Bradford, Pa. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford softball team traveled to Altoona on Sunday to begin a grueling stretch of games that will see them play 10 games over 7 days. The Panthers started the week with first-place Penn State-Altoona, splitting the road doubleheader. They lost the opener 4-3 on a walk-off but came back to take the nightcap 3-1.

Game One:

Pitt-Bradford fell behind early in game one but battled back to take a one-run lead late in the game. They could not hold off the Lions late, who tied the game in the 6th and won it in a walk-off fashion in the 7th.

The Panthers threatened to open the scoring in the first as Meghan Kapp drew a two-out walk and Krislyn Clement followed with a single up the middle. They did not convert as the inning quickly ended on a groundout. Clement started the game in the circle for Pitt-Bradfod and worked around a two-out walk to keep the game scoreless. 

Anna Bokulich singled in the 2nd but never advanced, and the hosts took the lead in the bottom half. Clement walked the leadoff batter and then made a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt attempt. Another free pass loaded the bases with one out before the Lions scored twice on a single through the right side of the infield and a sacrifice fly to center.

Neither team scored in the 3rd, but the Panthers broke through in the 4th, cutting the lead in half. Clement led off the frame with a triple to right, and then scored when Ciera Adams singled to center. Adams moved to 2nd on a wild pitch before a Bokulich single put runners on the corners with one out. Payton Frank laid down a bunt, but Adams bit on a pump fake at third base and was caught off the bag. A groundout to first ended the threat a batter later. 

Clement posted a shutdown inning in the bottom of the inning and the Panthers kept rolling, scoring twice to take a lead in the 5th. Miranda Groll led off with a single and then Sara Stroup followed with a line drive hit to left. After a sacrifice bunt, Clement helped her own cause, lining another single into right field to drive in both runners and put Pitt-Bradford in front. 

Clement worked around a one-out walk and a single to keep the Panthers in front in the 5th, and in the following frame, Pitt-Bradford could not take advantage of a leadoff walk and a bunt single. They would rue the missed opportunity in the bottom half, as the Lions scored on a walk, a wild pitch, and a single to tie the game.

After Clement was left on base following her 4th hit of the game in the 7th, the hosts started the 7th with a leadoff double to left center. The next batter dropped down a bunt for a sacrifice, but the throw to first was errant, allowing the winning run to score and end the game. 

Krislyn Clement (3-9) picked up the loss despite allowing just one earned run. She pitched 6.0+ innings, allowing 4 runs on 5 hits and 5 walks. She struck out 1. Clement was also the offensive star for the Panthers. She finished 4 for 4 with three singles and a triple, scored one run, and drove in the other two. Anna Bokulich also recorded a multi-hit game, finishing 2 for 2 with a pair of singles.

Game Two:

Pitt-Bradford rebounded from the heartbreaking walk-off loss in game one, jumping ahead early in the nightcap and then riding a strong pitching performance from Christa Koagel to win the game. 

The Panthers pounced on the Lions from the start, as Miranda Groll led off the game with a double down the right field line. She quickly took third on a wild pitch and then scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Sara Stroup. Meghan Kapp restarted the rally with another double to right, and then took third on a Krisly Clement hit. Kalie Dixon drove in the run with another sacrifice fly to center. Christa Koagel started the game in the circle and worked around a two-out walk to post a shutdown inning. 

Neither team threatened over the next three frames as 9 straight Panthers were retired and the two Penn State-Altoona players to reach base were erased when they were caught stealing and then hit into a double play. 

In the 5th, Pitt-Bradford extended their lead. Koagel drew a leadoff walk and took second base easily as the fourth ball was a wild pitch. She moved to third on a groundout and then after a pop-up, scored when Groll singled to center. The Lions came right back in the 5th to cancel out the run. They logged 4 singles in the frame but were limited to one run in the inning. With the bases loaded, Koagel snagged a comebacker to end the threat.

The sophomore hurler took over from there, shutting down the Lions love the final two innings to end the game. She worked around a two-out single in the 6th, and then retired the side in order to finish the game in the 7th.

Christa Koagel (1-4) picked up her first win as a Panther pitching a complete game in just 73 pitches. She scattered 7 hits, 4 of them in one inning, while allowing 1 earned run and striking out two. Miranda Groll had two hits, including a double, scored one run, and drove in another. Sara Stroup and Kalie Dixon each drove in a run. 

The Panthers move to 7-17 on the year with a 3-3 record in conference play after the doubleheader. They will have a quick turnaround, as they will be right back in action tomorrow morning. They will take on Carlow at West Field in Munhall Pa. First pitch is slated for 10:00 a.m.