Bradford, Pa. – The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford softball program will return to the diamond this spring looking to defend its 2021 regular-season championship.
The Panthers posted a 16-6 record in 2021, including a 14-2 record in AMCC play. They finished as the co-regular season champions. It was the first regular-season title for the Panthers since 2010 when they finished in a three-way tie. Their .875 conference winning percentage was their best since a 16-2 finish in 2007.
The Panthers earned the #2 seed in the AMCC Tournament but were defeated in their opening round of the tournament as they struggled to find their offensive rhythm when faced with a tough pitching matchup from La Roche. The Panthers lost two games 1-0 and saw their season come to an early, unexpected end.
The Panthers were led by a strong pitching staff and timely hitting to pick up their wins. Jordan Uhing won AMCC Pitcher of the Year honors after going 8-2 with a 1.43 ERA. She led the conference in most of the individual pitching categories and tallied two no-hitters on the season. While Uhing deservedly received most of the honors, fellow senior Kerrigan Hoffmann also had an impressive year. Hoffman went 7-2 and had a 2.37 era. She was named 2nd Team, All-AMCC.
Offensively, the Panthers put 5 players on the All-conference teams. They were led by senior shortstop Gabby Carpenter who finished the season with a .463 batting average, which was the 6th best in the conference. While Carpenter set the table at the top of the lineup, Hannah Lathrop provided most of the power, leading the AMCC in home runs with 4. She also hit .412 and drove in 20 runs.
Moving forward, the Panthers will look to a crop of younger players that gained valuable experience last season, while relying on a strong group of upperclass leaders to push the team forward. “We will certainly have a new look this season,” said head coach Tina Phillips. “We lost seven seniors but are really excited about what we have coming back and the eight freshmen we’ve added to the program.”
Daytona Wentzel, Faith McLaughlin, and Lexi Peters all return to the Panther lineup after being named All-AMCC performers in 2021. Wentzel batted .419 in conference play last season and finished 2nd in the AMCC in doubles with 7. Peters hit .364 last season with one home run, 11 RBIs, and 6 runs scored, while McLaughlin hit .375 while posting an on-base percentage of .533.
“We have a lot of depth and interchangeable parts, which is fun for a coaching staff,” added Phillips. “We will be tossing four new pitchers in the circle this season, so our team defense and timely hitting will be key for our success.”
The Panthers were selected to finish in 2nd place in the AMCC Preseason Coaches Poll. They will begin their season on Saturday, February 26th when they travel to Virginia for a pair of doubleheaders. They will start with Roanoke on Saturday and then take on Eastern Mennonite on Sunday. They will then travel to Fort Myers, Fla. Over spring break where they will play 12 games over 7 days. Their first home action will be on Saturday, March 26th against Westminster.
“Our goal this season is to continue to grow and compete every time we are out there, and be ready to make a strong run in conference play,” concluded Phillips.
