Naples, Fl. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford softball team played a pair of tense games on Monday, as both of their matchups ended in walk-off fashion. The Panthers won their first game over Swarthmore 7-6 in extra innings, but could not hold off Haverford in their second, falling 8-7.
Game 1:
Lindsay Steele took the circle for the opener and dominated early, giving the Panthers a platform to jump ahead in the game. She retired the first nine batters of the game in order, striking out three in the process. In those innings, the Panthers were able to get a runner on base but were also kept off the board.
Swarthmore was finally able to reach base in the 4th as the first two batters of the inning were able to draw a walk and hit an infield single. Steele was able to escape the inning unscathed as she retired the next three batters in a row.
Pitt-Bradford was able to break through in the 4th, scoring 4 runs in the frame. Lexi Peters drew a leadoff walk and then moved to third as Marguerite DeFranco doubled into the gap in right-center. Krislyn Clement came threw with a big hit, doubling into center field to bring in both runners. Kylee Hertlein continued the inning, reaching on an error on the infield and then with runners on the corners, stole second base. Following a strikeout, Rachel Przybysz delivered a two-out single up the middle, bringing in both runners.
Steele posted a quick shutdown inning in the 5th, allowing just a one-out walk. After the Panthers were set down in order in the bottom half, the Garnet began a comeback, cutting the Panther lead in half. Steele picked up her 4th strikeout in the inning but was replaced after Swarthmore loaded the bases with a leadoff single, an error in the infield, and a walk. She was replaced by Ashton Beckerink, who was unable to keep the Garnet off the board. Her first inherited runner scored on a wild pitch before a second scored on a single through the left side. She was able to limit the damage, however, as a runner was caught stealing before she induced a pop-up to third.
The Panthers stranded two runners in the bottom of the inning, and they would regret not adding insurance runs as the Garnet were able to score two more in the 7th to tie the game. The leadoff batter of the inning reached an error in the infield. After a line out to short, the tying run reached base on a single before Swarthmore's leadoff hitter found the gap in right-center to bring in both runners and tie the game. Beckerink was able to settle down and retire the next two batters to keep the game tied. Chloe Cordova singled to lead off the bottom of the 7th and then took second on a wild pitch, but the next three Panthers were unable to come up with the go-ahead hit, sending the game into extra innings.
In the 8th Swarthmore was able to take the lead, bringing in the placed runner with a single after a sacrifice bunt. After a second single, Ashley Stein replaced Beckerink. She retired the first batter she faced with a fly ball to center, but allowed a second run to score on the third hit of the inning. Stein walked the next batter to load the bases but escaped further damage with a fly ball to left.
Needing two runs or more in the bottom half, the Panthers put together a two-out rally to extend the game. After the first two batters of the inning were retired, Hannah Fisher kept the Panthers alive with a run-scoring single to left. Przybysz continued the inning with a single down the right field line and Faith McLaughlin tied the game at 2 with a single to center to bring in pinch-runner Lizzy Hoovler. PRzybysz was thrown out trying to go to third on the play to end the inning.
Stein was able to keep the Garnet off the board in the 9th, giving the Panthers another shot to win the game in the bottom of the inning. Chloe Cordova was able to drop down a sacrifice bunt to start the inning before Daytona Wentzel won the game, dropping a single into right-center to bring in McLaughlin.
Lindsey Steele allowed 2 runs, 1 earned, over 5.1 innings pitched on 2 hits and 3 walks. Ashley Stein (1-1) got the win after allowing one hit in 1.2 innings of scoreless relief work. Daytona Wentzel's game-winner was her only hit of the day, finishing 1 for 4 with an RBI. Rachel Przybysz had a three-hit game, going 3 for 4 with 2 RBIs. Faith McLaughlin, Chloe Cordova, and Hannah Fisher also recorded multiple-hit games.
Game 2:
Despite going down three runs in the first inning of their second game of the day, the Panthers were able to slowly build a 3 run lead through 4 innings but were unable to hold off Haverford, who won on a walk-off.
The Fords jumped on starting pitcher Krislyn Clement right away, scoring 3 runs in the first. They used four singles and a hit batter to score the runs. Clement was able to keep the deficit at three, stranding two runners on base to end the inning. She stranded two more runners in the 2nd and was rewarded, as the Panthers scored three of their own in the third.
Sadie Wood led off the inning with a walk and then moved to second as Rachel Przybysz singled down the line. After two straight outs, Daytona Wentzel singled down the right field line to bring in Przybysz and send Chloe Cordova to third. Wentzel stole second and then both runners scored on a Lexi Peters single to right center, tying the game at three.
Haverford regained the lead in the 3rd, scoring one run in the bottom half. Clement retired the leadoff batter in the inning but walked the next two batters before being replaced by Ashley Stein. Stein induced a pop-up for the second out of the inning but allowed an inherited runner to score as the next batter singled up the middle.
The Panthers were not behind for long, as they took advantage of a loss of control from the Haverford pitching staff to score four runs. Hannah Fisher led off the inning with a single to left. She took second on a wild pitch and eventually moved to third as Lexi Najdusak and Wood drew consecutive walks. Przybysz drew a third straight walk to bring in Fisher and tie the game. Following a pitching change, Cordova singled in the go-ahead run with a single to center. With the bases still loaded Peters and Maddy Camp each drew run-scoring walks to put the Panthers up 7-4.
Stein posted an important shutdown inning in the 4th, stranding two runners on base in the inning, but was able to keep the Fords off the board. The Panthers went down easily in the 5th before Haverford began their comeback in the bottom half. Stein quickly got two outs in the inning, but the Fords used two consecutive throwing errors in the infield to score two runs. Meghan Kapp replaced Stein after the second error. Despite allowing the first two batters she faced to reach on free passes, Kapp escaped the inning with the lead as she induced a flyout to center to end the frame.
Both teams went down in order in the 6th, with the Panthers using a 6-4-3 double play to take a 1-run lead to the final inning. The Panthers were only able to muster a one-out walk in their half of the inning before Haverford finished their comeback with two in the bottom of the inning. Kapp retired the first batter of the inning with a grounder to third, but three straight singles allowed the tying and winning run to score.
Starting pitcher Krislyn Clement picked up the no-decision after allowing 4 runs in 2 and 1/3 innings pitched. Ashley Stein also went 2 and 1/3 innings, allowing two unearned runs. Meghan Kapp (0-2) got the loss after allowing two runs in the 7th.
Offensively, Daytona Wentzel was the only Panther to record a multi-hit game, as she went 2 for 4 with a run and an RBI. Rachel Przybysz reached in all three of her plate appearances, going 1 for 1 with a single and two walks. She scored twice and drove in another. Lexi Peters finished with 3 runs batted in.
The Panthers are now 3-3 on the season. They will have Tuesday off, before returning to action for two more games on Wednesday. They will have a rematch with Haverford at 9:00 a.m. before taking on Rockford at 11.
