Fort Myers, Fla. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford baseball team too on Babson College on their third day of competition in Fort Myers, Fla. The Panthers pushed a run across in the 1st, but quickly fell behind the Beavers and ultimately lost 12-2.
Brandon Amidon-Crawford got the start for Pitt-Bradford and set down the side in order in the first. In the bottom half, the Panthers rallied with one out to take an early 1-0 lead. Andrew Bokulich started the rally with a single and then moved to second when Evan Fragela drew a walk. Both runners advanced on a balk, and then Maxwell Rogers drove in Bokulich with a sacrifice fly to right.
The lead did not last long, as the Beavers struck back for 3 in the 2nd. Babson put a pair of runners on with one out, and then brought them home on a double to center. After a hit put runners on the corners, a balk forced in the third run of the frame. Amido-Crawford was able to retire the next two batters to end the inning. Pitt-Bradford started a rally with two outs in the bottom of the inning when Kyle Kimoto singled and then JAke Soricone drew a walk. They were unable to come around, however, as the inning ended on a strikeout a batter later.
Babson was able to score an unearned run in the 3rd. Following a leadoff single, a wild pitch and a throwing error allowed the runner to move to third with one out. A sacrifice fly brought the run home and then the Panthers ended the inning with a runner caught stealing. Pitt-Bradford got the run right back in the bottom of the inning. Bokulich walked to start the frame and then moved to third on a Fragela single. Rogers followed with an RBI single to center, putting runners on the corners. The rally came to a quick finish, as Fragela got caught in a rundown on a fielder's choice and then the next two Panthers were retired.
In the 4th, Amidon-Crawford was chased after a one-out 2-run home run put Babson up 6-2. He was replaced by Brayden Hageter, who allowed one unearned run in the remainder of the inning without allowing a hit. The score remained unchanged through the 5th. Pitt-Bradford put a runner on in each inning, but could not move them into scoring position, while Hageter allowed a two-out walk and a hit, but finished the inning with a strikeout.
Babson tacked on another run in the 6th and then added 3 more in the 7th on 3 hits, including two doubles, and a walk off new pitcher Garrett Smith. The Panthers were able to load the bases in the bottom of the 7th, with the rally starting with one out. Bokulich drew a walk and then moved to second on Fragela's second hit of the day. Rogers grounded into a fielder's choice that did not result in an out to fill up the bases with one out. Bret Babcock hit a shallow foul ball to right that could not bring in the run and then a grounder to shortstop ended the frame.
In the 8th, Babson added one more run on a home run before the Panthers were retired to end the game by 10-run rule.
Brandon Amidon-Crawford (0-1) got the loss after allowing 6 runs, 5 earned, on 7 hits in 3.1 innings pitched. Brayden Hageter pitched 2.2 innings in relief, allowing 2 runs, 1 earned, on 2 hits and a walk. He struck out 3. Garrett Smith allowed 4 runs in the final 2 innings. Maxwell Rogers finished the game 2 for 3 and drove in both Panther runs. Andrew Bokulich scored them both, finishing 1 for 2 with a pair o walks. Evan Fragela and Kyle Kimoto both recorded multi-hit games in the loss.
The Panthers drop to 5-6 after the loss to Babson. They will be back in action tomorrow for a doubleheader against Haverford. Games begin at 9 and 12.
