Bradford, Pa. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford softball team responded from a 13-1 loss in game one of their doubleheader with Medaille, exploding offensively to win the nightcap 16-8 in 6 innings to salvage a split with the Mavericks.
Game 1-
The Panthers were slow out of the gate in the first game of their double dip with former AMCC foe Medaille, falling behind 6-0 after the first inning of play. The Mavericks used 5 hits, 1 error, and 3 free passes to take the early lead off of Pitt-Bradford starter Ashley Stein. Pitt-Bradford looked to respond in the bottom half of the frame as FAith McLaughlin walked and Daytona Wentzel singled, but the next two batters went down looking to end the threat.
The Mavericks tacked on another run in the 2nd using a leadoff walk, single, and RBI groundout, but the Panthers were able to answer it with a run in their half. Lindsay Steele led off the frame with a double to the gap in right center, and then scored two batters later as Sadie Wood hit a double to left center.
The Panthers were not able to maintain the momentum in the 3rd, as the Mavericks tagged relief pitcher Meghan Kapp for 4 runs on 4 hits and three walks. After a leadoff single, Kapp retired the next two batters, but then ran into trouble, as the next three batters hit a double, and a pair of singles to tack on two more runs. The third run of the frame scored on a wild pitch and then a walk and two hit batters forced in another. Kapp ended the inning with a strikeout.
Despite a one-out single from Wentzel in the 3rd, the Panthers went down quickly to end the inning. The Mavericks added a run in the 4th on two singles and a sacrifice fly. Ashton Beckerink entered the game in the 5th and allowed the 13th run of the game on 4 hits in the inning. The Panthers went down quietly in the last two at-bats, as they could only muster a walk, bringing the contest to an end after 5 innings.
Ashley Stein (1-3) picked up the loss for Pitt-Bradofrd. She allowed 7 runs, 5 earned on 6 hits in 2 innings pitched. Meghan Kapp also pitched two innings, allowing 5 earned on 7 hits. She did strike out one. Ashton Beckerink pitched one inning, allowing one run on 4 hits. Offensively, the Panthers could only muster 4 hits in the game. Daytona Wentzel had 2 of them, as she went 2 for 2 with a pair of singles, while Lindsay Steele and Sadie Wood each had doubles. Wood drove in the Panthers' only run.
Game 2-
After a disappointing start to the doubleheader, Pitt-Bradofrd answered quickly in the nightcap, as they jumped out to an early 5-0 advantage.
Starting Pitcher Krislyn Clement allowed just a two-out walk in the first, and was rewarded, as the Panthers scored 3 runs in the bottom of the inning. Faith McLaughlin started the rally with a single through the left side and then stole second base. Daytona Wentzel was able to reach on an infield hit on the next play and the Panthers took advantage of some defensive confusion from the Mavericks, forcing a throw to second on the play which allowed McLaughlin to scamper home for the first run. Wentzel scored on the next play as Lexi Peters reached on a Medaille throwing error. After a Morgan Maybee single put runners on the corners, Peters scored on an RBI groundout from MArguerite DeFranco to put the Panthers up 3-0 after one.
Clement retired the side in order in the second for a shutdown inning to keep the momentum in the home dugout, and the Panthers quickly added two more runs in the bottom of the 2nd. Lexi Najdusak led off with a single down the right field line and then was able to score as McLaughlin doubled to left center. McLaughlin took third on the play on the throw home and then scored when Chloe Cordova hit a sacrifice fly to right field.
The Mavericks battled back in the third, tying the game with 5 runs on 3 hits and two panther errors. Clement retired the first batter she faced, but then saw the next 6 batters reach base on a walk, two errors, and 3 hits, cutting the lead to one. The Mavericks tied the game with an RBI groundout for the second out before another grounder to short ended the inning. Pitt-Bradford provided an immediate response, retaking the lead with two hits in the bottom of the frame. Peters led off with a double and then scored on a Maybee double to center. After Maybee moved to third on a groundout, Hannah Fisher hit a sacrifice fly to center to bring her in and put the Panthers up 7-5.
Medaille was able to take the lead in the 4th, scoring three more runs on 4 hits in the inning. They went ahead 8-7 on an RBI fielder's choice, but the Panthers would not be deterred, as they quickly moved back ahead with a pair of runs in their at bat. McLaughlin ripped a one-out triple to left-center and then scored when Cordova reached on an error on a bunt. Cordova was thrown out stealing 2nd, but Wentzel restarted the rally, singling to center and moving to second on a bobble in the outfield. she scored a batter later when Peters lined a single into right.
Clement settled down in the 5th, posting an important shutdown inning by retiring the side in order. She was rewarded for her effort in the bottom of the inning, as the Panthers rallied with two outs to tack on three runs. Najdusak started another rally with a single up the middle and then moved to third as Rachel Przybysz also singled. After PRzybysz stole second, McLaughlin hit her third extra-base hit of the game, doubling to right center to bring in two runs. Cordova followed with another double to bring McLaughlin around and Put the Panthers up 12-8.
Clement retired the side in order for the second straight frame in the 6th, sending the Panthers back into the dugout with a four-run lead. In the bottom half, Pitt-Bradford was able to score 4 runs, bringing the game to an early end. Maybee led off the frame with a single to center and then took second as DeFranco also hit a single to right. Maybee scored a batter later as Meghan Kapp reached on an error. Najdusak picked up her third hit of the game with a single to right, driving in pinch runner Lizzy Hoovler, and then stole second uncontested. With one out and runners on 2nd and 3rd, Przybysz came through with the final hit for the Panthers, lining a double into the gap in right-center to score two.
Krislyn Clement (3-4) battled through a tough two-inning stretch to pick up the win for the Panthers. She finished with a complete game victory, allowing 8 runs, 5 earned on 7 hits. She struck out two and retired the last 8 batters she faced.
The Panthers exploded offensively in the game, pounding out 18 hits, including 7 for extra bases. 6 different Panthers recorded multihit games, led by Faith McLaughlin who finished 4 for 4 with 4 runs scored, 3 driven in, 2 doubles, and a triple. Freshmen Morgan Maybee and Lexi Najdusak had breakout games, registering three hits each. Maybee was 3 for 4 with 2 runs scored, 1 RBI, and a double. Najdusak was also 3 for 4, scoring 3 times and adding an RBI. Chloe Cordova drove in 3.
The victory breaks a 10-game skid for the Panthers, moving them to 5-15 on the year. They will return to AMCC play this weekend, as they travel to Alfred State for a doubleheader. First pitch is slated for 1:00 p.m.
