Game One Box Score / Game Two Box Score

BLOOMSBURG—The Bloomsburg University softball team swept a pair of games from IUP on Tuesday in a battle of the top two teams in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Central Division winning by scores of 1-0 in 13 inning and 12-1 in five  innings.

In the opener the Huskies, ranked ninth, and the Crimson Hawks, ranked number twelve, traded zeroes on the scoreboard through the first 12 innings. In the bottom of the 13th, with Shen Debaro (Milton, Milton)starting the inning on second on the tie-breaking rule, Casey Massimini (Downingtown/Downingtown West) beat out a bunt and went to second when the base was left unprotected. Nikki Shiko (Shamokin, Southern Columbia) then hit a ball to the third baseman that was thrown away allowing DeBaro to score the game's only run.

IUP had loaded the bases in the top of the first inning with two outs, but Shavaun Fisher (Coplay, Allentown Central Catholic) was able to get a strikeout to escape the jam by getting a strikeout. In the ninth, IUP had two runners on with one out, but Fisher fanned the next two batters putting the tie-breaking rule into effect.

In the Bloomsburg 11th the Huskies had two runner on with two outs, but could not score before finally breaking through in the bottom of the 13th. Fisher finished with nine strikeouts and two walks.
Game two was opposite of game one with the Huskies got off to a quick start with two runs in the bottom of the first inning. After Lacy Mauro (Jersey Shore, Jersey Shore) worked a two-out walk, Sam Pientack (Archbald, Valley View) hit a two-run homer for a 2-0 lead.

The Huskies sent 10 batters to the plate in the second and added to the lead with five runs. Shiko, Danielle Lazorka (Williamsport, Jersey Shore) and Pientack each drove in one run with hits, while Emily Young (Nescopeck, Central Columbia) had a two-run single to give Bloomsburg a 7-0 lead.

In the third Shiko got a two-out triple and Lazorka worked a walk putting runners at the corners. Mauro then singled in Shiko for an 8-0 lead before Pientack followed with a three-run homer giving Bloomsburg an 11-0. Jenna Hampton (Catawissa, Southern Columbia) then followed with a solo homer to make it 12-0. IUP got one back in the top of the fifth, but pitcher Cait Paine (Lebanon, Lebanon) shut the door and finished with three strikeouts.

Pientack finished 3-3 with two homers and five RBI in game two for Bloomsburg.

Bloomsburg goes to 31-3, 8-0 in the PSAC Central, and has now won 15 straight. IUP drops to 24-5, 6-2 in the PSAC Central. The Huskies play at Lock Haven on Friday.