Bradford, PA. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford softball team hosted Grove City in a home-opening doubleheader on Monday. The Panthers hit 5 home runs over the two games but fell in both contests 13-3 and 9-8.
Game 1:
In the opening game, Pitt-Bradford fell behind early, but were able to battle back and take the lead. Unfortunately they could not hold off the Wolverines who scored 10 runs in two innings on the way to a 13-3 win in 6.
Starting pitcher Krislyn Clement found herself in an immediate jam, as Grove City put runners on second and third on an infield single, two stolen bases, a walk and a passed ball. Clement nearly escaped the jam, inducing a pop-up and getting a fielder's choice groundout at the plate. She was not able to get the third out of the frame, however, as a single slid up the middle to drive in two runs.
The deficit did not last long, however, as the Panthers used the long ball to tie the game in the bottom half of the frame. With two outs Sara Stroup drilled a home run to deep left field to cut the deficit in half. The blast was the first of the year for the Panthers, as well as for Stroup. It took mere seconds for the Panthers to double their home run tally, as Clement followed Stroup with a line-drive home run to right field to tie the game at two.
Pitt-Bradford jumped into the lead in the 3rd, scoring once more with two outs. After Anna Bokulich lined out sharply to right, Stroup came to the plate again and blasted a line drive down the right field line that cleared the fence for her second home run of the game. The Wolverines answered the run in the top of the 4th. Following a leadoff single, Clement retired two straight, but once more could not strand the runner as she allowed another grounded single up the middle to bring in the runner and tie the game at 3.
After the Panthers left a runner on second to end the 4th, Grove City jumped into the lead with 5 runs in the 5th. The first run scored on a double, a passed ball, and a sacrifice fly, and then the Wolverines restarted a rally with a single, walk, and a fielder's choice that did not result in an out. They added an insurance run with their second sac fly of the frame and then drove in two more with a double to the gap in right-center. The fifth run scored on a passed ball and then a wild pitch before Clement got out of the inning with the groundout.
Pitt-Bradford looked to cut into the lead again with a two-out rally in the 5th. Stroup drew a one-out walk and then after a fly-out, Lilly Hamels singled through the right side. Meghan Kapp came to the plate and hit a line drive into center field, but the Grove City outfielder made a leaping over-the-shoulder catch to end the threat.
In the 6th, Clement allowed a leadoff single but then got two quick outs. She nearly ended the inning with a fielder's choice, but the Wolverine runner beat the throw to second, extending the inning. The hustle play proved large as the next two batters singled to tack on a pair of runs. After an infield error allowed two more to score, a double to left finished the scoring for the Wolverines and ended Clement's outing. She was replaced by Kalie Dixon, who retired the only batter she faced.
Needing 3 runs in the 6th to extend the game, the Panthers put a runner on with a two-out single by Lexi Najdusak but it was followed by a strikeout, ending the game.
Krislyn Clement (1-6) picked up the loss after allowing 13 runs, 10 earned in 5.2 innings pitched. She struck out 1. Kalie Dixon retired the only batter she faced. Sara Stroup hit two home runs in the loss and drew a walk. Clement also hit a home run in the game.
Game 2:
Just like the game before it, Pitt-Bradford fell behind early in game two. They battled back and held a 1-run lead heading into the 7th, where the visitors exploded for 4 runs to take a 9-6. Lead. The Panthers put in one final rally, but fell short with the tying run on base, eventually losing the game 9-8.
Sandra Watne started the game for Pitt-Bradford, but after getting two outs around a double to start the game, she could not get the final out as the Wolverines scored 3 times on a pair of doubles and a single. After a steal, Watne ended the threat, getting a strikeout looking on a changeup.
Pitt-Bradford struck right back in the bottom of the frame, scoring 3 times before an out could be recorded. Groll led off with a single through the left side and then moved all the way to third on a throwing error back into the infield. She scampered home on a wild pitch before the Panthers used the long ball to tie the game. In a repeat of game one, Stroup and Clement hit back-to-back solo home runs, tying the score at 3. Ciera Adams continued the rally with a single, but the rally quickly ended with a sharply hit double play and a groundout.
Grove City struck right back in the top of the 2nd, once again finding clutch two-out hits to drive in runs. They put a runner on second with two outs and then on a successful steal attempt of third, the Panther throw hit the runner and careened into foul territory, allowing the runner to score. The next batter drew a walk, and then scored on a double down the left-field line, giving Grove City a 5-3 lead.
An inning later, the Panthers rallied again, scoring twice to tie the game. Groll started the inning with a single, and then after a Stroup walk, both runners moved into scoring position with a double steal. Following a pop-up, Adams delivered a clutch hit, lining a single into left-center to bring in both runners.
After a quiet fourth, Christa Koagel replaced Watne in the circle, she kept the Wolverines off the board in the 5th, despite walking a pair of batters. The Panthers went back in front in the bottom half, taking their first lead of the game. Groll started the inning with her third hit of the game and then moved to third on a wild pitch and a stolen base. A batter later, Clement dropped a single in front of the Grove City right-fielder to bring in Groll. The rally continued as Kapp hit a double down the left field line, but two runners were left on third as the inning ended on a strikeout.
Koagel worked out of trouble again in the 6th, keeping the Wolverines off the board despite a walk and an error. Pitt-Bradford nearly tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the frame. Lexi Najdusak drew a two-out walk and then stole second base to get into scoring position. Groll came to the plate looking for her 4th hit of the day to bring in the runner. She made solid contact in the at-bat, hitting a hard line drive that was right to the shortstop to end the threat.
The Wolverine bats quickly woke up in the top of the 7th. They tied the game at 6 with a leadoff home run, and then hit three straight singles to move into the lead. The Panthers recorded two outs on a runner caught stealing and a groundout, but could not end the inning without further damage, as the next Grove City Batter hit a home run to right, extending their lead to 3.
The final Grove City home run proved to be crucial, as the Panthers put together a final rally in the bottom of the 7th. Stroup led off with a single to third base and then moved to second when Adams found the hole on the left side. Kapp kept the rally going with a single to right, driving in Stroup. Lilly Hamels pinch hit with the tying run on first looking to continue the streak. she hit a ball up the middle, but it deflected off the pitcher to the second baseman who got the ball to the shortstop for the force out. The Wolverines tried to turn the grounder into a game-ending double play, but the throw was wild and allowed Adams to score, cutting the lead to one. Unfortunately for Pitt-Bradford, the rally came to an end a batter later with a strikeout.
Christa Koagel (0-3) picked up the loss after allowing 4 runs in the 7th. She pitched 3.0 innings, allowing 4 runs on 6 hits with one strikeout. Sandra Watne got a no-decision, pitching 4.0 innings while allowing 5 runs with one strikeout. The top of the Panther order did all the damage for Pitt-Bradford, collecting 12 hits. Miranda Groll and Ciera Adams both finished 3 for 4 and accounted for 3 runs apiece. Groll scored 3 times and stole 2 bases, while Adams scored one and drove in two. Sara Stroup was 2 for 3 with a home run and 3 runs scored, while Krislyn Clement finished 2 for 4 with a solo home run and an RBI single. Meghan Kapp also recorded a multi-hit game, finishing 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI.
The Panthers drop to 3-11 with the losses. They will look to get back in the win column on Thursday, as they will host Keuka in another home doubleheader. First pitch is slated for 3:00 p.m.
