Erie, Pa. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford softball team saw its 2023 campaign come to a close on Friday morning as they were defeated 9-1 in 5 innings by Penn State-Altoona.

The Panthers jumped ahead early as they were able to score before an out was recorded. Faith McLaughlin led off for the Panthers and was able to reach on an error in the infield. Daytona Wentzel came up next and drove a double off of the fence in left-center. McLaughlin raced around the bases and scored on the play, putting the Panthers up one. Wentzel was able to move to third on the throw home but was unable to score as the next three batters went down in order. The lead did not last long, as the Lions were able to score a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning off of starter Lindsey Steele. Steele walked the leadoff batter and then saw the lead erased with a wild pitch and a single to center. The Panthers were able to slow the rally with a double play, but the Lions took the lead before the frame ended using a double and an infield single with a throwing error.

The Panthers went down in order in the 2nd, and the Lions were able to add to their lead in the bottom half. After retiring the first two batters of the inning, Steele ran into trouble as the Lions loaded the bases on a single, walk, and an error. After the error, the Lions dropped a single into left field to extend their lead to 3-1.

Steele was able to answer another 1-2-3 inning from the Lions in the top of the third, putting a 0 on the scoreboard despite allowing a pair of singles in the inning. Chloe Cordova led off the 4th with a single to right but was doubled off on the next play as Lexi Peters hit a long fly ball to right-center that was tracked down in the gap. 

Pitt-Bradford would go on to rue the missed opportunity, as the Lions exploded for four runs in the bottom of the 4th. Steele walked the leadoff batter to start the inning, and then after a line out to short, allowed the Lions to load the bases with a single up the middle and a walk. Unfortunately for the Panthers, Steele was not able to escape this jam, as the next batter hit a grand slam to left, opening up a 6-run lead. The home run was followed by a double before the Panthers made a pitching change, bringing Ashley Stein into the game to relieve Steele. Stein was able to work around a single to get out of the inning without further damage.

The Panthers went down in order in the top of the 5th, before the Lions rallied to score and push their lead to the 8 in the bottom of the inning, bringing the game to an early end.

Lindsay Steele (1-7) was saddled with the loss after allowing 7 runs, 5 earned in 3.1 innings pitched. She struck out 2 batters. Ashley Stein pitched the final inning for the Panthers, allowing 2 earned runs. The Panthers were only able to muster two hits in the game. Daytona Wentzel had the first, driving in the Panthers' only run with a first-inning double. Chloe Cordova had the other hit for the Panthers, while Faith McLaughlin scored the Panthers' run.

The Panthers finish their season with an 11-27 record. They qualified for postseason play for the 4th straight season, finishing in 5th place.