Box Score Game One / Box Score Game Two
BLOOMSBURG—The Bloomsburg University softball rallied from four runs down to beat Kutztown 7-5 on Saturday to advance to next weekend's Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) softball championships.
The Huskies will be the host site for the championship tournament on Friday and Saturday featuring Bloomsburg, California (PA) and West Chester. California and West Chester also won its opening round playoff brackets.
After Kutztown forced a winner-take-all by winning the opener 10-3, Bloomsburg started quickly in game two. Nikki Shiko (Shamokin, Southern Columbia) reached on an error, moved to second on a bunt and scored when Emily Young (Nescopeck, Central Columbia) doubled. The Golden Bears answered in the bottom of the first with a solo homer from Katie Lynch.
In the third inning Kutztown took a 5-1 lead after scoring four times with two outs. The Golden Bears got four hits, a walk and took advantage of one error to take the four-run lead.
Bloomsburg put together a rally of its own with six runs in the top of the fourth.Sam Pientack (Archbald, Valley View) doubled to lead off the inning. After a pop out, Casey Massimini (Downingtown, Downingtown West)singled putting runners at the corners. Shiko then delivered a two-run triple making it a 5-3 game. Danielle Lazorka (Williamsport, Jersey Shore) then singled scoring Shiko. After Lacy Mauro (Jersey Shore, Jersey Shore) singled to put runners at first and second, Young delivered an RBI single to score Lazorka and tie the game at 5-5. Mandy Koch (Dauphin, Central Dauphin) then got a two-single to make it 7-5.
From there Shavaun Fisher (Coplay, Allentown Central Catholic)allowed just one base runner the rest of the way and closed the game with a strike out to send the Huskies to the championship round.
Massimini went 3-3 in the game with a run scored, while Lazorka was 3-4 with an RBI. Fisher allowed five hits and struck out five to earn the win.
In game one of the day, Kutztown posted a 10-3 victory. Heather Hannum keyed a five-run first inning for the Golden Bears with a first inning grand slam. Bloomsburg got two runs back in the bottom of the second. Young and Jenna Hampton (Catawissa, Southern Columbia)singled to lead off the inning and Koch was hit by a pitch to load the bases. After a pop out, Pientack reached on a fielder's choice scoring Young. Later Massimini had an RBI single to make it 5-2.
After the Huskies closed the gap to 6-3 on an RBI single by Shiko in the sixth, Kutztown put the game away with four runs in the top of the seventh.
Bloomsburg improves to 41-5 on the season. Game times will be announced on Monday for the PSAC championship round. The Huskies will be seeking their first PSAC title since 2002.
