Bradford, Pa. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford softball team returned to AMCC action on Saturday as they hosted Penn State-Altoona. Along with the action on the field, the Panthers paired up with the non-profit organization The Hidden Opponent to bring attention to the importance of mental health on the modern-day student-athlete. The Panthers fell in both games of the doubleheader, losing the first 11-6 and the second 9-1.
The Hidden Opponent raises awareness for student-athlete mental health by sharing stories of student-athletes all around the world and offering various programs for all athletes to prioritize their mental health. Along with providing informational pamphlets and posters around the field, the Panthers wore green during their warm-up and on the bench, bringing attention to the cause. "As student-athletes, we want to shine a light on mental health being just as important as physical health to us, while also honoring the lives lost as a result of lacking mental health services within athletics," said junior team member Hannah Fisher.
Game One:
The opening game was an up-and-down contest for the Panthers. They took a lead in the first before falling behind over the next four innings. They came back to tie the game at 6 in the 5th inning before a 4-run 6th from the Lions put the contest away.
Lindsay Steele started for the Panthers and despite the leadoff batter reaching second on a single and an error, was able to retire the next three batters to strand the runner at third. Pitt-Bradford took advantage of a pair of Penn State-Altoona errors to score two runs in the bottom of the first. Faith McLaughlin and Daytona Wentzel both reached on errors with one out before Lexi Peters was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Steele came up next and Put the Panthers ahead as she hit a fielder's choice that did not result in an out. Hannah Fisher was next to the plate and she lined a single into center field to give Pitt-Bradford a 2-0 lead.
The Panther lead did not last long, as the guests were able to quickly tie the game before an out was recorded in the second. Steele hit the first batter with a pitch and then allowed a single through the left side. The next batter drove a double into center field, bringing both runners around to score. The fourth batter of the inning also reached, hitting an infield single, but Steele was able to settle down and retire the next three in a row to end the inning with the game tied at two. Pitt-Bradford threatened to come back in the bottom of the inning as two singles around a sacrifice bunt put runners on the corner with one out, but the inning came to a quick end on a runner caught stealing and a groundout to shortstop.
Both teams were kept off the board in the 3rd before the Lions took the lead in the 4th with two runs in the frame. Steele was relieved by Ashlet Stein with one out in the inning after a walk and a fielder's choice. The Lions loaded the bases with Stein in the circle with a single and a walk. She induced a shallow flyball for the second out of the inning before a two-out single leaked through the middle of the infield to bring in two runs. Pitt-Bradford got one back in the bottom half as McLaughlin hit a two-out single to left field to drive in Rachel Przybysz who reached earlier on a one-out walk.
In the 5th, Stein got two quick outs on a double play to start the frame but then ran into trouble as she walked the next two batters and then allowed a single to load the bases. The next batter lined a single into right field to drive in two more runs, but the Panthers were able to end the inning as Stein cut the throw off in the infield and threw out the runner going to third on the play. Trailing 6-3, the Panthers rallied, scoring three runs to tie the game at six. Lexi Peters lined a single into left to start the inning, and then after a fielder's choice, Hannah Fisher dropped a single into left center. Marguerite DeFranco also hit a single to load the bases with one out. The Panthers hit their fourth single to bring in two as Sadie Wood hit a grounder back up the middle. Following a pop-up in the infield, Chloe Cordova also singled up the middle to tie the game at 6.
The momentum did not stay with the Panthers for long, as the Lions retook the lead immediately in the 6th, hitting a long home run to left field. Stein retired the next batter on a line drive to short but then allowed two runners to reach on a walk and a single. The Lions then broke open the game, hitting their second home run of the inning, this time for three runs to put the visitors ahead 10-6. Ashton Beckerink relieved Stein after the home run and retired the first two batters she faced on fly balls to end the inning.
The Panthers went down in order in the 6th, and the Lions tacked on another run in the 7th. The leadoff batter reached on a throwing error, and then after two fly balls to left field, BEckerink allowed a double to left, allowing the runner to score from first. Needing 5 runs to extend the game, the Panthers got off to a good start, as Beckerink led off the frame with a walk and then Fisher hit her fourth hit of the game through the left side of the infield. DeFranco came up next and hit a hard ground ball right at third base, but it was fielded and turned into a double play. The next batter was retired on a groundout to short, ending the game.
Starting pitcher Lindsay Steele picked up a no-decision in the game. She allowed 3 earned runs on 6 hits in 3.1 innings, striking out one. Ashley Stein (1-5) was saddled with the loss. She finished with 7 earned runs in 2.0 innings pitched. Ashton Beckerink threw the final 1.2 innings, allowing one run. Hannah Fisher led the offensive charge for the Panthers, finishing the game 4 for 4 with a run batted in. Faith McLaughlin finished 2 for 4 with a run and an RBI, while Sadie Wood drove in a pair.
Game 2-
The second game of the doubleheader saw the Panthers keep the Lions in check early, but allowed 8 runs in the final four innings, losing the game 9-1.
Krislyn Clement started the game in the circle for the Panthers and kept the Lions off the board through two innings. The effort was aided by the Panthers' defense, as they turned their second double play of the day after a leadoff single. The Panthers were only able to put a runner on in the first through an error, but Clement posted another quick zero, retiring the side in order in the 2nd.
After the Panthers were set down 1-2-3, The Lions took the lead. The first batter of the frame doubled to left center and then moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. The run scored on a sacrifice fly before Clement ended the inning with a groundout to short. Pitt-Bradford looked to come right back in the bottom half, as DeFranco lined a leadoff double down the left field line. She moved to third on a sacrifice bunt but was not able to advance in the next at-bat, as Faith McLaughlin dropped down a bunt for a single. With runners on the corners, Lexi Najdusak bunted for the third straight batter, but DeFranco was tagged out at the plate for the second out. Daytona Wentzel came up next with a pair of runners on base, but flew out in foul territory in left field, ending the inning.
After the tough shutdown inning in the bottom of the 3rd, the Lions built on their lead, scoring 3 times. The first two runners reached on a single and a hit batter and then moved to second and third on a sacrifice bunt. The first run scored a batter later on a double to left center. Clement got the second out of the inning on a pop-up, but a two-out single through the left side brought in two more, putting the Panthers down 4-0. Clement allowed another hit in the inning, but got a final fly out to left, ending the frame.
The Panthers put a runner on base in both the 4th and 5th innings through a pair of singles but were not able to advance any further. Clement retired the side in order in the 5th but saw the Lions add two runs to their total to start the 6th. The leadoff batter singled to center before a home run to left pushed the Panther deficit to 6 runs. The Lions looked to add more to their lead, as they put a pair of runners on base with a walk and a single, but after another single to center, Chloe Cordova threw out a runner at the plate to end the inning. The Panthers quickly scored a run in the bottom of the inning, but could not cut into the lead any further. Wentzel led off the inning with a single to right, and then after moving to second on a foul pop-up, scored as Cordova hit a double down the left-field line. Following a foul out, Morgan Maybee pinch hit for the Panthers and lined out to second.
Meghan Kapp replaced Clement in the 7th. After a leadoff single, she was able to retire the next two batters but struggled to get the third out of the inning. The leadoff runner scored on a double to left, and then a home run to dead center put the Lions ahead 9-1. Pitt-Bradford put a pair of runners on with a DeFranco single and an error, but the game came to a quick end on a fielder's choice and a foul pop-up.
Krislyn Clement (4-6) picked up the loss for the Panthers. She allowed 5 earned runs in 6.0 innings pitched. Meghan Kapp pitched one inning, giving up 3 runs. Three Panthers recorded multihit games in the loss. Chloe Cordova and Marguerite DeFranco both went 2 for 3 with a double, while Cordova drove in the Panthers' only run. Faith McLaughlin went 2 for 4 with two singles, while Daytona Wentzel scored the Panther run.
The Panthers fall to 7-21 on the season with a 2-4 record in AMCC play. They will look to get back in the win column on Wednesday, as they host Penn State-Behrend. The action is slated to start at 3:00 p.m.
More information regarding The Hidden Opponent can be found on their website, here.
