BOX SCORE

INDIANA, PA--IUP scored three times with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning to rally past Bloomsburg, 3-2, in game one of the NCAA Division II Atlantic Super Regional tournament. The Crimson Hawks are now just one win away from reaching the NCAA championship round, while the Huskies will need to win two games on Saturday to advance.

The bottom of the seventh inning began for Bloomsburg and pitcher Shavaun Fisher (Coplay/Allentown Central Catholic) with a ground out followed by a single from Michelle Bivona. Raquel Rugani then reached on a fielder's choice for IUP with Bivona out at second. Tara Waldo then came in to run for Rugani. Mary Ward then walked to put runners at first and second. Jen Beaver then doubled down the right field line scoring Waldo and sending Ward to third base. Dee Eppinger then won the game with a bloop single, on an 0-2 count, over the head of shortstop Danielle Lazorka (Williamsport/Jersey Shore) and in front of Lori Neyhard (Bloomsburg/Central Columbia) in left field scoring both Ward and Beaver.

The Huskies had taken a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Lacy Mauro (Jersey Shore/Jersey Shore) singled and moved to second on a bunt by Lazorka. Sam Pientack (Archbald/Valley View) then went the opposite way with a double to right center easily scoring Mauro and putting the Huskies on top 1-0.

IUP got a single in the bottom of the second with one out. But an attempt to move the runner resulted in a fielder's choice with Fisher striking out Raquel Rugani to end the inning.

In the Bloomsburg half of the fourth the Huskies got a one-out from Pientack, but IUP pitcher Erin Holloway got the next two batters to end the inning.

Bloomsburg made it 2-0 in the top of the fifth. Neyhard doubled to lead off the inning. After a fly out, Raychelle Kuhns (Williamsport/Loyalsock) bunted Neyhard to third. Mauro then doubled home Neyhard with the Huskies second run. Holloway retired the Lazorka on a pop up though to end the threat.

IUP did threaten in the bottom of the sixth. Eppinger doubled to lead off the inning with Marissa Leslie singling to left. Eppinger was thrown out at home on a great throw by Neyhard and tag by Mauro. Fisher then got the final two batters to end the threat.

Mauro and Neyhard both finished 2-3 on the day for Bloomsburg, now 33-8, while IUP improves to 37-6. The teams will meet again on Saturday at noon and 2:30 p.m. , if necessary, for the right to move on to Salem, VA next week and the national championships.