BRADFORD, Pa. - Although the Franciscan University softball team an impressive comeback in the second game, the Lady Barons made were swept by the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford in an away doubleheader by scores of 12-0 and 7-4.

FUS struggled throughout the first game. Pitt-Bradford earned six runs in the first inning, and Franciscan was never able to catch up. Lots of errors and weakness in the batter's box led to the loss, said head coach Jen Parker.

"We did not fare well in the first game," Parker said. "But it did not have anything to do with our pitching. It had to do with our fielding and not being strong in the box.

Freshman Molly Clarahan pitched for Franciscan in the first game, managing two strikeouts during her time on the mound.

The next game played out very differently. The Lady Barons stepped up their game and made for an exciting second match-up against Pitt-Bradford.

Starting off strong, FUS scored three runs in the first inning. The Lady Barons were more aggressive in the batter's box and their fielding was much improved from the first game. Heading into the third inning, Franciscan led 3-1.

However, Bradford got four runs in the third inning, taking the lead from FUS and setting the tone for the rest of the game.

"The third inning cost us the game," Parker said. "We made an error and walked a better. We gave them an advantage and capitalized on it."

Franciscan kept playing hard, scoring another run in the fifth inning and playing strong until the end. In the seventh inning, the Lady Barons had two runners on base with a great opportunity to score, but they left their runners stranded and Bradford won the game.

Even with a losing score, the Lady Barons showed their skill by only making two errors throughout the entire game, and improving vastly from the first game to the second. They also improved at the plate, recording 11 total hits in game two.

"The second game was one of the best games that we have played," Parker said. "We lost it in that third inning. The rest of the game we were tight, our pitching was good, and they played well. They made some really good plays and had some really good hits."

Freshman Eloise Rover pitched during the second game, with one strikeout. Sophomores Becca Peters and Katrina Fabian improved their fielding tremendously in the second game and were instrumental in holding back Bradford. In addition to their defense, they were both aggressive in the batter's box, with Peters hitting a single in the second game and Fabian hitting three singles throughout the doubleheader.

The Lady Barons choose a virtue to focus on every week of the season, and their current virtue of resolve was evident in the doubleheader. Parker was pleased with how resolve was put into practice in the second game, coming back from a shut out and pushing forward to play a great second game.

"They really turned it around," Parker said. "It was great to see them come back at it and play a really great second game."

Knowing what to improve upon so that their great games turn into wins, FUS will continue to work on capitalizing on hits so that they stop leaving runners stranded. With 11 hits but only four runs scored in the second game, the Lady Barons know how crucial that improvement will be for the rest of the season.

 Franciscan will be in action next in an away doubleheader on Sunday, April 7, against Medaille College at 1 and 3 p.m.