FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Pitt-Bradford softball team split a pair of games in its second day of competition to open the season Monday.
The Panthers beat New Jersey City 8-0 and fell to Wilmington College 13-2.
In game on against New Jersey City, Pitt-Bradford (2-1, 0-0) was led by junior Amber Fox (Warren/Youngsville) who went a perfect 2-for-2 on the day with one RBI and two runs scored.
Supporting Fox was senior Bri Stenta who went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and freshman Cassidy Lewis (Bolivar, N.Y./Bolivar-Richburg) who went 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
From the circle, freshman Taylor Collins (Macedonia, OH/Nordonia) pitched a gem, recording her first career shutout and surrendered just four hits for her second win of the young season.
New Jersey City (0-2, 0-0) was led by Crystal Torres who went 1-2 on the day.
Pitt-Bradford jumped out to an early lead in the first inning taking advantage of multiple walks and wild pitches.
The Panthers capitalized, as Stenta was able to drive in a run on a single followed by junior Leann Bell's (Lance/West Branch) sacrifice fly that put the Panthers on top, 3-0.
The Panthers added on to their lead in the second after Stenta drove in two Panthers on a line drive up the middle to make it 5-0.
Pitt-Bradford tacked on three more runs on RBIs from senior Ang Comilla (Bradford/Bradford) and Fox to put away New Jersey City, 8-0.
In game two, Pitt-Bradford (2-2, 0-0) was led by Fox, who went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and Bell, who went 2-for-3 with one RBI in the loss for the Panthers.
Wilmington (1-3, 0-0) was led by Allie Noggler who went 3-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored.
Pitt-Bradford surrendered the lead early on as Wilmington came out in the first inning and strung together a series of hits to put the Quakers on top 1-0.
Pitt-Bradford answered as they strung together some hits of its own and tied the game after an RBI by Bell to score Fox.
However some costly defensive mistakes for the Panthers would hurt them in the top of the third as the Quakers tacked on three runs to take a 4-1 lead and assume control of the game.
Pitt-Bradford head coach Tina Phillips said, "I like how we came out and put runs on the board early in the first game. Taylor struggled early with hitting her splits, but then settled in and finished strong. The second game was just too many little mistakes and too many errors. We need to get better at playing a better second game, but it is early and that is what we are here to work out in Florida."
The Panthers (2-2) will take the field again at 9 a.m. today against Nazareth College.
