Bradford, PA -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford softball team's season came to a heartbreaking end on Saturday as the Panthers fell 5-4 to Mount Aloysius in the AMCC Championship Tournament.
Pitt-Bradford held three separate leads in the game, including one in each of the final two innings, but ultimately lost the game in extras.
The contest started quickly for the Panthers, who were playing as the visiting team. They scored in the first inning without a hit. Miranda Groll started the game with a walk and then moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. Two batters later, she stole third base, and the throw to the bag bounced down the left field line, allowing her to sprint home for the opening run.
Krislyn Clement was the starting pitcher for the Panthers and started strongly, working around a one-out error and a single to post a shutdown inning in the bottom of the first. She held the Mounties off the board through three innings, but lost the lead in the 4th. With two down and a runner on first, Mount Aloysius dropped a hit down the right field line that was just out of the reach of Peyton Frank, who dove for the ball. The runner sprinted around the bases and scored from first, while the batter finished with an RBI triple.
Following a quiet 5th, Pitt-Bradford retook the lead in the 6th. Clement led off with a double to right center, and then, with two outs, Meghan Kapp hit a single up the middle to drive in Clement. The advantage did not last long, as Mount Aloysius used a leadoff double and then an infield error to tie the game at two.
In the 7th, the Panthers rallied with two outs to carve out a two-run advantage. Lexi Najdusak lined a single into center, and then scored from first when Sara Stroup dropped a double into left. A batter later, Clement lined a single into left, bringing around Stroup to add a second run to the lead.
The Mounties started the bottom half of the inning with a single before Najdusak made a sliding catch on a line drive to left for the first out. The next two batters singled to right field, driving in a run to cut the lead to one. After the run scored, Christa Koagel replaced Clement, looking to shut the door. She gave up a single to the first batter she faced, loading the bases, before inducing a pop-up in the infield for the second out. She was not able to escape the jam, as the next batter earned a walk to bring in the tying run. Koagel settled down after the walk and ended the inning with a strikeout, sending the game to the 8th.
The Panthers could not muster any offense in the extra frame, going down in order. In the bottom half, Koagel got the first two outs, but a pair of singles extended the inning before a double to right center brought home the winning run.
Christa Koagel (1-7) picked up the loss after allowing 1 run in 1.1 innings pitched. Krisly Clement pitched 6.1 innings, allowing 4 runs, 3 earned. Clement was the best Panther performer at the plate, going 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI single. Sara Stroup had an RBI double, while Meghan Kapp also drove in a run in her final collegiate game. Lexi Najdusak finished 1 for 1 with a pair of walks, a run scored, and a sacrifice bunt.
Pitt-Bradford finishes its season with an 11-25 record. After the game, Lilly Hamels and Sara Stroup were named to the All-Tournament Team. Hamels had 1 single and a walk in two games offensively, but made her mark in the field. She was a brick wall behind the plate and also had two excellent throws to catch one runner stealing and pick another off. Stroup went 2 for 7 with a pair of doubles, a run scored, and an RBI.
