Bradford, Pa. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford traveled to Pitt-Greensburg for a midweek AMCC doubleheader. The Panthers stayed close to the Bobcats, but ultimately lost both games. They fell 3-1 in game one and 5-2 in game two.
Game One:
In the opener, the Panthers fell behind early after a pair of run-scoring two-out hits. They cut into the lead in the third, but could not find another big hit to even the game, falling 3-1.
The Panthers went down quickly in the first and sent Krislyn Clement to the circle to begin the game. She induced two quick outs around a walk, but could not get out of the frame unscathed, allowing a run-scoring double.
She led off the top of the 2nd with a walk, but after moving to second on a sacrifice bunt, did not advance further as the inning ended with a lineout and a strikeout. Clement struck out the first two batters of the bottom of the second, but could not get the final out as she walked two batters and allowed a single to add to the deficit.
Pitt-Bradford cut into the lead in the 3rd. Lexi Najdusak lined a single into left field with one out, and then, after a fly ball, scored from first on a Sara Stroup double to center. Clement posted a 1-2-3 shutdown inning in the bottom half, getting the offense back to the dugout with a ground out and two pop-ups.
After a quiet inning and a half, the hosts restored their two-run advantage. Clement allowed a leadoff single and then a run-scoring double to left. After the run scored, she settled down, getting the next three Bobcats to fly out.
The Panthers threatened to get the run back in the next frame after Stroup led off with a double to right center. She moved to third on a groundout, but was not able to score as the next two batters were retired on a strikeout and a groundout to short. Clement kept the Bobcats off the board in the bottom of the 6th, but the Panthers were retired in order to finish the game.
Krislyn Clement (4-11) got the loss after allowing 3 earned runs on 4 hits and 4 walks. She struck out 4. Sara Stroup was 2 for 3 with a pair of doubles and an RBI. Lexi Najdusak had the other two Panther hits, a pair of singles, while she also scored the lone run.
Game Two:
The second game of the day saw the Panthers take a 1st inning lead, but after holding the hosts scoreless for 4 frames, Christa Koagel allowed 2 home runs in the last two frames, leading to a 5-2 loss.
The Panthers started off lightning-quick, taking a 1-0 lead with one out in the first. Miranda Groll was hit by a pitch with one out and then scored from first on a Krislyn Clement double to left center. Christa Koagel started the game in the circle for the Panthers and worked around a two-out single to post a shutdown inning in the bottom of the first.
Following a quiet 2nd inning, Pitt-Bradford looked to add to their lead in the third when Sara Stroup and Groll hit back-to-back singles, and then pulled off a double steal to put runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out. They did not advance any further, as the next two Panthers went down looking to end the threat. Koagel kept the hosts off the board in the bottom half, stranding two runners in scoring position after a two-out double.
Koagel stranded two more in the 4th, but ran out of magic in the 5th. After allowing a leadoff double and a passed ball, Koagel had nobody out and the tying run on 3rd. She got the next two outs on a shallow fly ball and a grounder back to the circle, but could not escape the inning. The next batter hit a 2-run home run to left to put Pitt-Greensburg in the lead. After a single, she ended the inning with a groundout.
Pitt-Bradford battled back in the 6th, scoring once to tie the game at two. Groll led off with a double to left center and then scored when Meghan Kapp dropped a two-out single into left. Ciera Adams followed with a single through the left side, but the inning ended a batter later with a strikeout.
Koagel was unable to keep the momentum with the Panthers in the bottom half as the Bobcats rallied once again with two outs. After retiring the first two batters, Koagel allowed a double and a home run, falling behind 4-2. After a pair of walks, Koagel was replaced by Kalie Dixon. Dixon could not hold off the Bobcats, who brought in one more run with a single before a groundout ended the inning.
The Panthers brought the tying run to the plate after an error and a walk, but a flyball to center brought the game to an end.
Christa Koagel (1-6) picked up the loss after allowing 5 earned runs in 5.2 innings pitched. She struck out two. Kalie Dixon got the final out while allowing 1 hit. Miranda Groll finished the game 2 for 2 with a double, stolen base, and 2 runs scored, but had to be removed from the game after an injury in the 6th. Krislyn Clement had an RBI double, while Meghan Kapp also drove in a run.
The losses drop Pitt-Bradford to 8-22 on the season, with a 4-8 mark in AMCC play. They will be back in action on Saturday, April 26th, when they host Mount Aloysius in a crucial AMCC doubleheader. Game one is slated for a 1:00 p.m. start.
