Fort Myers, Fla. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford baseball team returned to action in Fort Myers, Fla. on Wednesday, taking on the Wisconsin Lutheran Warriors. The Panthers struggled to come up with a clutch hit, as they left 17 runners on the basepaths in a 6-3 loss.

Jacob Sherdel got the start on the mound for Pitt-Bradford and ran into early trouble, as he retired the first batter of the game, but then saw the bases loaded on an error and two walks. He was able to escape the jam unscathed, striking out one batter, before ending the inning on a ground ball fielder's choice. In the bottom of the inning, the Panthers rallied late when Evan Fragela and Maxwell Rogers both singled and then completed a double steal, however, Pitt-Bradford could not come up with another two-out hit to bring them in.

In the second, Sherdel allowed two to reach after retiring the first two batters of the frame. He was able to strike out his second batter of the inning to strand the runners on base. After the Panthers went down in order in the 3rd, Sherdel worked around a one-out double and a walk to keep the game scoreless. The Panthers were unable to take advantage of a leadoff single from Jake Soricone in the 3rd, and then both teams put a sole runner in scoring position in the 4th, but could not break the deadlock.

The dams finally broke in the 5th, as the Warriors scored first, tallying three runs in the frame. Sherdel walked the leadoff batter and then after retiring the next Warrior, saw the runner advance on a past ball and then score on two straight singles. After the run scored, Sherdel was replaced by Logan McConnell. With McConnell on the mound, the Warriors added their second run on an error in the outfield, and a third on a run0scoring groundout before McConnell finally ended the inning with a strikeout. 

The Panthers came right back in the bottom of the inning to cut into the lead. Soricone reached to start the inning once more, this time on a walk. Nico Hall followed with a single to right, and then both Panthers advanced a base on a bobble in the outfield. Andrew Bokulich brought in Soricone with a sacrifice fly. Following a groundout, the Panthers loaded the bases with a pair of walks, but could not deliver a two-out hit to drive in the runs.

McConnell retired the side in order in the 6th, getting the Panthers right back on offense. Kyle Kimoto singled with one out and then moved to scoring position on a walk by Soricone. Following a pop-up in the infield, Bokulich reached on an error to load the bases before the inning ended on a groundout to short. 

Pitt-Bradford ran into trouble in the 7th, as after retiring the first batter of the frame, McConnell allowed a pair to reach. He struck out the next batter before issuing another walk to load the bases. He ended the threat shortly after, getting another strikeout. The bottom of the seventh saw more of the same, as Pitt-Bradford put two on in the inning with 2 down, but once more left them stranded on a flyout.

Mallick Metcalfe replaced McConnell to start the 8th and was welcomed rudely with a lead-off triple. Metcalfe allowed the run to score as the next batter singled but was able to escape without further damage on a 6-4-3 double play and a flyout. Jake Soricone and Fragela both drew walks in the 8th, but could not score as the other three Panthers to come to the plate were retired.

In the final frame, Metcalfe was able to retire the first two batters but then saw the inning extended on a single down the line. The extension would come back to haunt the Panthers as the next Warrior batter hit a home run to left to push the lead to 6-1.

Needing 5 runs to tie the game in the bottom of the 9th, the Panthers started strong. Bret Babcock started the inning with a walk and then Blake Prestash smashed a two-run home run to let center to cut the lead to 3. It was his first career home run. The rally continued after the blast, as Noah Avey singled, and then after a flyout, Soricone drew his 4th free pass of the day. With the tying run at the plate with one out, Wisconsin Lutheran made a pitching change, which turned out to be effective, as the new arm retired the first two batters he faced on fly balls to end the game.

Jacob Sherdel (1-2) picked up the loss after allowing 3 runs, 1 earned, on 6 hits in 4.1 innings pitched. He struck out 5. Logan McConnell pitched 2 and 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and two walks while striking out three. Mallick MEtcalfe pitched the final wo innings, allowing three earned.

The Panthers will be back in action tomorrow, as they will take on Babson at 9:00 a.m.