Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
MANSFIELD—Head Coach Mike Collins has won his 100th game with the Huskies, as the Bloomsburg University baseball team defeated Mansfield University in both games of a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern division doubleheader on Friday, winning 7-3 and 6-4.
With the wins, Bloomsburg improves to 17-17 (7-11 PSAC East) on the season, while Mansfield drops to 16-13 (5-9 PSAC East).
In game one, Bloomsburg opened the scoring in the fourth inning. Joey Ianiero (Bloomsburg/Central Columbia) became the Huskies' first base runner following an infield single. Jerry Lloyd (Mifflinburg/Mifflinburg) doubled to bring Ianiero home for the 1-0 lead.
In the sixth, Keith Meyer (Richboro/Council Rock South) led off with a double to right field. Howie Deemer (Washington, N.J./Belvidere) followed with an RBI single into the outfield and was later brought to the plate by an RBI bunt from Brad Smith (Morgantown/Twin Valley). Lloyd drew a walk and eventually scored a run, while Vince Smarelli singled to drive in a run and navigated the bases successfully. Nickolas Eversole (Lewistown/Indian Valley), Jarrod Kramer (Orwigsburg/Blue Mountain), and Gino Wise (Mechanicsburg/Mechanicsburg) each drove in runners, as the Huskies totaled six runs for a 7-0 advantage.
The Mountaineers picked up three runs in the bottom of the seventh, but Bloomsburg held on for the 7-3 win.
Meyer and Smarrelli both went 2-for-4 in game one, contributing one run each.
Vinny Voorhees (New Hope/New Hope Solebury) (3-4) earned the win after a complete seven-inning tenure on the mound, striking out six with nine hits and three runs. Joe Candelmo (4-4) was hit for the loss after yielding all seven BU runs.
In game two, the Huskies jumped out quickly in the first inning. Meyer drew a lead-off walk, while Deemer and Ianiero followed with singles. Lloyd batted in a run with a double to left field, and Smith scored Deemer on a fielder's choice. Smarrelli added an RBI-single to right, as Bloomsburg scored four with only one out.
Mansfield starter Joel Worthington was replaced by Andy Young, who promptly shut down the Huskies' momentum and prevented any more BU runs for the remainder of the first four innings.
The Mountaineers kept the game close with a run in the first and fourth innings to make it a 4-2 ball game.
In the fifth, Deemer singled and came home on a Lloyd sac-fly to extend the lead to 5-2.
The Huskies added one more run in the sixth courtesy of a home run by Eversole, the first of his career.
Mansfield cut the lead to two by scoring a pair in the sixth. The Mountaineers kept the Huskies in check in the top of the seventh and came into their final half inning down two, while a light rain began to fall on Shaute Field.
Bloomsburg closer Matt Kline (Sugarloaf/Hazleton) got into some trouble in the seventh, allowing a hit and walking Brian Milliman, who represented the game-tying run. While the skies let loose, Kline struck out the final batter amid a downpour to secure the 6-4 victory and his fourth save of the season.
Casey Cooperman (Allentown/Parkland) (5-2) logged the win after six innings on the hill. He struck out three while allowing 10 hits and four runs. Worthington (4-1) faced the loss for Mansfield after his disastrous first inning.
Lloyd was 2-for-2 in game two with a run and RBI, while Deemer, Ianiero, and Smarrelli each contributed two hits in the game.
With the wins, Bloomsburg's Mike Collins becomes the fourth head coach in Husky history to reach the mark of 100 career coaching wins. The last coach to reach the milestone was Collins' predecessor Matt Haney, who finished his 15-year career with 314 victories.
The Huskies will return home to face the Mountaineers for the second half of the series. The teams are scheduled to face off on Saturday, April 23, in a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Danny Litwhiler Field.
