Naples, Fl. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford softball team returned to action on Wednesday and was unable to find the form that led to three wins in two days, dropping both of their games on their third day of competition. They fell to Haverford 17-2 in 5 innings in game one and then lost 9-1 to Rockford in 6 innings.
Game 1:
The Panthers fell behind right away in their opener, as starting Pitcher Lindsay Steele allowed a run to score before an out was recorded. After two free passes and a bunt single loaded the bases, The Fords singled through the left side to open the scoring, left fielder Faith McLaughlin came up throwing on the play and was able to nab a second runner at the plate for the first out. After the assist, Steele was able to strand two runners on base, getting the next two batters to strike out and line out to center.
Pitt-Bradford was unable to threaten in their half of the first, and Haverford continued their hot hitting in the second. they scored 8 runs on 7 hits and an error in the frame, opening up a 9-0 advantage. The Panthers were able to get one back in the bottom half. Marguerite DeFranco drew a leadoff walk and then Krislyn Clement singled on a line drive that hit the Haverford pitcher. The Fords reliever struggled to find the plate, walking three batters around a strikeout and a baserunning error for the Panthers. McLaughlin drew the final walk, which came with the bases loaded to bring in a run.
Steele posted a 0 in the third inning as a strong throw home on a fly out from Chloe Cordova in center led to an outfield assist to end the frame. The Panthers were kept off the board again in their half of the inning and then saw their deficit grow in the fourth. After Steele got two quick outs around an infield single, a pair of infield errors allowed two runs to score. After the second, Steele induced a fly ball to end the inning.
Pitt-Bradford threatened in the 4th as Hannah Fisher drew a leadoff walk and then after a fielder's choice Kylee Hertlein singled through the left side of the infield. With two runners on, McLaughlin hit a hard grounder to third, but it was fielded and turned into a quick 5-5-3 double play to end the threat.
In the 5th the Fords added six more using 4 hits and 2 Panther errors to extend the lead to 16. Ashley Stein replaced Steele after a final single in the inning, and she threw one pitch to get the final out. The Panthers were able to score one final run in the 5th. Cordova led off the inning with a single to right center and then moved to second on a groundout. She took third as Lexi Peters dropped a single down the right-field line. With runners on the corners, Peters faked a steal of second, drawing a throw from Haverford's catcher, which sailed high, allowing Cordova to trot home.
Starting Pitcher Lindsay Steele (0-1) allowed 17 runs, 7 earned, in the loss, but despite a tough outing accumulated 4.2 innings, which could be important in a week where the Panthers play 10 games in 6 days. Offensively the Panthers were only able to muster 4 hits, all singles from Chloe Cordova, Lexi Peters, Krislyn Clement, and Kylee Hertlein. Hertlein reached base in both of her plate appearances. Faith McLaughlin recorded the only RBI for the Panthers, while Cordova and MArguerite DeFranco scored the runs.
Game 2:
The second game of the day saw the Panthers remain competitive with Rockford early but were ultimately unable to keep up with the Regents, losing 9-1 in 6 innings.
The Panthers went down in order to begin the game, and then the Regents went ahead in their half of the inning. A leadoff single was followed by back-to-back wild pitches, allowing the runner to move to third with no outs. The next batter was able to hit a grounder to short which brought in the run. Later in the inning, the Regents loaded the bases with one out, but starter Ashton Beckerink used a lineout and a ground ball to escape the inning with no further damage.
Pitt-Bradford came right back in the second and tied the game. Krislyn Clement drove a double into the gap in right-center for a one-out double, and then two batters later scored as Sadie Wood dropped a two-out single into left. Unfortunately, the Panthers were unable to keep momentum on their side, as the Regents were able to score three unearned runs in the bottom half of the inning. Beckerink retired the first two batters of the inning but saw the frame extended as an error at first kept Rockford at the plate. After the error, Beckerink walked a batter and then allowed an infield single and a 2-run double, putting Rockford ahead 4-1.
Rachel Przybysz led off the 3rd with an infield single, but after moving to second on a sacrifice bunt, was unable to score as the Rockford third baseman made two tough plays to end the inning. Beckerink once again retired the first two batters of the inning in the bottom half but saw the Regents load the bases on three straight singles. She was able to settle down and escape the jam with a groundball to second to keep Rockford off the board.
The Panthers were set down in order in their half of the 4th before Rockford added another run in the bottom of the inning. After a pair of walks to start the inning, the 5th run of the game scored on a throwing error in the infield, leading to a Panther pitching change. Ashley Stein relieved Beckerink and was able to limit Rockford from adding more to their lead, retiring three straight, stranding runners on 1st and 3rd.
Lizzy Hoovler singled in the 5th but was not able to advance on the basepaths. Rockford scored another in the 5th, using a single, error and sacrifice fly to go ahead 6-1. The Panthers threatened to cut into the lead in the 6th. Chloe Cordova led off with a single and then after a well-hit flyout to left, Lexi Peters ripped a ground-rule double down the left field line. Cordova was forced to stay at third as the ball went out of play and then was unable to score as the next two batters flew out to shallow center and grounded out to third to end the inning.
In the bottom of the inning, Stein was able to get two outs around a bunt single and a walk but was unable to get out of the inning. With two down, Rockford brought in their 7th run on a bunt single, and then a double to left center brought in two more, putting the Regents up 8 runs after the 5th inning, ending the game immediately.
Ashton Beckerink (1-1) picks up the loss after allowing 5 runs (1 earned) in 3 innings. She allowed 6 hits, 5 walks and struck out 1. Ashley Stein pitched the final 2 and 2/3 innings, allowing 4 runs, 3 earned, on 4 hits and a walk. Six different Panthers collected hits in the game, led by doubles from Krislyn Clement and Lexi Peters. Sadie Wood drove in the only run of the game for the Panthers.
Pitt-Bradford falls to 3-5 on the season after the losses. They will look to get things back on track Thursday with two more games. They take on Alverno College at 9:00 a.m. followed by a matchup with John Carroll at 11. Both games will be at the North Collier Regional Park in Naples.
