Ashland, N.Y. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford lost their third game of the weekend, falling to hosts Randolph-Macon 12-2 in the third game of the series.
The Panthers fell behind right away as they went down in order in the first, and then saw the hosts score 5 in the bottom half of the inning. Brandon Amidon-Crawford retired the first batter of the game but was unable to record another out as the next three batters walked. After a two-run single to left, Amidon-Crawford made a throwing error on a bunt single, allowing the fourth run to score and ending his day. He was replaced by Trent Bielak who allowed his inherited runners to score on another 2-run single but was able to strand the bases loaded with back-to-back fielder's choice groundouts to end the frame.
Justin DAttoli led off the 2nd with a single down the third base line but was unable to advance past second. Randolph-Macon was able to tack on another run in the bottom half as a leadoff double was followed by a grounder and a sacrifice fly to bring in the run.
The Panthers had a bright spot in the 3rd as David Gebhard led off the inning with a long home run to left, the first for the Panthers this season, and the first of his career. Bielak threw a shutdown inning in the bottom of the inning and the Panthers looked to continue building momentum as Evan Fragela led off the 4th with a double to left. Unfortunately, Dattoli hit a hard line drive at third that was questionably caught in the infield, leaving Fragela out to dry for a double play. The Yellowjackets were able to increase their lead in the bottom of the inning. After Beilak allowed a run on a one-out double and a single up the middle, he was replaced by Jacob Sherdel. Sherdel allowed the inherited runner to score on a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly, but was able to avoid further damage, inducing a flyout to end the inning.
Neither team was able to threaten in the 5th, and the Panthers were able to score again in the 6th. Andrew Bokulich hit a one-out single up the middle and then moved to second on a soft grounder in the infield. Dattoli delivered his second hit of the game, serving a single to left center with 2-outs to bring in Bokulich.
Sherdel worked around a leadoff walk to put up his second straight 0 in the bottom half, but the Panther offense was unable to get started over the final three innings, only reaching on an error and a pair of walks over their last three at-bats. Sherdel was replaced by Patrick Synan after allowing a leadoff walk and a double to start the 7th. Synan limited the damage, allowing one runner to score on a sacrifice fly, but he was able to retire all three batters he faced in the inning.
Randolph-Macon added three more in the 8th off of Synan and Joe Long was able to strike out a batter with the bases loaded to get out of the inning. In the 9th, the Panthers threatened with a pair of walks but were unable to bring in the run as the last two batters struck out and grounded to second to end the game.
Brandon Amidon-Crawford (1-1) was saddled with the loss after allowing 5 earned runs in a third of an inning pitched. Trent Bielak threw 3.1 innings of long relief, allowing 3 earned runs and striking out 2. Jacob Sherdel allowed 1 earned run on 2 hits, and 2 walks in 2.2 innings pitched with 1 strikeout. Patrick Synan was tagged for 3 runs on 3 hits and struck out 1. Joe Long struck out one.
Offensively, David Gebhard had the big blast for the Panthers, tallying his first career home run. Justin Dattoli went 2 for 3 in the game with an RBI and a walk.
The Panthers fall to 1-3 after a tough weekend against good competition at Randolph-Macon. They will look to right the ship next weekend as they will play a pair of doubleheaders at Bethany on Saturday and Sunday. Game one is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on Saturday in Bethany, W.V.
