Erie, Pa. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford softball team began postseason play on Thursday, falling 4-2 to LaRoche in the first round of the AMCC Championship Tournament.
The Panthers got out to a tough start as they were the victims of a pair of spectacular catches in the top of the first, before allowing two runs in the bottom of the inning. Faith McLaughlin began the game with a shallow fly ball into center that was caught on the dive by the LaRoche centerfielder. Three batters later, Lexi Peters hit a line drive into left with a runner on base but saw the left fielder for Laroche make a leaping catch to end the inning. Krislyn Clement started the game in the circle for the Panthers and ran into trouble right away. She walked the leadoff batter, who was able to move all the way to third as the fourth ball was on a wild pitch and a throwing error allowed the batter to take the extra base. The next Redhawk reached on a but single to bring in the first run. Two batters later, LaRoche doubled their lead on an RBI groundout.
Following a pair of 1-2-3 innings in the 2nd, the Panthers were able to cut into the lead in the third. Sadie Wood beat out an infield single to start the inning and was able to move to second on an errant throw. She moved to third on a ground ball to the right side and then scored on an RBI groundout for Faith McLaughlin. Daytona Wentzel delivered her second hit of the day, looking to start a rally, but the inning came to a quick end on a pop-up. Clement posted a shutdown inning in the third, retiring the side in order for the second straight frame.
The Panthers rallied with two outs in the 5th to put a pair of runners on base, as McLaughlin was hit by a pitch and Wentzel delivered her 3rd hit of the game to left, but Pitt-Bradford could not tie the game, as Cordova was retired on a fly ball to center to end the threat. Clement retired her 13th straight batter to start the bottom of the inning, but the streak ended with one out on a single to center. Clement got the second out of the inning on a fielder's choice, but could not get out of the inning unscathed. Following a two-out walk, LaRoche singled up the middle to bring in the first runner and push their lead to 2.
Pitt-Bradford was only able to muster a single in the 6th, and LaRoche was able to add to their lead in the frame. Clement walked the leadoff batter to start the inning but was able to get two quick outs on a sacrifice bunt and a fly ball to right. The Redhawks were able to come up with another clutch 2-out hit to bring the runner around to push their advantage to 4-1.
Needing three runs to extend the game, the Panthers were able to rally in the 7th, but despite bringing the tying run to the plate, were not able to tie the game. After two quick outs, McLaughlin was able to beat out an infield single to extend the game. Wentzel came to the plate next and hit a double down the left-field line, bringing in McLaughlin. Chloe Cordova came to the plate as the tying run but was retired on a pop-up, bringing the game to an end.
Krislyn Clement (6-9) picked up the loss after allowing 4 earned runs on 4 hits and 3 walks. She retired 13 straight batters at one point of the game and struck out three batters. Daytona Wentzel was the star of the game for the Panthers, finishing 4 for 4 with a double and an RBI. Faith McLaughlin was 1 for 3 with a run scored and an RBI. Sadie Wood also had a hit and a run scored.
The Panthers fall to 11-26 on the season with the loss. They will be back in action in the first game of Day Two of the tournament, taking on the loser of #2 Mount Aloysius and #3 Penn State-Altoona in an elimination matchup. First pitch is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on Friday.
