Erie, Pa. -- Following a two-week hiatus due to poor weather and field conditions, the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford softball team was swept by Penn State-Behrend in a pair of AMCC games. The games were originally scheduled to be held in Bradford, but winter weather and field conditions forced the Panthers to play home games in Erie. The Panthers lost the opener 5-0 and the nightcap 17-4 in 5 innings.

Game 1:

The first game of the day saw the Panther offense sputter as they were only able to muster one hit in the 5-0 loss.

• The Panthers fell behind immediately, as the Lions were able to score a run in the first off of starting pitcher Kindra Wessels without recording a hit. The leadoff batter reached and moved to second on an error. After a sacrifice bunt, she was able to score on an RBI groundout to third.
• After the Panthers were retired in order in the first, Wessels worked around a leadoff single and a two-out walk to keep the score at 1-0. The Lions were able to add the second run in the 3rd, as they sed a leadoff walk, steal, sacrifice bunt, and a two-out single to make the score 2-0.
• Hannah Fisher was the first Panther to reach base, as he drew a leadoff walk in the third but was quickly erased on a double play.
• Wessels used a double play of her own to keep the Lions off the board in the fourth, but after another 1-2-3 inning for the Panther offense, allowed three runs to score on 3 hits and an error in the 5th.
• Pitt-Bradford was finally able to get in the hit column in the 6th when Chloe Cordova drove a two-out triple to right field.

 Wessels threw all 7 innings in the contest, allowing 5 runs, 4 earned, on 10 hits. She struck out 4 batters. Chloe Cordova's triple was the only Panther hit.

Game 2

The Panthers took an early lead in game two but saw Penn State-Behrend battle back with a 7-run 4^th and a 10-run 5^th to bring the game to an early end.

• Ashley Stein took the circle for the nightcap, following two strong performances in wins over Mount Aloysius and Medaille. She started the game strong as she kept the Lions off the board for three innings, as the Panthers built an early lead. Pitt-Bradford threatened to score in the bottom of the first, as they loaded the bases with a single, error, and a walk, but were unable to come up with a two-out hit to open the scoring.
• After a quick 2nd from Stein, the Panthers were able to rally to score two runs in their half of the inning. Paige Wertheimer drew a leadoff walk and moved all the way to third on a bunt and a passed ball. She scored a batter later when Chloe Cordova reached on an error at first. Cordova moved all the way to second don't eh error and was able to score when Rachel Przybysz grounded a single back up the middle.
• Stein stranded two runners on base to record a shutdown inning and the Panthers added to their lead in the 3rd. Lexi Peters started the inning with a line-drive single up the middle. After a long fly out from Imani Jackson, Faith McLaughlin came to the plate and hit a long fly ball to left field that landed over the fence for a home run. The blast put the Panthers up 4-0 and was McLaughlin's first career home run.
• Things fell apart for the Panthers in the 4th as the Lions adjusted to Stein's pitching. They were able to erase the Panther lead and take one of their own as they scored 7 runs on six hits, an error, and two walks.
• Marguerite DeFranco hit a double to left in the bottom of the inning but was left stranded on second, keeping the momentum with the Lions. Penn State-Behrend used that momentum in the 5th as they exploded for 10 more runs. They started the inning with an error, sing and double to push their lead to 8-4. After the double, Stein was replaced by Lizzy Hoovler, who did not fare much better as the Lions added 8 more runs on 6 hits and 2 errors.
• Madison Camp recorded her second hit of the game in the 5th, but the Panthers were unable to rally bringing the contest to an early end. 

Marguerite DeFranco and Madison Camp both had multiple-hit games for the Panthers, while Faith McLaughlin delivered the two-run home run. Ashley Stein (4-4)picked up the loss after being tagged for 10 runs, 6 earned in 4 innings of work.

Pitt-Bradford is now 6-18 on the season and 2-4 in AMCC play. They will be back in action in Bradford this Saturday when they host La Roche on Senior Day. The action is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m.