Bradford, Pa. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford baseball team returned to AMCC action on Saturday, and struggled to find their rhythm at the plate, losing both games of a doubleheader to Alfred State 14-1 and 9-0.
Game 1-
The Panthers ran into trouble right off the bat as they committed a pair of errors on the first two plays of the game, allowing the Pioneers to take the lead. The Pioneers went on to score three more runs in the inning before starting pitcher Kyler Majka struck out back-to-back batters to end the frame. In a trend that would continue for the first four innings of play, the Panthers went down in order as Pioneer starter Ryan Bailey retired the first 14 batters he faced.
Majka struck out two batters in the second and was able to post a zero as he stranded the bases loaded in the frame, but could not hold off the Pioneers in the 3rd. After a leadoff walk, Majka retired the next two batters but saw the Pioneers add to their lead on an infield single. In the fourth, Majka was chased after the Pioneers scored another run with a single, error, and a walk. He was replaced by Brandon Amidon Crawford, who struggled to find his control, walking two batters to start his outing to force in a run. Alfred State added two more runs on a sacrifice fly and a double steal before Amidon-Crawford ended the inning with a strikeout.
Amidon Crawford started the 5th with a pair of walks and a fielder's choice before allowing a run on a single to right. After the RBI single, he was relieved by Patrick Synan. Synan retired the first batter he faced before three straight hits allowed Alfred State to tack on three more runs. The Panthers put their first runner on the basepaths in the 5th as Justin Dattoli drew a walk with two outs, but quickly saw the inning come to an end on a groundout.
Synan posted the Panthers' first 0 since the 2nd inning in the 6th as he worked around a two-out single to keep the Pioneers off the board. After the Panthers went down in order, in their half of the 6th, Garrett Smith replaced Synan to make his collegiate debut. Smith retired two batters around a one-out double but saw a single drop into center field to bring in the Pioneer's final run of the game. He was able to strike out another batter to end the frame.
The Panthers entered the bottom of the 7th without a hit in the game but looked to start building momentum towards game two. Andrew Bokulich broke up the no-hitter to start the inning, as he dropped a single into right center. After a pair of flyouts, Trent Bielak lined a double into the gap in right-center to bring Bokulich around to score from first. Bielak moved to third on a wild pitch but was stranded there as the game ended a batter later on a groundout.
Kyler Majka (2-4) picked up the loss after allowing 8 runs, 3 earned on 6 hits, and 3 walks in 3.1 innings pitched. He struck out 4. Brandon Amidon-Crawford was tagged for 4 runs, 3 earned, in an inning of work, while Patrick Synan and Garret Smith each gave up a run over the final 2.2 innings. They each struck out one batter. The Panthers only mustered a pair of hits in the game. Trent Bielak delivered an RBI double, while Andrew Bokulich broke up the no-hitter with a single.
Game 2-
The Panthers were unable to improve offensively in the second game of the day, as they were held to just 3 hits in a 9-0 loss.
Shawn Mannering got the start for the Panthers, and got off on the right foot, allowing only one runner to reach base in the first. After the Panthers were retired in their half of the inning, the Pioneers put together another big inning, scoring 4 runs on 4 hits and a pair of walks. They started the frame with back-to-back infield hits and then after a sacrifice bunt, score two on another softly hit single that found its way past the middle infield and into center. Mannering retired the next batter, but then saw the guests rally for two more in the inning on two walks and a hit.
The Pioneers tacked on one run in the 4th on a leadoff home run and then chased Mannering an inning later as the first three batters of the 5th singled to score a run. He was replaced by Jacob Sherdel, who was able to eventually get out of the frame, but not before both inherited runners and the visitors' 9th run of the game scored. He struck out the final two batters of the inning to finally end the frame.
The Panthers were able to break through in the 5th, as Justin Dattoli reached on a double down the left field line and then Kevin Rehak drew a walk, but quickly saw their rally end on a line-drive double play. Sherdel was able to take over from there, limiting the Pioneers to just one hit and a pair of walks over the final four innings from play. The Panthers were unable to take advantage of the Sherdel success, however, as they stranded Jake Soricone on 2nd after a leadoff double in the 6th and grounded into double plays in the 7th and 8th innings.
Shawn Mannering (1-3) was saddled with the loss after allowing 8 earned in 4+ innings of work. Jacob Sherdel had a terrific relief performance for the Panthers, allowing 1 earned run on 2 hits in 5.0 innings of work. He struck out 5. The Panthers were limited to 3 hits in the game. Justin Dattoli and Jake Soricone each had doubles in the game, while EvanFRagela added a single.
The Panthers fall to 6-15 on the season with a 3-3 mark in AMCC play. They will return to action on Wednesday, April 12th as they will hit the road for a 9-inning contest at Thiel. First pitch is slated for 1:00 p.m.
