Box Score / Photo Gallery / MVP Mandy Koch (Dauphin/Central Dauphin) Interview

BLOOMSBURG—Tournament Most Valuable Player Mandy Koch (Dauphin, Central Dauphin) went 2-4 and drove in three runs to lead Bloomsburg University to a 7-5 win over California (PA) on Saturday as the Huskies captured the 2010 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Softball Championship.

The title is the 15th in school history for the Huskies and the first since the 2002 season.

The Huskies got on the board first in the bottom of the first inning taking advantage of two California errors. With two outs Lacy Mauro (Jersey Shore, Jersey Shore) reached on an error. Emily Young (Nescopeck, Central Columbia) then reached on a throwing error by the shortstop with Mauro racing all the way home for a 1-0 lead.

Cal put two runners on in the top of the second with one out, but pitcher Shavaun Fisher (Coplay, Allentown Central Catholic) worked out of the jam for Bloomsburg. Bloomsburg made it 3-0 in the third inning putting together a two-out rally. Mauro and Young singled to put runners on first and second. Koch then singled scoring Mauro for a 2-0 lead. Sam Pientack (Archbald, Valley View) then blooped a ball over the head of the shortstop into shallow left field for a single scoring Young for a 3-0 lead. The Huskies did load the bases, but the Vulcans escaped without further damage.

The Vulcans finally got to Fisher in the fourth inning. Julie Mackenzie led off the inning with a single followed by a long homer to centerfield by Amanda Wallace to make it a 3-2 game. After an out, Julia Mueller reached second on a two-base error. Kayleigh Braim then doubled home Mueller to tie the game at 3-3. On the play, though, Mueller was thrown out at third attempting to stretch the hit into a triple. Merissa Daley then doubled followed by a two-run homer by Danielle Easton to put the Vulcans on top 5-3.

The Huskies regained the lead in the home fourth scoring three times. Casey Massimini (Downingtown, Downingtown West)singled in the infield and stole second. Danielle Lazorka (Williamsport, Jersey Shore) then singled moving Massimini to third. Mauro then bunted with Massimini racing home and Mauro safe at first. After a ground out moved Mauro to second, Koch delivered the go-ahead runs with a two-run single to make it 6-5.

In the bottom of the fifth the Huskies added an insurance run when Lori Neyhard (Bloomsburg, Central Columbia) singled, moved to second on a sacrifice and scored on a single by Shiko for a 7-5 lead.

In the sixth Cal threatened getting runners at second and third with one out, but Fisher again worked out of the jam to keep a 6-5 game. In the seventh Fisher retired the side in order setting off a celebration for Bloomsburg and retiring head coach Jan Hutchinson.

Bloomsburg, 44-5, will now await word on the NCAA playoffs which start on May 14 with regional action. The NCAA tournament bids will be announced on May 9.