Bradford, Pa. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford softball team wrapped up their home schedule on Friday evening as they hosted Penn State-Altoona in an AMCC double dip. The Panthers lost both games, falling 7-4 in the opener and 14-7 in the nightcap.

Game 1:

The Panthers got off to a slow start, falling behind 3-0 early, but were able to take a short-lived lead in the 5th before ultimately falling 7-4.

• The Panthers' offense struggled early as they went down in order for the first four innings of play, striking out 7 times. in the meantime, the visiting Lions were able to take an early lead off of starting pitcher Ashley Stein. Following a 1-2-3 first inning, Stein fell behind right away in the second as she gave up a leadoff single which was followed by a 2-run home run down the right-field line. The third batter of the inning also singled, but Stein was able to settle down and retire three in a row to end the frame.
• Stein used a double play to work around a leadoff double in the 3rd, but saw the Lions tack on a third run in the 4th. Stein allowed a leadoff single to the cleanup hitter who stole second base and then moved to third with one out on a fly ball to right. Stein was able to get one out with a grounder to third but then gave up a single through the left side to bring in the run.
• Stein was replaced by Meghan Kapp to start the 4th. Kapp retired the first two batters she faced but ran into trouble as she allowed a single and a walk with two down. She was able to get the final out of the inning on a lineout to second.
• The Panther offense came alive in the 5th. Lexi Peters started the inning and reached second base on a dropped flyball in right field. Imani Jackson followed the error with a hard single to left. Peters stopped at third but was able to scamper home as an error in left allowed both Panthers to take an extra base. Jackson moved to third as Faith McLaughlin drew a walk. McLaughlin was able to steal second base as the Lions got the first out on a strikeout. KT Marx brought in the next run as she dropped a single into right field, allowing Jackson to score. McLaughlin moved to third on the play and scored a batter later when Chloe Cordova reached on a fielding error at first base.
• Following an infield fly, Daytona Wentzel hit a hard ground ball that went right between the legs of the Penn state-Altoona infielder to score two runs and give the Panthers a 4-3 lead. She was able to steal second during the next at-bat but was left there as Marguerite DeFranco went down on strikes to end the inning.
• The momentum did not stay with the Panthers for long, as the Lions struck right back with three runs in the 6th. Kapp got the first out of the inning on a foul pop-up to first but loaded the bases with two walks and a hit batter around a fielder's choice. The Panthers seemed to be out of the inning as the next batter hit a grounder in the hole, but Peter's throw to first was just late as the game was tied on an infield single. The next batter was able to rap a single back up the middle to put the Lions ahead. 
• Pitt-Bradford threatened in the 6th as Peters started the frame with a single. After two quick outs, Paige Wertheimer drew a walk to move Peters into scoring position. With two down, KT Marx lined a ball into right field, but it was snagged by the Lions to end the inning unscathed.
• Stein re-entered the game in the 7th and after a flyout gave up a solo home run to extend the deficit to three. She stranded runners on 2nd and 3rd to end the inning. The Panthers were able to get a one-out single in the bottom of the 7th from Kidnra Wessels but did not move a runner into scoring position as the next two batters were retired.

Meghan Kapp was tagged with the loss after allowing 3 earned runs in 2 innings of work. Ashley Stein pitched 5.0 innings, allowing 4 earned runs on 9 hits and a walk. The Panthers were only able to tally 4 hits in the game as Peters, Jackson, Marx, and Wessels all hit singles.

Game 2:

 Penn State-Altoona was able to jump out to a 9-1 lead early in game two. The Panthers were able to battle back and whittle the deficit down to 3 before falling 14-7.

• The Lions jumped on starting pitcher Kindra Wessels right away, as they scored a run after a leadoff double, infield single, and sacrifice fly. Following a passed ball and 2nd infield hit of the inning, the Lions added a second run on a double steal.
• The Panthers were able to get one back in their half of the inning. Wessels began the frame with a single to left and scored after a sacrifice bunt as Daytona Wentzel lined a single back up the middle. A KT Marx single moved Wentzel into scoring position with two outs, but Imani Jackson grounded into a fielders choice to end the frame. 
• In the 2nd, Penn State Altoona used a two-out rally to explode for 7 runs in the frame. Wessels hit the leadoff batter with a pitch, who moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and grounder back to Wessels. Wessels nearly got out of the inning right away as a long at-bat resulted in a line drive that went just over the outstretched glove of Wentzel at 2nd base to bring in the 3rd run of the game. From there, the Lions went on a run of 5 straight hits that included two three-run home runs. The inning ended as Rachel Przybysz snagged a line drive in right.
• Pitt-Bradford was able to get another run back with a two-out run of their own in the bottom half. Chloe Cordova lined a double into the left-centerfield gap and scored a batter later when Wessels singled to center. 
• In the third, Wessels put up a zero as she got two flyouts and KT Marx threw out a base stealer to end the inning. The Panthers used the momentum of the shutdown inning to score three more in the bottom half to cut the lead to 9-5. Peters drew a walk to start the inning and then quickly scored as Marx hit a high fly ball to right field that cleared the fence for her first career home run. 
• After Imani Jackson was thrown out trying to reach second on a double, Madison Camp lined a single up the middle and moved to second on a wild pitch. With two outs, Cordova also hit a single back up the middle to bring in Camp for the third tally of the frame.
• The Lions used a one-out triple to tack on another run but Wessels limited the damage with a strikeout and fly ball. The Panthers scored two more in their half of the inning. Wentzel started the inning with a leadoff walk and after two Panthers were retired, scored as Imani Jackson recorded her first career home run on a drive to right-center. 
• The Lions scored two unearned runs with an error, single, walk and sacrifice fly in the 5th to counter the Jackson long ball. The Panthers threatened to continue their attempt to cut into the lead as Przybysz led off with a single to left and Cordova walked. Unfortunately, the Panthers were unable to take advantage of the start as the next three batters all popped up in the infield to end the inning. 
• Wessels worked around a pair of two-out walks to keep the Lions off the board in the 6th. The Panthers threatened once again in the bottom half as Marx singled through the left side and Jackson hit another ball into the gap in right-center for a double. The Lions were once again able to settle down and get the next two batters on a popup and ground out to strand both runners in scoring position.
• Wessels recorded two straight outs to start the 7th but was chased as three straight hits, including a double scored two more Penn state-Altoona runs. She was replaced by Lizzy Hoovler who was able to retire the last batter of the inning on a fly ball to center. The Panthers were set down in order in the bottom of the inning to end the contest.

Kindra Wessels (4-8) picked up the loss in the game. Despite the early struggles, she battled through the majority of the game, pitching 6.2 innings allowing 14 runs, 11 earned on 15 hits, and 3 walks. She struck out two. Lizzy Hoovler got the final out on just four pitches. Three different Panthers recorded 3 hits in the game. Imani Jackson and KT Marx both went 3 for 4 with a two-run home run. Jackson also had a double. Wessels also went 3-4 with a run scored and an RBI. Chloe Cordova also had a multi-hit game, going 2 for 3 with a run scored, RBI, double, and a walk.

The Panthers fall to 9-21 on the season with a 5-7 record in AMCC play. They are scheduled to return to action on Monday, May 2nd, as they will travel to Pitt-Greensburg for their penultimate matchup of the regular season.