Winchester, VA -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford softball team returned to action in Virginia on Friday afternoon, splitting a doubleheader with Eastern Mennonite. The Panthers lost the opener 8-3, but came back with a 9-2 win in game two.
Game 1:
Pitt-Bradford got off to a quick start in the game, taking a 2-0 lead in the first, but could not keep up with the Royal offense throughout the rest of the game.
Miranda Groll led off with a single through the left side, and quickly found herself on third base after a pair of steals. Sara Stroup also drew a walk and stole a base, putting two runners in scoring position before an out was recorded. Groll scored on a throwing error after a pickoff attempt and then pitcher Krislyn Clement helped her own cause with a single to left to bring in Stroup.
The hosts cut the lead in half immediately, leading off the first with a solo home run. Clement then allowed a double to the 2nd batter, but got out of the inning with the lead after a Pitt-Bradford doubled off the runner at 2nd on a flyout to center and then ended the inning with a deep fly ball to right.
After a quiet 2nd inning, the Royals went in front in the bottom of the 3rd with two runs. Clement walked the leadoff batter and then following a fielder's choice groundout and a single, saw the tying run score on a sacrifice fly to center. A batter later, Eastern Mennonite went in front with a run scoring double to left center. Pitt-Bradford went down in order in the 4th and the Royals followed the shutdown inning with a two-out rally to double their lead. Clement induced a pair of groundouts to start the inning, but then gave up a double down the line and a single through the left side.
The Panthers got a run back in the 5th, following a leadoff single by Jada Polczynski. The freshman outfielder moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and then scored on an error a batter later. They would not be able to hold onto their momentum, however, as the hosts exploded for 4 runs in the bottom half. The frame started with 4 straight hits as the first two batters singled, and then the next two hit doubles to score 3 runs. After the first out was recorded on a sacrifice bunt, Clement gave up one more single and a final double for the fourth tally of the inning. She was replaced by Christa Koagel, who escaped the jam with a strikeout and a pop-up.
Pitt-Bradford put a pair of runners on in the 6th, but a failed delayed steal, saw the rally end with a popup. Koagel made quick work of the Royals in the bottom half of the inning before Eastern Mennonite struck out the side in the 7th to end the game.
Krislyn Clement (1-4) received the loss after allowing 8 earned runs on 13 hits in 4.1 innings pitched. Christa Koagel pitched the final 1.2 innings, retiring all five batters she faced, striking out one. Ciera Adams had the only multi-hit game for Pitt-Bradford, while Krislyn Clement had the only RBI in the game.
Game 2:
The nightcap started in a similar fashion to game one for the Panthers. They jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first, but this time starting pitcher Sandra Watne kept the Royals at bay, leading the Panthers to a 9-2 win.
Sara Stroup started the first inning rally with a single through the left side, and then moved to third when Clement lined a two-out double down the right field line. Jada Polczynski lined a single into left to bring in Stroup and then Clement doubled the lead when she scored on an error in the infield. Sandra Watne started in the circle for the Panthers and was able to post a shutdown inning in the first, working around a fielding error and a single to keep the Royals off the board.
Pitt-Bradford threatened to add to the lead in the 2nd, drawing three walks, but left the bases loaded when the inning ended on a fielder's choice grounder. Watne allowed a leadoff double to start the bottom half, but then quickly got the next two outs on a fly ball to right and a foulout behind the plate. The next batter dropped a single into right field, but the Panther defense stepped up and threw out the runner at the plate to preserve the shutout.
After a quiet third inning, the Panthers tacked a run onto their lead in the 4th. Miranda Groll was hit by a pitch to start the inning, and then stole second to move into scoring position. Following a strikeout and a popup, Clement came through with a clutch single to right to bring in Groll and increase the lead to 3. Watne retired the side in order in the bottom half.
Christa Koagel replaced Watne to start the 5th, and ran into immediate trouble. She walked the leadoff batter and then allowed back-to-back singles to load the bases without an out being recorded. The hosts broke through, scoring first on an error in the infield and then lining a single into center. Pitt-Bradford's lead remained in danger, however, the rally came to a quick end. Koagel got the next batter to fly out to center, which seemed to score the game-tying run. The Panthers appealed correctly on the play, turning the sac fly into a double play. Koagel then induced a grounder to short to end the inning.
The Panthers came right back in the 6th, restoring the three run cushion. Lexi Najdusak led off with a single, but was quickly erased on a double play. Stroup restarted the inning by drawing a walk, and then rounded the bases when Ciera Adams found the gap in left-center for a double. Clement followed with her second two-bagger of the day to bring in Adams and put the Panthers ahead 5-2.
Koagel retired the side in order in the 6th, and was then rewarded in the 7th as Pitt-Bradford tacked on 4 more runs. The Panthers loaded the bases with three straight singles before Najdusak put together a 12-pitch at bat that resulted in a free pass to bring in the first run of the frame. The Royals changed pitchers and after a lineout to the pitcher, saw the 2nd run of the frame score on an error in the infield. Following a fielder's choice, Clement picked up another clutch hit, driving in two with a single up the middle. Koagel worked around a pair of errors in the 7th to end the game.
Sandra Watne (2-1) earned the win after throwing 4 shutout innings. She allowed 5 hits, and did not allow a free pass. Christa Koagel pitched the final 3 innings to pick up her 2nd save of the season. She allowed 2 runs, 1 earned, on 3 hits. She struck out 2. Krislyn Clement led the offensive charge for the Panthers. She finished 4 for 4 with 2 doubles and 4 RBI. She also drew a walk and scored a run. Sara Stroup scored 3 runs, while Meghan Kapp and Lauren Frascella each had two hits.
The split moves Pitt-Bradford to 3-7 on the season. They will be right back in action tomorrow, as they remain in Virginia to take on Roanoke. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
