Bethany, W.V. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford baseball team finished its weekend in West Virginia on Sunday, picking up one loss and one win for the 2nd straight day. Their game-one comeback fell just short, losing the opener 6-5 before exploding offensively for a 14-6 win in the series finale.

Game 1: Bethany 6 - Pitt-Bradford 5

The Panthers got out to a slow offensive start in game one, as they were limited to just three singles through their first three at-bats. Nico Hall led off the game with a single, but was left on third to end the inning and then added two more singles in the 3rd, one from Kyle Kimoto and the second from Andrew Bokulich. 

While the Panther offense was off to a sputtering start, Jacob Sherdel had a strong start on the mound, keeping the Bison off the board for the opening three innings as well. He worked around a leadoff walk and a Panther error in the 1st before retiring the side in order in the 2nd. He gave up a leadoff single to begin the 3rd but induced an inning-ending double play a batter later to put up another zero.

Pitt-Bradford opened the scoring in the 4th. Kevin Rehak reached on an error with one out and then moved to third as Alex Colwell singled into right field. With one down, Maddox Stander was able to beat out a potential double-play ball, allowing Rehak to score. Unfortunately, Sherdel was unable to keep the Panthers ahead for long. The leadoff batter reached on an error and quickly moved to third base on a stolen base and a wild pitch. The runner was then able to quickly score on a sacrifice fly to left, tying the game at 1. 

The Panthers threatened to score again in the 5th, as Hall drew a one-out walk and then moved to third on a Bokulich single to right. Unfortunately, Evan Fragela hit a hard one-hopper right at the shortstop, allowing Bethany to turn an inning-ending double play before Hall could score.

The Bison on the other hand were able to strike, as they scored 5 runs in the inning. Sherdel allowed a one-out double, followed by a single and an intentional walk to load the bases. The next batter doubled down the left field line, bringing in two runs and chasing  Sherdel in the process. He was replaced by Brayden HHageter, who allowed both of his inherited runners to score on an RBI single after a walk and then a third to come home on an RBI groundout.

Another double play ended the 6th for the Panthers, but Hageter was able to keep the deficit at 5 despite allowing a pair of 2-out hits in the bottom of the inning.

In the 7th, the Panthers put together a two-out rally, looking to come back and tie the game to force the Bison to hit again in the bottom half. Kimoto started the rally with a walk and then moved to second on a single to right by Hall. Bokulich dropped his third single of the game into center field to bring in the first run. Evan Fragela beat out an infield single to continue the rally, loading the bases, and chasing the Bethany starting pitcher.

Facing the new pitcher, Justin Dattoli was able to drop a double down the right field line, bringing in Hall and Bokulich, bringing the go-ahead run to the plate. Dattoli was lifted for pinch-runner Aden Hafer as Kevin Rehak came to the plate. Rehak was able to hit a grounder back up the middle, but it was knocked down at the mound. Rehak reached base on the play to keep the inning alive, but Hafer was unable to join Fragela in scoring as the ball stayed in the infield. With the tying run 90 feet from the plate, Colwell was induced into a foul pop-up, ending the rally a run short and the game.

Andrew Bokulich finished the game 3 for 4 while scoring one run and driving in another. Nico Hall also had a multi-hit game, finishing 2 for 3 with a run scored and a walk. Jacob Sherdel (0-1) was tagged with the loss after allowing 5 runs, 4 earned, in 4.1 innings pitched. He struck out two. Brayden Hageter pitches 1.2 innings, allowing 1 earned run on one hit and a walk while striking out 1.

Game Two: Pitt-Bradford 14 - Bethany 6

The series finale got off to a quick start for the Panthers, as the Panthers quickly scored 4 runs in the top of the first. Hall started the game swinging at the second pitch and hitting a long fly ball down the left field line for a home run. It was his first of the season. The Panther offense did not stop from there as The next three batters loaded the bases with two singles and a walk. Kevin Rehak drove in another run with a sacrifice fly to right and then Maxwell Rogers delivered a double into center to bring in Evan Fragela. Alex Pasternak came up next and delivered another sacrifice fly to right, bringing in the 4th and final run of the frame.

Patrick Synan started his first career game for the Panthers and quickly got the offense back in the dugout. After a leadoff single, the Panthers turned a double play and then quickly ended the inning with a flyball to left. The Panthers went down quietly in the second, as only Bokulich reached on a single, but Synan was equally efficient in the bottom half, retiring the side in order.

In the third, Pitt-Bradford doubled their advantage, scoring four more runs. Justin Dattoli led off the inning, reaching on an error, and moved to third on a passed ball and a groundout. Following a hit batter, Pasternak delivered his second sacrifice fly to right in as many at-bats to bring in Dattoli. Bret Babcock continued the rally with a single to center and then Jake Soricone hit a line drive into the gap in left-center for a two-run triple. He scored a batter later as Hall singled to center. 

The Bison got a run back in the bottom of the 3rd, taking advantage of a Panther error by singling in a run with two outs after the gaffe. The Panthers did not let the Bison keep the momentum, as they quickly tacked on three more runs in the 4th. Fragela led off the inning with a single to left and then stole second base. He moved to third on an error in the infield and then scored as the Panthers forced a balk with a double steal attempt. Following a groundout, Alex Pasternak drew a walk before Babcock delivered a double into left. Rehak easily scored on the play, while Pasternak was able to score all the way from first on the play.

Bethany began pinch-hitting in the 4th and the changes affected Synan, who was only able to record one out, while allowing six hits, to score 4 runs. After the final hit, he was replaced by Brandon Amidon-Crawford, who quickly induced a double play to end the inning. Pitt-Bradford got one of the runs back in the 5th. Hall started the inning with a leadoff walk, and then quickly stole second. He moved to third on a grounder in the infield and then scored on a sacrifice fly from Fragela. Amidon Crawford recorded a big shutdown inning in the bottom of the inning, retiring three straight after walking the leadoff batter.

The Panthers went down quietly in the 6th, while the Bison were able to score on a solo home run. After the long ball, Amidon-Crawford allowed a single and a walk but was able to limit the damage to just one run. In the 7th, the Panthers scored two more runs without the benefit of a hit. Babcock drew a leadoff walk and then moved to second after a one-out walk for Hall. Attempting a pickoff play, the Bethany reliever threw the ball away at first base, allowing Babcock to score and Hall to move all the way to third. He scored a few pitches later on a wild pitch. Amidon-Crawford allowed two singles in the 7th, but he also struck out the side to end the game.

Nico Hall finished the game  2 for 3 with 2 walks, 3 runs scored, 2 RBIs and a home run. Bret Babcock was also 2 for 3, scoring 2 runs and driving in two more. Andrew Bokulich and Evan Fragela also recorded multi-hit games.

Patrick Synan (1-0) was credited with the win after allowing 5 runs, 4 earned over 3.1 innings pitched. despite the large margin of victory, Brandon Amidon Crawford earned a save after pitching the final 3 and 2/3 innings. He allowed 1 run on 4 hits while striking out 5.

The Panthers are now 3-5 after the 4-game stretch. They will have the next week off, as they prepare for their spring break trip to Fort Myers, Florida. They will begin the trip on Sunday, March 5th, as they will play a doubleheader against Finlandia. Game 1 is slated for 9:00 a..m.