PITTSBURGH, Pa. – La Roche baseball began AMCC play on Saturday afternoon and picked up the sweep, upending Pitt-Bradford in the doubleheader.
GAME ONE: La Roche 4 Pitt-Bradford 2
After two scoreless innings, the Redhawks jumped in front, scoring two runs in the bottom of the third inning.
Christian Melendez scored the first run, crossing on a Panther error, then Tanner Schmitt drove in DJ Loveand with an RBI single.
There was no scoring again until the sixth inning, when Bradford cut the deficit in half in the top of the inning, 2-1.
La Roche picked up a pair of important insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth, as another Panther error allowed both runners to score.
Bradford would get one run in the seventh, but the Redhawks would lock it down after that.
Larry Bielawski got the start and threw a complete game, allowing two unearned runs, two hits, walked six and struck out five.
Offensively, La Roche picked up six hits, with Schmitt's 3-for-3 leading the way.
GAME TWO: La Roche 8 Pitt-Bradford 6
Once again, the Redhawks scored the first run of the game in the third inning, when Josh Dreyer doubled in Dom Brncic to take the lead.
La Roche would add on in the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring four runs, three of which came on back-to-back-to-back RBI singles by Tyler Smith, Melendez and Brncic.
The fourth run scored when Dreyer picked up his second RBI of the game on a fielder's choice that scored Melendez.
The Panthers chipped away in the fifth inning with a pair of home runs to cut the deficit to 5-3, but once again,
Dreyer came through with an RBI double in the bottom of the sixth to make it 6-3.
Bradford wouldn't go away though, scoring two in the eighth inning to make it 6-5, then tied the game in the top of the ninth inning.
Bielawski would pinch-hit in the bottom of the ninth inning and hit a leadoff single, then Andy Sopata delivered the biggest hit of the day, a walk-off, two-run homer to give La Roche the conference opening sweep.
Jamison Rhoades got the start and allowed three runs, five hits, two walks and struck out three in the no decision.
Jared Hough tossed 3.1 innings of relief, allowing three runs (two earned), five hits and one walk, while Jimmy Roe earned the win, facing one batter and collecting two outs on the play in his 0.2 innings.
Offensively, La Roche picked up 12 hits, with Dreyer, Sopata, Melendez and Brncic all having a two-hit game.
The Redhawks return to action Tuesday, Apr. 1 when they host Penn State Altoona in AMCC play. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.