Tucson, Az. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford softball team began their Spring Break trip to Tucson, Arizona with 1 win and 2 losses on their first day of action. After their scheduled start was pushed back a day due to rain and poor field conditions, the Panthers took on the College of Saint Benedict and Dickinson College over three games. They fell to St. Benedict 1-0 in the opener and then split a doubleheader with Dickinson, taking the first 8-2 and losing the nightcap 9-1.

Game 1:

• The Panthers started the day with a tough pitcher's duel against St. Benedict. Starting pitcher Jordan Uhing was able to work her way out of jams in the first two innings, before allowing the lone run of the game to score in the 4th. 
• Uhing got out of another jam in the 4th and was replaced by Kerrigan Hoffmann for the 5th inning. Hoffmann retired the side in order in her only inning of work. Abby Hinkley pitched the final inning, also retiring the side in order.
• The Panthers threatened to score in their final two at-bats of the game. In the 6th, Chloe Cordova drilled a two-out double to the gap but was caught out in between 2nd and 3rd for the final out of the inning. In the 7th, Gabby Carpenter went all the way to third on an error in the outfield to lead off the inning. She was unable to advance the final 60 feet, as St. Benedict was able to strike out three batters in a row to close the game.
• Uhing (0-3) took the loss in the game. She allowed 1 earned run in 4 innings of work on 4 hits and 3 walks. She struck out 1 batter.
• Kerrigan Hoffmann and Abby Hinkley each worked a perfect inning in relief.
• The Panthers were only able to muster 2 hits in the game. Betty Fratercangelo reached on an infield single in the 3rd and Chloe Cordova's 6th inning double.

Game 2:

• Uhing took the circle once again for game 2 of the day against Dickinson. She began the game by retiring the side after allowing 2 two-out hits.
• The Panthers jumped right in front in their half of the first, scoring a run with a short two-out rally. Gabby Carpenter drew a walk and then quickly stole 2nd base. She scored a batter later when Hannah Lathrop dropped a double down the right-field line.
• Pitt-Bradford kept Dickinson off the board in the 2nd and then kept the momentum going, scoring 4 more in their half of the inning. Kendra Colegrove led off with a single to left and then advanced on a sacrifice bunt. Following a pop up in the infield, and a Betty Fratercangelo walk, Chloe Cordova drove a triple down the right-field line to score two runs.
• Cordova scored a batter later when Daytona Wentzel singled to left and advanced to second on a miscommunication in the outfield. She scored the final run when Carpenter singled up the middle to close the inning. 
• Uhing was able to limit the Red Devils to 2 runs on 3 hits over the next 4 innings before the Panthers exploded for 3 more runs with two outs in the 6th. Mackenzie Bonyak walked with one out and then advanced to third when Betty Fratercangelo reached on an error on a sacrifice bunt.
• Following an infield pop up, Wentzel singled up the middle to bring in the first two runs. Carpenter finished the inning with a run-scoring triple to left-center.
• Despite two more singles with two outs, Uhing was able to shut the door in the 7th and pick up the first win of the year for the Panthers. Uhing (1-3) allowed 1 earned run in the complete game on 7 hits and a walk. She struck out 1 batter.
• Daytona Wentzel finished the game 2 for 4. She drove in 3 runs and scored 2 more.
• Gabby Carpenter also had a two-hit game, finishing 2 for 3 with 2 RBIs and a run scored. 

Game 3:

• The Panthers' third game of the day was a rematch with the Red Devils. They were able to get runners on base early in the game but were unable to bring them around.
• Dickinson took advantage of the Panthers' inability to score early, as they struck first in the 2nd inning off starting pitcher Kerrigan Hoffmann. They were able to score 2 runs in the frame on 3 hits and a passed ball. They tacked on a third run in the 4th, using a walk and a double to the left-center gap to score. 
• Pitt-Bradford was able to get a run back in the 5th. Betty Fratercangelo drew a leadoff walk and moved to second on a grounder to short. She scored a batter later when Gabby Carpenter reached on an error by the pitcher. 
• Dickinson struck back in the 5th, scoring two more runs on a hit, an unsuccessful fielders' choice and an error. 
• Abby Hinkley replaced Hoffmann in the 6th and struggled with the Red Devils. She allowed a lead-off home tun and after back to back errors loaded the bases with a bunt single. Hinkley walked in the 2nd run of the inning and then saw a single drop into left field allowing the final two runs to score.
• Hoffmann (0-2) picked up the loss in the game. She allowed 3 earned runs on 7 hits in 5 innings.
• Hinkley was the lone Panther to record a multi-hit game, finishing the game 2 for 3. Betty Fratercangelo scored the only run for the Panthers in the game.

Head Coach Tina Phillips said, "We had a really long, but good day today. We lost a tough game to a good team to start the day and then battled back to pick up a big win. We pitched the ball well today, but still made some mistakes when we started to run out of gas later in the day. We will look to learn from the mistakes and build off the positives to continue to improve as the trip goes on."

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The Panthers are now 1-6 on the season. They are scheduled to return to action on Wednesday, March 11th. They will take on Illinois Wesleyan at 12:00 p.m. MST.