Berea, Oh. -- After having three doubleheaders affected by weather, the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford softball team returned to action on Wednesday after a 17-day layoff. The Panthers traveled to Ohio for two games against Baldwin Wallace, dropping both to the Yellow Jackets.

Game 1:

The Panthers showed their rust after their long break as they committed 6 errors in an 8-2 loss in the first contest of the day.

• The Panthers looked to jump ahead right away in the first as starting pitcher Kindra Wessels reached on an error and then stole second base. She attempted to score all the way from second on a ground out up the middle but was thrown out at the plate to end the threat. In the bottom half of the inning, Wessels gave up a one-out single and a walk before getting out of trouble with a strikeout and lineout to short.
• After a 1-2-3 inning for Pitt-Bradford, the hosts threatened to open the scoring in the second. After KT Marx threw out a base stealer for the first out, the Yellow Jackets loaded the bases with two Panther errors and an infield single around a Wessels strikeout. Wessels was able to wriggle out of trouble, inducing a grounder to first to end the frame.
• The Panthers put a runner in scoring position after a Hannah Fisher single and sacrifice bunt in the 3rd, but Wessels was unable to help her cause as she flew out to right to strand the runner on second. She cruised through the 3rd inning allowing just a walk, but the Panthers went down in order in the 4th. 
• In the bottom of the 4th, Baldwin Wallace was able to catch up to Wessels, exploding for 5 runs on 5 hits and 2 errors. The hosts were able to score four runs before recording an out in the inning. The damage could have been worse, but the Panthers were able to turn a 1-2-3 double play with the bases loaded for the first two outs, and after a run-scoring infield single, flew out to center to end the inning.
• Marx was able to hit a 2-out double to the gap in right-center in an attempt to pick up some momentum for the Panthers, but she was unable to score. Lizzy Hoovler replaced Wessels in the circle in the 5th. She started her inning by inducing a ground out but allowed two runs after a Panther error as the next two batters singled and doubled to push the score to 7-0. Hoovler was able to keep the Panthers in the game, however, as she retired a batter on interference and got a grounder to 3rd to end the inning.
• Pitt-Bradford was finally able to break the ice in the 6th. Following two strikeouts to start the inning, Rachel Przybysz doubled to left-center and moved to third on a passed ball. Faith McLaughlin was able to draw a walk before Lexi Peters singled to right to bring in the run.
• Baldwin Wallace was able to get the run right back in their half of the inning. They scored the run on 1 hit, an error, and two walks.
• The Panthers were able to score one final run in the 7th. Marx hit her second double of the day and then moved to third on a passed ball. She was able to beat a throw home on a Hannah Fisher groundout.

Kindra Wessels (2-4) picked up the loss for the Panthers. She allowed 5 runs, 2 earned, on 8 hits, and 3 walks. She struck out 3 batters. Lizzy Hoovler pitched the final two innings of the game, allowing 3 runs, 1 earned, on 3 hits, and 2 walks. She struck out one. Their battery-mate KT Marx was the only Panther to record a multiple-hit game. She finished 2 for 3 with 2 doubles and a run scored. Rachel Przybysz added a double and a run scored while Lexi Peters and Hannah Fisher each went 1 for 3 with a run batted in.

Game 2:

The Panthers were much improved in game two. They held a 4-3 lead in the 6th but were unable to hold on as they lost the game 6-4.

• Pitt-Bradford jumped out to an early lead, scoring a run in the top of the first. Przybysz reached on an error and then moved to second on a Lexi Peters single. She was able to score the run on back-to-back wild pitches. The Panthers were not able to hold the lead for long, as Baldwin Wallace scored two runs on starting pitcher Ashley Stein in their half of the first. They used 2 hits and three walks to score the runs.
• After a quiet 2nd inning, the Panthers tied things up in the 3rd. Dolcey Shunk led off the frame with a single through the right side and Faith McLaughlin followed with a single to right-center. After Przybysz reached on a fielder's choice, Shunk was able to scamper home as Przybysz was thrown out on a double steal. Stein gave up a pair of two-out hits in the bottom of the 3rd but got a line out to right to strand both runners and end the inning. 
• With the momentum from a run and shutdown inning in the 3rd, the Panthers took a 3-2 lead in the 4th. Daytona Wentzel reached on an error to start the inning and then after two quick outs, was able to score all the way from first when Sadie Wood reached on a throwing error.
• Unlike the inning before, Stein was not able to keep the Yellow Jackets off the board in the 4th. She walked the leadoff batter and then allowed a triple to the right-center to tie the game at 3. She was able to keep the game tied, however, as she got back-to-back pop-ups in the infield and a grounder to third.
• Both teams stranded runners at second in the 5th before the Panthers took another one-run lead in the 6th. Daytona Wentzel led off the inning with a single to left and then moved all the way to third when Paige Wertheimer reached on an error on a sacrifice bunt. Marguerite DeFranco delivered a single up the middle to bring in the run. The Panthers looked poised to tack on to their lead, but after a pitching change saw two batters strike out around an infield fly to end the inning.
• Using the momentum from their pitching change, Baldwin Wallace used 3 hits, a Pitt-Bradford error, and two walks to score 3 runs in their half of the inning to turn the deficit into a two-run lead.
• The Panthers were unable to get anything started in the 7th as the Yellow Jackets shut the door.

Ashley Stein (2-3) picked up the loss after allowing 6 runs, 5 earned, on 11 hits and 6 walks. She pitched all six innings for the Panthers. Lexi Peters and Faith McLaughlin both finished the game 2 for 4. Daytona Wentzel went 1 for 3 with 2 runs scored while Marguerite DeFranco had an RBI.

The sweep drops the Panthers to 4-14 on the season. They will be back in action over the weekend as they will kick off their AMCC schedule with a doubleheader at Mount Aloysius. First pitch in Cresson, Pa. is slated for 2:00 p.m. on Saturday.