runs before Koagel could record an out. They added one more run on two singles, before Koagel retired two straight to end the inning.
Pitt-Bradford added two more runs in the top of the 4th. Meghan Kapp drew a leadoff walk and was replaced by pinch runner Payton Frank. Anna Bokulich came to the plate a batter later and lined a triple down the left field line to bring in Frank. She scored two batters later when Sara Stroup reached on an error. Koagel posted the Panthers' first zero in the bottom of the inning, working around a one-out error.
Ciera Adams led off the 5th with her second hit of the day, but her pinch runner Lauren Frascella was left stranded on base as the next three Panthers were retired.
Krisyln Clemnt (0-1) gets the loss after allowing 9 runs, 3 earned on 7 hits in 2.0 innings pitched. Christa Koagel allowed 4 earned in two innings pitched. Krislyn Clement was 2-2 before being lifted from the game. She had a triple and an RBI single in the loss. Ciera Adams also had a multi-hit game, going 2 for 3 with an RBI.
Game 2:
Game two saw the Panthers trail early once again, but were able to extend the game with runs in the 4th and 5th before falling 10-2 in the 6th.
Sara Stroup started the game with a single in the 1st, but could not advance. Sandra Watne started the game in the circle for the Panthers, and ran into trouble right away, hitting the leadoff batter and then allowing a single. After a sacrifice bunt moved the runners into scoring position, Chapman drove a single up the middle to bring both runners around. Watne escaped further damage, getting the next two batters to ground out to third.
Adams led off the second with a single to center, but was left at first as the next three batters were retired in order. In the bottom of the 2nd, Chapman started quickly once again, putting the first two runners on. They took advantage of the quick start, scoring 4 times on a single, a double steal, an RBI groundout and an error.
In the third, the Panthers were retired in order, and then Chapman added another run to their lead with a leadoff home run.
Pitt-Bradford finally got on the board in the 4th. Krislyn Clement hit a one-out double to left center, and then moved to third on a wild pitch. Adams stepped up and hit her second single of the game to bring Clement home. After a pinch-runner was caught stealing, the Panthers restarted a rally with a Bokulich walk and a single by Kendall Dotson, but could not bring in another run as the frame ended on a groundout. Watne kept the deficit at 6 in the bottom of the frame, posting a shutdown inning with a 1-2-3 frame.
The Panthers scored one more time in the 5th. Payton Frank led off the inning with an infield single, and then moved to third when Najdusak reached on an error. Miranda Groll brought the run in, dropping down a sacrifice squeeze bunt. Chapman answered in the bottom half, scoring 2 times on 4 hits.
After the Panthers were set down with three strikeouts in the 6th, Kalie Dixon replaced Watne in the circle for the 6th. The freshman left-hander was not able to record an out as she allowed two singles around a stolen base to allow the run, which ended the game.
Sandra Watne (0-1) gets the loss after allowing 9 earned runs in 5.0 innings pitched. She struck out 2. Kalie Dixon faced 2 batters and did not record an out. Ciera Adams recorded her second 2-hit game of the day, finishing 2 for 2 in the loss with 1 RBI. Krislyn Clement went 1 for 3 with a run scored and a double.
The opening day sweep puts the Panthers at 0-2 on the season. They will have Monday off before returning to action on Tuesday with a doubleheader at La Verne. First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m. Eastern time, 5:00 p.m. Pacific.
