Fort Myers, Fla. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford softball team was unable to come away with any victories on their second day in Ft. Myers, Fla. as they lost two close games to Elms and Drew. They lost 5-4 to Elms in their first game of the day and followed that up with a 3-1 loss to Drew.

Game 1:

The first game of the day saw both teams struggle to score for 6 of the 7 innings played, but combine for 9 runs in the 4th inning as Elms came out on top.

• Elms threatened to open the scoring in the first as starting pitcher Kindra Wessels walked the leadoff batter and then allowed a single to left-center. She was able to regain composure with a strikeout and got out of the inning after an infield single loaded the bases. She got the 5th batter of the inning to line out to Lexi Peters at shortstop, who quickly threw to third base to double off the runner and end the inning.
• Pitt-Bradford's first chance of the day came in the third as Wessels helped her own cause, lining a double into centerfield with one out. Unfortunately, she was not able to score as the next ow batters popped p to end the inning.
• The Panthers were able to take a lead in the 4th inning with a big two-out rally. Imani Jackson started the rally by putting together a long at-bat that resulted in a wall. Marguerite DeFranco followed that with a second walk and the Panthers loaded the bases when Dolcey Shunk lined a single through the left side of the infield. Paige Wertheimer entered the game as a pinch hitter and put Pitt-Bradford ahead as she was hit by a pitch. The Panthers doubled their lead in the next at-bat when Wessels hit a ground ball to short that was misplayed in the field resulting in a run with no out recorded. Elms would pay for the error as Faith McLaughlin followed it with a single to center, bringing two more runs around to score.
• Pitt-Bradford would not be able to hold onto the momentum from their inning, as their opponents quickly struck for 5 runs of their own in the bottom of the inning. Wessels walked the first two batters of the inning and following a strikeout, allowed a third to reach on a single up the middle. The first Blazer run scored on a bases-loaded walk, and they quickly cut the lead to just one as two runs scored when the next batter reached on an error at first base. Elms went on to tie the game, and take the lead, as the next two batters singled in runs. 
• The Panthers were unable to regain any momentum from the plate after the 5-run 4th, as they only drew two walks over their final three at-bats. 
• Wessels retired the side in the 5th but was replaced by Ashley Stein in the 6th after a leadoff walk. Stein walked the first batter she faced but retired three in a row to keep the Panthers within a run.

Kindra Wessels (0-3) picks up the loss after allowing 5 runs, 4 earned, on 6 hits and 6 walks. she struck out two. Ashley Stein pitched a scoreless inning in relief, allowing only one walk. Six different Panthers recorded hits in the game, but none were able to pick up a multi-hit game. Faith McLaughlin drove in two runs, while Paige Wertheimer brought in one.

Game 2:

The Panthers followed up the tough loss to elms with a 3-1 loss to Drew. The Panthers outhit the rangers 5-3 but committed 5 errors in the game.

• After Lexi Peters had a hard line drive snagged at second base, the Rangers were able to jump ahead in the first, scoring a run off of starter Lindsay Steele without a hit. The second batter of the inning was able to reach base and move to second base on an error at first, and then quickly stole 3rd base to get into prime scoring position with just one out. She scored on a grounder to third to put Drew up 1-0. Steele walked the next two batters but was able to get a pop-up to end the inning and strand two runners on base. 
• Following a quick inning from Pitt-Bradford in the 2nd, the Rangers doubled their lead in the bottom half. Steele allowed a leadoff single to begin the inning and saw the runner advance to second on a wild pitch. The same runner moved to third on a ground ball and then scored on another wild pitch in the next at-bat. Steele once again saw two ore runners reach in the inning, but settled down and retired the side without further damage.
• In the third, Dolcey Shunk led off the inning with a single to left but was thrown out after a sacrifice bunt as she strayed too far off 2nd base. Drew took advantage of this in their half of the third, as they added one more run off of Steele. The Panthers were able to erase an error on the first at-bat of the inning with a 1-6-3 double play, but two singles around a wild pitch saw Drew increase their advantage to 3.
• Steele settled in after the third, allowing just one walk in her final three innings of work, but the Panthers were unable to take advantage of it until the 7th when they scored their first and only run of the game. Imani Jackson hit a one-out single through the left side of the infield and moved to second base on a ground ball to the right side. KT Marx drove a two-out single into right field to bring her around and cut the lead to 3-1. Daytona Wentzel pinch-hit but was retired on a ground ball to end the game.

Lindsay Steele (0-3) was saddled with the loss after allowing just 3 runs, 2 earned, as she went the distance for the Panthers. She allowed 3 hits and 4 walks. KT Marx was the only Panther to record a multi-hit game, as she finished 2 for 3. She also drove in the lone Panther run. Chloe Cordova, Dolcey Shunk and Imani Jackson also picked up hits for Pitt-Bradford.

The Panthers fall to 0-8 after the losses. They will take on Rockford and Immaculata in their third consecutive day of competition in Fort Myers. They play Rockford at 9:00 a.m. and Immaculata at 1:00 p.m. after a short break.