Naples, Fla.-- After a much deserved day off, the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford softball team returned to action on Thursday, winning both of their games on day four of their Spring Break trip to Fort Myers. The Panthers started the day with a 4-2 win over Emerson, and then after a lengthy delay, defeated Crown 5-2.
Game 1- Pit-Bradford 4 - Emerson 2
The Panthers took a few innings to get their footing but were kept in the game by a strong pitching performance from Bri Heller.
The Panthers were only able to muster a two-out single from Sara Stroup in the first, but Heller was able to match the zero, working around a one-out hit and a stolen base. In the 2nd, Pitt-Bradford went down in order, while the Lions were able to push the first run of the game across. The leadoff batter hit a ground-rule double down the right field line, and then the next batter was hit by a pitch. A sacrifice bunt moved both runners up before a grounder to first brought in the run. Heller was able to retire the next batter on a fly ball to left to end the inning.
The Panthers rallied in the 3rd, scoring three times to jump in front. Meghan Kapp started the inning with a single and then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Following a strikeout, Lizzy Hoovler dropped a triple down the third base line, Moving Kapp to 3rd on the play. Stroup stepped up next and delivered a clutch two-out hit for a double down the left-field line, scoring two runs. Lexi Peters reached a milestone next, hitting a double to deep center field to bring in Stroup, while also marking her 100th hit in her collegiate career.
Heller returned to the circle with a two-run advantage, but could not keep the Lions off the board, as they scratched a run across in the bottom of the third. The leadoff batter reached on a single to right and then moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch. Emerson was able to hit a single into center to bring in the run, but the inning came to a quick end as Hoovler made a running catch in right field and doubled of the runner at first.
In the 4th, the Panthers put a pair of runners on as Krislyn Clement and Kapp each singled but were not able to score as the next two batters were retired on fly balls. Heller kept the Panthers in the lead in the bottom half, setting down the side in order. Pitt-Bradford responded and pushed the lead back to two in the 5th. Stroup reached on an infield single and then with two outs, Lilly Hamels lined a double into left-center to bring in Stroup from first. The Lions began a rally with two outs in the bottom of the inning before Miranda Groll made a running catch in center to end the threat.
Emerson made a pitching change to start the 6th, and the change was effective, as the new pitcher set down the Panthers with three straight groundouts to short. Heller was able to match the 0, posting a 1-2-3 inning to send the game to the 7th. The Panthers put a pair of runners on with infield singles, but could not score any additional runs. Heller retired the first two batters of the 7th quickly and then gave up a pinch-hit single to bring the tying run to the plate. The next batter hit a shallow fly ball to center that Groll was able to track down and catch while sliding to end the game.
Bri Heller (3-2) picked up the complete game win after allowing 2 earned runs on 6 hits and 1 walk. She struck out 3 batters. Sara Stroup had a part in each of the Panther's four runs, as she went 3 for 4 with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored. Lizzy Hoovler and Meghan Kapp also registered multi-hit games.
Game 2: Pitt-Bradford 5 - Crown 2
Over three hours after the Panthers finished game 1, Pitt-Bradford took on the Crown Polars. The Panthers were able to score in 5 of their 6 at-bats, winning the game 5-2.
Krisyln Clement took to the circle for the game and ran into trouble quickly. After retiring the lead-off batter, Clement allowed the next three to reach on a pair of walks and a bloop single. She was able to settle down, however, striking out the next two batters to end the frame without allowing a run to score. The Panther offense got started right away, as Groll drew a leadoff walk and Stroup singled to right. during the next at bat, Groll was thrown out stealing, but Stroup was able to advance to third on the steal attempt and then a wild pitch. She scored when Hamels grounded out to short.
In the second, Clement worked around a leadoff walk to post a shutdown inning, and then the Panthers added a second run in the bottom half of the inning. Clement helped her own cause, leading off the inning with an infield single. She took second on a sacrifice bunt, and then scored two batters later when Lexi Najdusak lined a two-out single into center field.
Clement retired the next six straight batters, keeping her shutout through the fourth, while the Panthers added a third run in the bottom of the 4th. Fisher started the inning with a single down the line in third, and then Bri Heller recorded her first collegiate hit with a single to right. Najdusak advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt and then Groll drew a walk to load the bases. After the second out was recorded, Hamels hit a hard grounder toward the hole between shortstop and third base. The Polar's third baseman made a diving stop and tried to throw out Hamels from her knees, but the throw was low and unable to be scooped up at first, allowing the run to score.
Crown was finally able to draw blood in the 5th, scoring twice on 2 hits and 2 errors. The first two batters of the inning singled, and then the first run scored as a throw to first hit the runner after a sacrifice bunt. Clement was able to strike out the next batter but then allowed the second run of the frame to score on a fielder's choice at shortstop. Another throwing error and a walk loaded the bases, but Clement was able to escape the inning with the lead as she induced a pop-up to 3rd to end the inning.
The Panthers were able to get one of the runs right back in the bottom of the inning. Kendall Dotson led off with a pinch-hit single, and then after a foul out to first, Fisher lined a double down the left field line to put runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out. Following another pop-up in the infield, the Panthers were able to score due to some confusion on the basepaths. With two out, Lexi Najdusak dropped down a bunt, but Dotson did not break for the plate. Fisher did not get the same read at second and began advancing to third. She was able to get in a rundown, allowing Heller to break for the plate. She was just able to slide under the tag to score the run.
Clement hit the leadoff batter with a pitch to start the 6th but then got some help from her defense as Ciera Adams snagged the next batter's line drive, and doubled off the runner at first. Clement then quickly got a pop-up to short to end the inning. Sara Stroup started the bottom half of the inning with a bang, as she hit a ball down the right field line for extra bases, she hustled into third for a triple, and the throw got away from Crown, allowing Stroup to scamper home to give the Panthers another insurance run.
Clement returned to the circle for the 7th and retired the side finishing off the win for the Panthers.
Krisyln Clement (3-0) picked up the win after allowing 2 unearned runs in the complete game victory. She gave up just 3 hits while striking out 7. Lexi Najdusak had a strong game at the plate, finishing 2 for 2 with 2 RBIs and a sacrifice bunt. Lilly Hamels also had 2 RBIs, finishing 1 for 4. Sara Stroup and Hannah Fisher both went 2 for 3 in the game with an extra-base hit, while Lexi Peters had a pair of singles.
The Panthers move to 8-4 with the win and are now 7-2 on their spring break trip. Competition at the Gene Cusic Classic will come to a close for the Panthers tomorrow. They will take on Lesley at 9:00 a.m. and then finish the trip with a matchup against WestConn at 11:00. Both games will be held at North Collier Regional Park on field 1.
