Bradford, Pa. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford softball team rallied late in game two to pick up an important win in a split doubleheader with Mount Aloysius on Sunday afternoon. They were shut out in game one 4-0, but scored 7 runs in the 6th to take game two 7-2.
Game One:
In the opener, Pitt-Bradford fell behind in the first, but despite 4 straight shutout innings, could not tie the game. Visiting Mount Aloysius struck for 3 more in the 6th and then finished the shutout with two more zeros to complete their victory.
Krislyn Clement started for Pitt-Bradford in the circle and ran into immediate trouble, allowing a single to lead off the game. After a strikeout, a stolen base, and a passed ball put the runner on 3rd before a double to left put the Mounties up 1-0. Clement settled in after the double, ending the frame with a ground ball to third and a strikeout. The Panthers were set down quietly in the first two frames, striking out 5 times without reaching base.
After Clement posted her second straight scoreless frame, the Panthers threatened to tie the game in the third. Grace Gardner led off with a single to left center, and then moved to second when Peyton Frank dropped a bloop single over 3rd base. Following a strikeout, Sara Stroup reached on an error in the outfield to load the bases. Pitt-Bradford could not find the clutch hit to tie the game or take the lead, as the next two batters were retired on an infield pop-up and a flyout to center.
Both teams were set down quietly in the 4th and 5th innings, with only Frank reaching base for the Panthers on a bunt single. The dam finally broke for the Panthers in the 6th, as the visitors scored 3 runs on 6 hits in the frame. Clement induced a flyout after a leadoff single, but another single was followed by a popup that was lost in the sun, allowing the Mounties to double their lead. Mount Aloysius loaded the bases with two more singles before Clement picked up the second out of the frame with a strikeout. The visitors tacked on their third of the frame on an infield single before the inning finally came to an end on a fly ball to right.
Lexi Najdusak singled to lead off the 6th, but the next three Panthers were retired to end the inning. Clement worked around a single to keep the deficit at 4 in the 7th, but the Panthers only mustered a leadoff single by Meghan Kapp in the bottom of the inning as the game ended 4-0.
Krislyn Clement (4-12) picked up the loss after allowing 4 earned runs on 11 hits in 7.0 innings pitched. She struck out 6. The Panthers tallied 5 hits in the loss, led by Peyton Frank, who had two of them. Lexi Najdusak, Meghan Kapp, and Grace Gardner also singled in the game.
Game Two
After 4 innings of scoreless softball, game two saw the visitors take a 2-0 lead in the 5th, but the Panthers were able to respond, scoring 7 times in the 6th to earn a 7-2 lead.
Sandra Watne started in the circle for Pitt-Bradford, and despite allowing two singles to start the game, ended the first with a foul out to the catcher and a strikeout. The Panthers also threatened in the first, as Lexi Najdusak, Sara Strop, and Krislyn Clement all singled before an out could be recorded. With the bases full, a groundball back to the circle saw the lead runner cut down at the plate. After a strikeout, Ciera Adams looped a ball toward center, but after landing in front of 2nd base, it slowed enough that the Mount Aloysius shortstop could pick it up and step n the bag to end the inning.
Watne left the bases loaded after a walk and two singles in the 2nd, while Pitt-Bradford also left a runner in scoring position, as Alyssa Burlew drew a leadoff walk but did not advance past 2nd base. Both teams were retired in order in the 4th and left a runner on in the 5th after two-out singles.
Mount Aloysius broke through in the 5th, scoring twice. Watne walked the leadoff batter, and then allowed a single to center. The ball was misjudged by the centerfielder, allowing the runner to score from first and the batter to take third. Watne kept the runner on third with a grounder to Mia Dunleavy for the first out, but a second straight grounder drove in the run a batter later. Pitt-Bradford went down quietly in the bottom of the 5th, while Watne worked around a one-out double in the 6th to keep the Moutnie lead at 2 heading into the bottom of the inning.
Clement started the frame with a bang, hitting a long solo home run to left field to cut the deficit in half. It was her 4th of the year. Pitt-Bradford continued to rally after the home run. Gardner singled to right center, and then, after a strikeout, Adams and Burlew both recorded hits to load the bases. Watne helped her own cause, tying the game with a bases-loaded walk, which also forced a pitching change.
The Mounties went to the ace Jessica Koptcho, who shut the Panthers out in game one. She did not have the same success, as pinch hitter Jada Polczynski drew another walk to force in the go-ahead run. Following a pop-up, Stroup also walked to bring in the fourth run of the frame. Clement was able to punctuate the rally, hitting a double off the fence in left field to empty the bases and give Pitt-Bradford a 7-2 lead.
In the 7th, Watne allowed a leadoff single, but then ended the game with two fly balls and a groundout back to the circle.
Sandra Wate (3-5) received the win after allowing 2 runs, 1 earned, on 9 hits in a complete game performance. She struck out one. Krislyn Clement finished the game 3 for 4, hit a home run, and drove in 3 more with a double. Alyssa Burlew reached on all three of her plate appearances, going 2 for 2 with a pair of singles and a walk.
Pitt-Bradford moves to 9-23 on the season after the split, with a 5-9 mark in AMCC play. They will be back in action on Wednesday when they host Hilbert in their regular-season finale. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.
