BRADFORD, Pa. — Hilbert College Baseball traveled for an AMCC matchup with Pitt-Bradford this afternoon where the Hawks used a 7-5 victory to improve to 7-4 in conference play.

The Hawks jumped out in front immediately with a five-run opening inning, capitalizing on early traffic and defensive miscues. After consecutive singles by Patrick Evans and Shane Pray put runners in scoring position, Harley Hoag delivered the game's first run with a base hit to center. Hilbert continued to put the ball the ball in play, leading to a pair of errors that allowed three additional runs to score to send Andrew Johnson to the mound with a 5-0 advantage.

Following the big first inning, Johnson cruised through the start of the contest, retiring the first six Panthers he faced and holding Pitt-Bradford scoreless through the first three innings.

The Panthers scratched across their first run in the fourth, but Johnson worked out of trouble to maintain the four-run lead. Hilbert responded in the fifth as Joey Haynes walked and later scored on Reed Lesmeister's single to left, pushing the margin back to 6–1.

Pitt-Bradford mounted its strongest threat in the sixth, taking advantage of a hit batter and a pair of walks to plate two unearned runs and trim the lead to three. Tyler Noel came on in relief and limited the damage, stranding runners and keeping Hilbert in control entering the late innings.

After three quiet frames offensively, the Hawks added an insurance run in the top of the ninth. Pinch hitter Chase Porter led off with a double down the right-field line and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt before Haynes lined an RBI single up the middle, restoring a four-run cushion. The Panthers answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning, but David Alessi closed the door, inducing a flyout to left to secure the win.

Hilbert finished with 10 hits on the afternoon, led by multi-hit performances from Evans, Pray, and Hoag, who also drove in a run and doubled. Lesmeister and Haynes each registered an RBI, while Porter contributed a pinch-hit double. On the mound, Johnson earned the win after striking out seven over 5.2 innings, with Noel providing steady relief before Alessi recorded the final three outs.

UP NEXT:
Hilbert will return to Kessel Athletic Complex tomorrow for a doubleheader with the Hawks acting as the home team. First pitch is set for 12 pm.