Hamburg, N.Y. -- Following a two-week layoff, the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford softball team returned to action Saturday, easily dispatching Hilbert in their AMCC doubleheader, securing their spot in the AMCC Championship Tournament. The Panthers won both games in five innings, taking game one 10-1 and game two 18-3.
Game One-
The Panthers got off to a strong start, as they were able to score three times in the opening frame. Marguerite DeFranco started the rally with an infield single, before moving to second on a throwing error after a fly ball to right. Lexi Peters lined a single into center to bring in DeFranco and put the Panthers in front. Pitt-Bradford loaded the bases on an infield single by Sadie Wood and a free pass to Daytona Wentzel before Lexi Najdusak singled into center to bring in a pair.
Krislyn Clement started the game in the circle for the Panthers and posted a quick shutdown inning in the first. She worked around a two-out triple to right to strand the runner with a fly ball to right field.
The Panthers tacked on to their lead in the 2nd, scoring four more runs. Rachel Przybysz led off the frame by drawing a walk, and then Faith McLaughlin beat out a bunt single. DeFranco brought in both runners with a triple to left. She scored two batters later, when Lexi Peters lined her 4th home run of the season over the fence in left field, putting the Panthers up 7-0. Wood and Najdusak added a pair of singles later in the inning, but did not come around to score.
Clement kept the Hawks off the board again in the 2nd. She quickly retired the first two batters and after an infield single and a stolen base, induced a pop-up in the infield to strand the runner at second.
The Panthers tacked on another run in the next inning without recording a hit. McLaughlin drew a one-out walk and then quickly stole both second and third. She scored in the same at-bat when DeFranco hit a sacrifice fly to center. Clement recorded her third-straight shutdown inning in the bottom of the inning, keeping the momentum in the Pitt-Bradford dugout.
In the 4th, Pitt-Bradford rallied again, scoring two more times to push their lead to 10. Peters started the inning by drawing a walk and then stole second base. Pinch-hitter Lizzy Hoovler drove her in with a double to left. After two popups, Hannah Fisher hit a single through the left side to bring in Hoovler.
Ashton Beckerink replaced Clement in the circle in the 4th inning. She struck out the first batter she faced but then saw the next two batters reach on a walk and a single. She was able to get the next batter to hit the ball on the ground, but a throwing error on the potential double-play ball allowed the Hawks to take an extra base and score their only run of the game.
The Panthers put a pair of runners on base in the 5th but were unable to add to their lead. Meghan Kapp entered the game to pitch the 5th and was able to quickly bring the game to an end, allowing just one runner on a walk.
Krislyn Clement (5-8) picked up the win after pitching 3 scoreless innings, allowing two hits and a walk. She struck out four batters. Ashton Beckerink allowed one unearned run on 1 hit and a walk while striking out one. Meghan Kapp posted a scoreless inning, striking out one.
Lexi Peters finished the game 2-2 with a home run, 3 RBIs, and 3 Runs Scored. Marguerite DeFranco was also 2-2 and had 3 RBIs, 2 runs scored, and a double. Lexi Najdusak had a pair of hits and 2 RBIs, while Sadie Wood also recorded a multi-hit game, finishing 2 for 2.
Game 2
The second game of the day saw the Panthers explode for 9 runs in the first, before putting the game away late, scoring 5 in the 4th and 4 more in the 5th.
McLaughlin started the game off quickly, leading off with a triple to right-center. After a walk, she was able to score when Chloe Cordova hit a single up the middle. Lexi Peters drove in the second run of the inning with a double to right. Lexi Najdusak drove in a run with a bunt single before Wentzel brought in the 4th run with an RBI groundout. Krislyn Clement continued the rally, driving a triple into left-center before she scored on a double to right by Meghan Kapp. Kapp stole third and then scored on another RBI groundout by Rachel Przybysz.
McLaughlin restarted the inning with her second hit of the frame, driving a single into right. She stole second and moved to third on a throwing error, before scoring on a single from Marguerite DeFranco. DeFranco went all the way to third on the play due to an error and then scored the 9th and final run when Cordova hit her 2nd run-scoring single of the frame into left.
Ashley Stein took the circle with the benefit of a 9-0 lead. She started the game strong, limiting the Hawks to just one runner through three innings, reaching on a hit by pitch.
The Panthers were also kept off the board in the 2nd and 3rd but were able to take a commanding lead with 5 runs in the 4th. The Panthers hit seven straight singles to score the runs, all with one out. Kapp, Przybysz, and McLaughlin all drove in one run with singles, and Cordova closed the rally by bringing in two.
The Hawks battled back in the bottom of the inning, scoring three runs. They tallied 4 hits and took advantage of a pair of Panther errors to score the runs. Stein was able to eventually stop the bleeding, as she got two straight outs on a fielder's choice and a groundout to first to strand the bases loaded.
In the 5th, the Panthers were able to take back the momentum, pushing their lead to 15 runs. Kylee Hertlein started the rally with a pinch-hit single but was thrown out at home trying to score on a Clement double. Lindsay Steele and Lizzy Hoovler both delivered pinch-hit singles to continue the rally, with Steele driving in a run on her hit. Morgan Maybee brought in Steele with an RBI groundout. Sadie Wood drove in another run with a double to left, before Cordova picked up her 5th hit of the game, driving in the Panthers' 18th run.
Stein worked around a two-out error to finish the game without another hit.
Ashley Stein (2-5) picked up the win, notching her 2nd complete game of the season. She allowed 3 unearned runs on 4 hits.
The Panthers pounded out 25 hits in the game. Chloe Cordova led the way, finishing 5 for 5 with 5 runs batted in and one scored. Faith McLaughlin was 4 for 4 with a triple, 3 runs scored, and 1 RBI. Krislyn Clement and Meghan Kapp also had 3 hit games for the Panthers. Clement went 3 for 3 with two extra-base hits, three runs scored, and 1 RBI. Kapp was also 2 for 2, driving in a pair while scoring two more.
The wins move the Panthers to 9-25 on the season, with a 4-8 record in AMCC play. The victories also secure the Panthers also clinched a spot in the postseason tournament. They will bring their regular season to a close tomorrow, as they host Pitt-Greensburg. First pitch is slated for 1:00 p.m.
