Aurora, N.Y. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford baseball team brought their 2024 season to a close on Thursday afternoon, splitting a doubleheader with Wells. The Panthers lost the opener 9-5 before winning the nightcap 10-7.
Game 1 - Pitt-Bradford 5 - Wells 9
In game one, the Panthers jumped out to a 3-0 lead, but after the hosts were able to whittle it away, Pitt-Bradford allowed 5 runs in the 6th to fall 9-5.
After a quiet first inning that saw 2 Panthers strike out and starting pitcher Jacob Sherdel strike out the Wells side, the Panthers threatened to score right away. Blake Prestash started the frame by reaching on an error in the outfield and then moved to third on a double by Noah Avey. Pitt-Bradford could not take advantage of the situation, as the next three batters were retired on two strikeouts and a grounder back to the mound. In the bottom of the frame, Sherdel allowed a single and a double but kept the Express off the board with the help of a double play.
The Panthers jumped ahead in the third, rallying with one out in the inning. Nico Hall got things started with a single to left, and then Andrew Bokulich followed with a single to left side of the infield. Evan Fragela came to the plate next and hit a line drive to deep right field for a three-run home run. It was his 4th of the season. Wells opened their scoreline in the bottom of the inning, scoring a run on a two-out double to left.
Pitt-Bradford went down quietly in the 4th, and the hosts took advantage of their momentum, scoring twice in the inning to tie the game at 3. Sherdel allowed a leadoff triple, followed by an infield single for the first run. Following a fielder's choice and a groundout, the Express tied the game with a two-out single to left.
The Panthers retook the lead in the 5th with another one-out rally. Hall doubled to right center, and then moved to third when Bokulich reached on an error. Fragela came through with another big hit, driving a single to center to drive in Hall. The lead did not last long, as the hosts scored with another two-out hit. The leadoff batter singled to center and then took second on a groundout to third. After a strikeout, Sherdel allowed a double to left center, tying the game. Sherdel was replaced by Joe Long, who ended the inning with a strikeout.
In the 6th, the Panther offense was retired in order, sending Long back to the mound with the score tied at 4. Long allowed a leadoff single, and then lost the strike zone, loading the bases with a walk and a hit batter. This was followed by three wild pitches, that allowed all three runners to score. Long settled down to retire the next two batters, but was lifted after allowing another walk and a single to right. He was replaced by Branson Scarantine. Scarantine saw one inherited runner score on a double steal, and then a second driven in with a double to right field. He got out of the inning without further damage, as Fragela threw out the runner stealing third.
Needing to score 5 times in the 7th, the Panthers pit a pair of runners on base with a walk and an infield single. With runners on the corners, Fragela brought in his 5th run of the game with a run-scoring fielder's choice, before the game quickly ended as Blake Prestash's line drive down the line was snagged for the final out.
Joe Long (0-2) picked up the loss in relief. He allowed 5 earned runs with 3 strikeouts in 1+ innings pitched. Jacob Sherdel started and finished with a no-decision after allowing 4 earned runs in 4.2 innings pitched. HE struck out 6. Branson Scarantine was credited with 1/3 of an inning pitched, allowing 1 hit. The top of the Panther lineup dominated for Pitt-Bradford as the first three batters all had 2 hits. Evan Fragela finished 2 for 4 with a home run and 5 RBI. Nico Hall was 2 for 3 with a double and 3 runs scored. Andrew Bokulich finished 2 for 4 with 1 run scored.
Game 2: Pitt-Bradford 10 - Wells 7
In their final game of the season, the Panthers scored early, jumping out to a 10-2 lead. The hosts rallied, but the Panthers were able to hold off the express, ending their season on a winning note with a 10-7 victory.
Brandon Amidon-Crawford got the start for the Panthers, and was dominant early, retiring 9 of the first 10 batters of the game, with the lone runner reaching on an error.
During that span, Pitt-BRadford jumped out to a 5-0 lead. in the 2nd inning, Alex Ognen led off with a single to right field and then moved into scoring position on a groundout. Aaron Hair put the Panthers in front, singling to center. The Panthers looked to add to their lead as Kyle Kimoto followed with a single, but a double play ended the frame.
They added four more runs in the top of the 4th. Hair led off with a single and then moved to 2nd when Kimoto reached on an error. Following a sacrifice bunt, Andrew Bokulich doubled the lead with a sacrifice fly to right. After a walk to Evan Fragela, Kimoto scored on a wild pitch. Prestah drove in Fragela with a single to the left side and then scored on a double down the line by Ognen.
The hosts finally touched up Amidon-Crawford in the bottom of the inning, starting the frame with a double and a triple to score a run. The second run scored on an RBI groundout, but Amidon-Crawford settled down and worked around an error to keep the lead at 3.
In the 5th, the Panthers exploded, scoring 5 runs on 4 hits and 3 free passes. Hair hit another leadoff single, and then following another hit by Kimoto, scored on a single from Hall. Bokulich was hit by a pitch to load the bases and then Fragela singled in another run with a hit to center field. Prestash and Noah Avey each brought in a run with a bases-loaded walk, and then Ognen brought in another run with a sacrifice fly to left.
Wells battled back in the 5th, scoring 4 times. Amidon-Crawford was nearly able to escape the jam and qualify for a win but was chased by a two-run single with two outs. He was replaced by Shawn Mannering, who allowed an inherited runner to score on a delayed double steal but then ended the inning with a strikeout.
The Panthers went down quietly in the 6th, and the Express continued building momentum, scoring once more in the bottom of the inning. After a leadoff infield single, Mannering struck out two batters but then gave up two bloop singles to right, bringing in the run. He struck out his 4th batter of the game to end the inning.
Mannering was dominant over the next two innings, allowing only a two-out double in the 8th. The Panthers threatened to score in the top of the 8th, using three walks to load the bases. They could not add to their lead, however, as Hair was picked off for the third out with Evan Fragela at the plate.
After a 1-2-3 top of the 9th, senior Ben Suter replaced Mannering, making his last career appearance. Suter quickly retired the first two batters with a line out to left field and a strikeout. After a bloop single to right, he got the final out of the game and season on a fielder's choice groundout.
Shawn Mannering (6-4) picked up the win after pitching 3.1 innings in relief, allowing 1 earned run. He struck out 5. Brandon Amidon Crawford was tagged with a no-decision after allowing 6 runs in 4.2 innings pitched with 1 strikeout. Ben Suter (1) picked up a save, pitching the 9th with 1 hit and 1 strikeout. Aaron Hair and Kyle Kimoto both went 3 for 4 in the game with 2 runs scored. Hair also drove in a run. Alex Ognen went 2 for 3, walked once, and drove in a pair. Blake Prestash was 1 for 3, walked 3 times, and drove in 2 runs.
The Panthers finish the season with a 12-24 record and a 5-11 mark in AMCC play.
