Williamsport, Pa. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford baseball team returned to action on Tuesday as they traveled to Williamsport to take on Penn College at historic Bowman Field. The Panthers erased a 6-0 deficit in game 1 before losing a heartbreaker 9-8 in 11 innings but came back to win game 2 6-4 to snap a 7-game losing skid.
Game 1: Pitt-Bradford 8 - Penn 9
Paying 3 days after their last game in Florida, the Panthers got off to a slow start, falling behind 6-0 in the third. They battled back to tie the game at 8 in the 7th, and then after three scoreless frames in extra innings, lost by allowing a run without a hit in the 11th, falling 9-8.
Jake Sherdel got the start for the Panthers and was able to start strong, keeping the Wildcats off the scoreboard for the first two innings. At the same time, the Panthers were unable to start their offense, going down in order in each of the first three at-bats.
The trouble for the Panthers in the bottom of the 3rd, as Sherdel walked the leadoff batter. After an out on a fielder's choice, the Wildcats hit three straight singles to score 2 runs. Sherdel picked up the second out of the frame on a pop-up but then saw three more runs score on a triple and a single to left. Maddox Stadler replaced Sherdel after the 5th run scored. The inning continued due to an error in the infield and Stadler gave up one final run-scoring single before the inning came to an end on a ground out to 2nd.
The Panthers cut the lead in half immediately, scoring 3 times in the 4th. Pitt-Bradford loaded the bases as Nico Hall was hit by a pitch and then Andrew Bokulich and Evan Fragela singled to left. Maxwell Rogers hit a sacrifice fly to shallow center to score one run before Bret Babcock hit a double to center to bring in two more.
Stadler retired the first two batters of the bottom half of the inning, but could not post a shutdown inning, allowing two runs to score on an RBI double followed by three free passes to force in a run. He was replaced by Branson Scarantine who induced an inning-ending fly out to center.
In the 5th, the Panthers pushed 4 runs across, cutting the Penn lead down to 1 run. Kyle Kimoto started the rally, hitting a leadoff single to center. He moved to third when Hall doubled to left, and then scored on a Bokulich sacrifice fly. Fragela came to the plate next and hit a no-doubt home run to left, putting the Panthers down two. The inning continued as Rogers reached on an error and Babcock was hit by a pitch before another Wildcat error allowed Rogers to score the 4th run of the frame.
Scarantine stepped up and posted two big scoreless innings, sending the game to the 7th with the Panthers down one. In the 7th, the first two Pitt-Bradford batters were retired sending Rogers to the plate with one out to go. Rogers hit a flyball to deep centerfield and sprinted around the bases for a game-tying inside-the-park homerun.
Scarantine posted a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the 7th and then was replaced by Ben Suter in the 8th. Suter kept the Wildcats off the board for two innings, leaving the winning run on 3rd base in the 9th with a strikeout. Brayden Hageter relieved Suter in the 10th and worked around an error to push the game to the 11th. Offensively, the Panthers put runners in scoring position in the 8th and 11th, but could not take the lead.
In the 11th, Hageter walked the leadoff batter, who then moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and a flyball to center. Hageter was unable to get the final out, as the run scored on a wild pitch in the next at-bat to end the game.
Brayden Hageter (0-1) picked up the loss, allowing 1 run in 1.2 innings without allowing a hit. Starter Jacob Sherdel received a no-decision, after allowing 6 runs, 5 earned in 2.2 innings pitched. He struck out 2 batters. Branson Scarantine had his best outing in his Panther career, tossing 3.1 scoreless innings, while allowing just 1 hit and a walk. Ben Suter threw two scoreless innings, allowing 2 walks, while striking out 2 batters. Evan Fragela was the sole Panther to record a multi-hit game, finishing 2 for 5 with a 2-run home run, and 2 runs scored. The long ball was his 3rd home run of the season. Maxwell Rogers was 1 for 2 with 2 runs and 2 RBIs. His lone hit was the game-tying home run, his first of the year.
Game Two: Pitt-Bradford 6 - Penn 4
The nightcap of the double-dip got off to a quick start, with both teams scoring twice in the 1st inning, the Panthers took a lead in the 5th and held on late for a 6-4 victory.
Nico Hall led off the game with a leadoff walk and moved to third on a double from Evan Fragela. Maxwell Rogers drove in Hall as he beat out an infield single. Bret Babcock put the Panthers up 2-0, bringing in Fragela on a run-scoring groundout to 2nd.
Brandon Amidon-Crawford took the hill for the Panthers, running into early trouble allowing the first two batters to single, putting runners on the corners. The Wildcats scored one on a sacrifice fly and then tied the game on a single. Amidon-Crawford retired the next two batters to keep the game tied, but then allowed an unearned run to score in the 2nd on an error with two outs.
Rogers tied the game at 3 in the top of the third, blasting a solo home run to left center with two outs in the inning. Amidon-Crawford kept the Wildcats off the board in the 3rd and 4th innings, allowing a runner to reach scoring position in each inning, but stranding them on second.
In the 5th, the Panthers rallied to score 3 times to take the lead. Bokulich and Fragela each hit two-out singles and then after a fielder's choice, Babcock drew a walk to load the bases. Blake Prestash delivered with two outs, serving a single into left to drive in two. Justin Smulik pushed the lead to 6-3, singling up the middle to bring Babcock around. In the bottom of the inning, Amidon-Crawford loaded the bases on a single and two walks but posted a shutdown inning to keep the Panthers ahead.
After Hall was left on 3rd in the top of the 6th, Joe Long replaced Amidon-Crawford on the mound. He was dominant in his first inning of work, striking out the side. The Panthers went down in order in the 7th, sending Long back to the mound for the final frame. He walked two of the first three batters around a flyball to center before picking up the second out on a fielder's choice at third base. Penn cut the lead to 2 with a single to right field and then put the go-ahead run on base with a walk. With the bases loaded and a full count, Long struck out the batter looking to shut the door and win the game for Pitt-Bradford
Brandon Amidon-Crawford (1-1) earned the win allowing 3 runs, 2 earned, over 5.0 innings pitched. He struck out 5. Joe Long picked up his second save of the season, allowing 1 run on 1 hit and 3 walks in 2 innings of work. He struck out 4. Maxwell Rogers was the offensive star of the game, finishing 2 for 4 with 2 runs, 2 RBI, and a home run. Evan Fragela also had a 2 hit game, going 2 for 4 with 1 run scored. Blake Prestash had the game-winning hit, driving in 2 with his 5th-inning single.
The Panthers move to 6-11 on the season after the split. They will have the next 9 days off, before returning to action on Thursday, March 28th when they play a single 9-inning contest at Allegheny.
