Box Score

HAMPTON, Va.--The Bloomsburg University baseball team kicked off its 2011 campaign against the Builders of The Newport News Apprentice School on Thursday afternoon. For the sixth straight year, the Huskies have started their season against the builders, and in this year's edition, Bloomsburg came away victorious, picking up a 11-7 non-conference win.

Bloomsburg wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, as Joey Ianiero (Bloomsburg/Central Columbia) picked up a lead-off walk and was brought home on a triple by Brad Smith (Morgantown/Twin Valley). Smith, in turn, made it to the plate on a fielder's choice by Howie Deemer (Washington, N.J./Belvidere), giving the Maroon and Gold a 2-0 lead.

In the second, Gino Wise (Mechanicsburg/Mechanicsburg) and Jarrod Kramer (Orwigsburg/Blue Mountain) singled to get on base, and Keith Meyer (Richboro/Council Rock South) eventually brought both home with a double to right. Ianiero batted Meyer to the plate and eventually came home on a throwing error to put the Huskies up 6-0.

For the Builders, Andrew Yonta worked his way around the bases to put his team on the board in the bottom of the inning.

Gino Wise (Mechanicsburg/Mechanicsburg) recorded the Huskies' first homer of the season in the top of the third, extending the Bloomsburg lead to 7-1.

After a scoreless fourth, the Apprentice School struck hard in the fifth. A set of Husky blunders brought a total of five runners around the bases in the inning, slashing the Bloomsburg lead to a narrow 7-6 margin.

Bloomsburg gained some distance from their foes in the eight, as a single from Kramer and a double from Nickolas Eversole (Lewistown, Indian Valley) scored one, and Meyer batted home pinch-runner Paul Rosa IV (Wyomissing/Wilson) to put the Huskies up 9-6.

In the ninth, a Deemer double set up a two-run homer from senior Jerry Lloyd (Mifflinburg/Mifflinburg). The Apprentice School picked up another run in the bottom of the inning, but it was insufficient to keep Bloomsburg from cruising to the 11-7 victory.

On the mound for the Huskies, starter Casey Cooperman (Allentown/Parkland) pitched 4 2/3 innings, recording 4 strikeouts while allowing 5 hits, 1 walk, and 3 runs (1 earned). Gino D'Amato (Hazleton/Hazleton) gave up 4 hits and 3 runs in 1/3 inning pitched, and Mike Rossetti (Phillipsburg, NJ/Phillipsburg) closed with 4 strikeouts in the final 4 innings, allowing 1 hit and 1 run (0 earned).

Bloomsburg continues tournament play on Friday with games against Briarcliffe at 9 a.m. and Lock Haven at 3 p.m.