Harrisonburg, Va. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford softball team began its season on Sunday, playing a doubleheader at Eastern Mennonite. The Panthers lost both games, falling in the opener 12-8 and dropping the nightcap 9-6.
Game 1:
The Panthers got off to a hot start to begin their season, as they were able to score two runs in the top of the first inning. Faith McLaughlin led off the game with a single to right and then moved to second when Chloe Cordova was hit by a pitch. The Pair advanced on a double steal before scoring on an RBI groundout from Daytona Wentzel and a sacrifice fly from Lexi Peters.
Lindsay Steele started the game for the Panthers and was able to keep the hosts off the board in the first, allowing a one-out single, but nothing more. She was rewarded for her shutdown inning in the second, as the Panthers scored three more. Hannah Fisher hit a one-out single to right before walks to Steele and Rachel Przybysz loaded the bases. McLaughlin brought in the first run as she was hit by a pitch and then two more runs were scored when Wentzel reached on an error.
The Panthers could not keep the momentum in the bottom of the inning as two errors paired with three hits and two walks allowed the Royals to tie the game at 5, as well as chase Steele. Ashley Stein replaced Steele after a double tied the game. She was able to retire the first batter she faced on a grounder back to the circle and then after a walk, escaped further damage as Cordova tracked down a line drive into center field.
The Panthers struck back in the 3rd, as Hannah Fisher hit a double to the gap in right-center to bring Marguerite DeFranco around from first. The Panthers were unable to add any more runs in the frame, and then in the bottom of the inning allowed three more runs to score on one hit and three additional errors.
The Panthers put a pair of runners on base in the 4th as Cordova and WEntzel each singled, but PEters hit a hard one-hopper back to the pitcher that was deflected towards second base. The second baseman fielded and threw to first in time for the first out and Cordova was tagged out at the plate trying to score on the play, ending the threat. The Royals added two more runs in the bottom half of the inning using a home run, an error, and a single to push their lead to 10-6.
The Panthers went down without a hit in the top of the 5th and Ashton Beckerink replaced Stein in the bottom half. Beckerink was able to get the first out of the inning but then gave up a single and a two-run home run. She settled down after a double and retired the last two batters of the inning.
Pitt-Bradford was not finished yet, as they were able to score two more runs in the 6th. Przybysz drew a leadoff walk and then moved to third as McLaughlin doubled to left center. Chloe Cordova drove in the first run of the inning as she reached on a fielder's choice while McLaughlin was thrown out advancing to third. She scored a batter later when Wentzel doubled to right-center. Peters dropped a bloop single into left but the inning came to a close as Krislyn Clement grounded into an inning-ending double play at first base.
Beckerink kept the Royals off the board in the 6th, giving the Panthers one more chance to come back. They got two runners on base in the inning but were unable to bring them around, ending the game 12-8.
Daytona Wentzel, Faith McLaughlin, and Hannah Fisher all went 2 for 4 in the game with a double. McLaughlin and Fisher each had a run scored and an RBI, while Wentzel drove in a pair. Stein picked up the loss after allowing 5 runs, 1 earned in 2.2 innings pitched. Steele struck out 2 and allowed 5 runs, 1 earned in 1.1 innings pitched.
Game 2:
The nightcap of the doubleheader saw the Panthers fall behind early, before battling back to tie the game at 6. Unfortunately, the hosts pulled away late for a 9-6 loss.
The Panthers went down in order in the first, but Krislyn Clement was able to keep the Royals in check posting a 1-2-3 inning in her collegiate pitching debut. Lexi Peters led off the 2nd with a double to deep centerfield but was unable to score.
In the bottom half of the inning, the Royals took advantage of a pair of Panther errors, combining them with 5 hits to score 6 in the frame. The Panthers were kept off the board again in the 3rd, and Clement was able to bounce back from the 6-run inning, to put up another 0 in the bottom half.
The Panthers began their comeback in the 4th. Peters led the inning off with a single to left and then moved up a base on a Fisher single. The Panthers loaded the bases when Kylee Hertlein singled into center before Clement helped her own cause, doubling into right field to bring in two runs. A third run scored in the inning as Madison Camp hit an RBI groundout to second to bring in Hertlein. In the bottom half of the inning, Clement ran into trouble as the hosts loaded the bases on a pair of singles and a walk, but she was able to wriggle out of the jam, getting a forceout at the plate for the 2nd out of the inning and a lineout to left to end the frame.
The Panther rally continued in the 5th, as they added three more runs to tie the game at six. McLaughlin led off the inning and hit a double to left. She scored when Cordova lined a single into center field. Freshman Ciera Adams entered the game as a pinch hitter in the next at-bat and had a debut to remember. Adams got a hold of a 3-2 pitch, hitting a long fly ball to left field that cleared the fence for a game-tying home run. The Panthers were unable to add any more in the inning.
The game did not stay tied for long as the Royals retook the lead with one run in the bottom of the inning. Meghan Kapp entered the circle after pinch-hitting for Clement in the top half. After a leadoff walk and a sacrifice bunt, Kapp gave up a single to left center, allowing the go-ahead run to score. She was able to settle down and retire two of the next three batters to end the inning down one.
Pitt-Bradford was unable to score after the first two batters of the 6th inning reached base, and then had trouble finding their control in the bottom half, as Eastern Mennonite scored 2 runs without a hit in the inning. Steele relieved Kapp and walked two batters while uncorking three wild pitches to allow the first run of the inning to score. After the run scored, Clement re-entered the game and walked the next batter. She was able to induce the next batter into a groundout, but the runner was able to score from third on the play, putting the Royals ahead 9-6. She walked two more batters in the inning but was able to escape without further damage.
In their last at-bat, the Panthers threatened, as Fisher reached on an error and Hertlein singled in the infield to put runners on first and second with one out. The Panthers were unable to manage a hit after the single, as a strikeout and a fly ball to right ended the game.
Ciera Adams had the big blast of the game, as she hit her first career home run. Kylee Hertlein also had a memorable debut, going 3 for 4 in her first collegiate game. Before being removed in the 4th, Lexi Peters had 2 hits in the game, while Madison Camp also logged a multihit game and drove in a run.
Meghan Kapp (0-1) picked up the loss after allowing the go-ahead run in her only inning of work. Kruslyn Clement got a no-decision, finishing with 6 runs allowed, 2 earned in 5.0 innings pitched. She struck out 3 batters,
The losses start the Panthers' season at 0-2. They will have the next week to prepare for their spring break trip to Fort Myers Florida, where they will play 10 games in a 6-day span. It will begin with a pair of games on Sunday, March 5th. They will first take on Clark University at 11:00 a.m., followed by a matchup with Ana Maria at 1:00 p.m.
