Naples, Fla. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford softball team returned to the field at the North Collier Regional Park on Monday, playing two more games in the Cusic Classic. The Panthers were able to win both to improve their record to 5-0 in Florida. They outhit Widener in the opener to win 10-6 and then used a strong pitching performance from Krislyn Clement to defeat Westfield State 3-2.
Game 1 - Pitt-Bradford 10 - Widener 6
In the opener against Widener, the Panthers scored first and then were able to use another breakout inning to take a commanding lead.
The Panthers got out to a quick start, scoring in each of the first two frames. Faith McLaughlin started the game by legging out a triple on a hit down the left-field line, and then scored a batter later on a sacrifice fly from Miranda Groll. The Panthers added two singles later in the frame, but could not add to the score. Bri Heller got the start in the circle for Pitt-Bradford and made quick work of the Pride in the first, retiring the side in order.
Pitt-Bradford doubled their lead in the second with a one-out rally. Heller started the inning with a one-out walk and then moved to second when Hannah Fisher dropped a single into right. Lexi Najdusak loaded the bases on a walk and McLaughlin followed with a single through the left side of the infield. The Panthers looked like they would add more to the lead when Sara Stroup laced a line drive to right, but the Widener outfielder got a good read on the hit and tracked the ball down for the final out. Heller continued working quickly in the bottom half, posting her 2nd straight shutdown inning to keep Pitt-Bradford in front.
Ciera Adams reached on a one-out single in the 3rd and was able to move to third when Clement reached on an error, but the Panthers were not able to bring her across, as the inning ended with a runner caught stealing and a pop-up. The Pride was able to pull a run back in the bottom of the inning. Widener started the frame with a leadoff single, and then following a fielder's choice, singled again putting runners on the corners. The run was able to score on an RBI groundout to first, but Heller ended the rally shortly later on a pop-up to third.
Following a low-scoring start for three innings, both teams exploded in the 4th, with the Panthers crossing the plate 6 times, and the Pride scoring three times. Pitt-Bradford quickly loaded the bases when Najdusak singled up the middle and then McLaughlin and Groll both beat out bunt singles. Stroup drove in the first run, lining a single into left field, chasing the Widener starting pitcher. Lexi Peters quickly welcomed the new pitcher, singling through the right side to bring in a pair of runs. A batter later, Clement brought in two more, as she lined a hit up the middle that was able to find the left-center gap for a triple. She scored on an RBI groundout from Heller.
Heller returned to the circle, armed with an 8-1 advantage, but after retiring the leadoff batter, struggled to close out an at-bat, and loaded the bases with three straight walks. She was able to pick up the second out on a strikeout but continued to struggle with her command after the long break. Widener scored their first run of the inning on a wild pitch, and then Heller walked two more to reload the bases and force the second run in. After the 5th walk of the frame, Heller was lifted in favor of MEghan Kapp. Kapp battled the first batter she faced, but could not put the Pride player away, ultimately walking the batter and forcing in another run. She was finally able to end the inning a batter later on a pop-up in the infield.
Pitt-Bradford quickly responded to keep the momentum from switching to the Pride. After a leadoff flyout for Anna Bokulich, Mclaughlin hit her second three-bagger of the day as she hit another one down the left field line and then beat the throw into the bag. Groll was able to bring in McLaughlin, singling through the left side. She quickly advanced to third as she was able to take two bases when she stole 2nd on a wild pitch. She scored once more in the same at-bat when Stroup hit another single into left field. Kapp was able to post an important shutdown inning, making quick work of the meat of the Widener order, retiring their 3, 4, and 5 hitters in order.
The Panthers could not add to the lead in the 6th, but the Pride was able to find success against Kapp, scoring 2 runs on 4 hits in the frame. The first four batters all singled, bringing in the two runs, but McLaughlin was able to limit Widener to just the two runs, as she threw out another baserunner at the plate. The outfield assist seemed to settle down Kapp, who quickly ended the frame with a flyout and a strikeout.
In the 7th, the Panthers were able to put a runner on second with a walk and a stolen base but could not add an insurance run as the next two batters were retired. Kapp returned to the circle and despite a one-out single, made quick work of Widener to close out the game.
Bri Heller (2-1) picked up the win for the Panthers. She pitched 3.2 innings, allowing 3 earned runs on 2 hits and 5 walks. She struck out third. Meghan Kapp picked up the save, her first of the season. She pitched 3.1 innings, allowing 2 earned runs on 5 hits. The Panthers pounded out 16 hits, led by Faith McLaughlin, who had 4 of them. The senior from Tucson finished 4 for 5 with 2 triples, 3 runs scored, and 1 RBI. Sara Stroup had 3 hits in the game and drove in a pair. Miranda Groll, Lexi Peters, and Krislyn Clement all had multihit performances.
Game 2: Pitt-Bradford 3 - Westfield St. 2
In stark contrast to the opening game, the Panthers were able to show they could win in other ways, outlasting Westfield State in a pitcher's duel 3-2.
Krislyn Clement started in the circle for the Panthers and was dominant. In the first she made quick work of the Owls, working around a one-out single with two strikeouts and a fielder's choice to get the Panthers to the plate. In the bottom half, the Panthers pounced just as quickly, scoring three times. Faith McLaughlin started the rally once again, leading off the inning with a single. She moved to second when Miranda Groll was hit by a pitch, and then Sara Stroup drew a walk to load the bases. Lexi Peters was up next and hit a grounder to short to bring in McLaughlin. Stroup rounded the bag at second, grabbing the Owl infield's attention, which allowed Groll to scamper home on the same play. A batter later, Lilly Hamels singled through the left side to bring in the third run of the frame.
Clement remained dominant over the next two frames, as she posted a pair of 0s, striking out 4 more Owls in the process. The Panthers went down in order in the 2nd and threatened to add to the lead in the 3rd. McLaughlin drew a leadoff walk and wound up on third base after a sacrifice bunt and a bloop single to right. Peters followed and hit a groundout to third, but the inning came to an end as McLaughlin was thrown out at the plate trying to score after the throw to first.
Westfield State was finally able to catch up to Clement in the 4th, scoring an unearned run. The leadoff batter hit a sinking line drive to let field. It got down for a single and was misplayed in the outfield, allowing the runner to reach third on the play. The next batter hit a high fly ball that dropped behind the outfield for a double to cut into the Panther advantage. After the double, Clement settled down and ended the inning by striking out the side.
Pitt-Bradford was unable to get anything going in the bottom of the 4th, despite a Ciera Adams single, however, Clement was able to match it in the 5th, retiring the side in order. Lexi Najdusak led off the bottom of the 5th with a single up the middle but was left on second after a stolen base as the next three Panthers were retired on two strikeouts and a foul pop-up.
The Owls were able to rally once again in the 6th, scoring once more to cut the Panther advantage to two. The inning started with a single, and then after a pop-up in the infield, the Owls found grass down the right field line or a double. Clement was unable to put away the next two batters, who battled in long, full-count at-bats and each walked, forcing in a run. Clement was able to wriggle out of the jam with the lead, however, as she induced a shallow fly out to center and then got the final out of the inning on a fielder's choice.
The Panthers looked primed to restore the 2-run lead in the 6th, as Peters led off with a single and then Hamels reached on an error, putting runners on the corners with no outs. With two pinch runners in the game, the Panthers attempted to use a double steal to score a run, but a wonderfully sold pump fake by the Westfield State catcher caught the runner on third off guard for an out. The next two batters went down on a strikeout and a grounder to 2nd to end the inning.
Pitt-Bradford took a 1-run lead into the 7th and left Clement in the game looking to record a complete game. She made quick work of the Owls, inducing a pair of fly balls to center, and then a game-ending pop-up to 3rd.
Krislyn Clement (2-1) went the distance for the Panthers. She allowed 2 runs, 1 earned on 5 hits and a pair of walks. She set teh season high of strikeouts in a game for the Panthers, fanning 10 batters in the process. Lilly Hamels and LExi Peters both went 1 for 3 with a run batted in.
The wins move the Panthers to 6-2 on the season. They will look to remain on the winning streak with 2 competitive games tomorrow. They will start the day at 9:00 a.m. with a matchup against Wisconsin-Superior. They will follow that with a game against Greenville. After those two games are complete, the Panthers' younger players will play in a JV exhibition game against Coe. That will start at approximately 1:00 p.m. All games will be held at Lee County Sports Complex in Fort Myers.
