DRIFTON--The Bloomsburg University softball team lost to IUP on Sunday, 10-9, in the title game of the 2012 PSAC (Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference) Championships.

Bloomsburg played without pitcher Cait Paine (Lebanon/Lebanon), who missed the game due to an injury. Twice this season Paine has fanned 18 in a game against IUP, including yesterday's semi-finals.
 
The Huskies took early lead in the game with a run in the top of the first with Rachel Fredell (Dingmans Ferry/Delaware Valley) singling to center scoring Sam Pientack (Archbald/Valley View). IUP came back with a run in the bottom of the first to tie the game at 1-1.
 
In the third inning the Huskies regained the lead with Fredell once again getting the big hit. Pientack led off with a double and moved to third on a single by Hannah Moir (Mount Laurel, NJ/Lenape ). Fredell then unloaded a long home run to right center making it a 4-1 game. After a fly out, Chrissy Belko (Old Forge/Old Forge) hit a solo shot to right center for a 5-1 Bloomsburg lead.
 
IUP chipped away at the lead in the bottom of the third scoring twice to make it 5-3. In the top of the fourth the Huskies went deep again. This time Erika Yanora (Tunkhannock/Tunkhannock) hit a solo shot to left for a 6-3 Huskies lead.
 
In the bottom of the fourth IUP scored once, but left the bases loaded, cutting the lead to 6-4. Then in the fifth the Crimson Hawks make it 6-5 when Tara Waldo led off the inning with a homer.
 
Bloomsburg added to its lead in the sixth inning. With one out and Mandi Baer (Douglassville/Daniel Boone) and Yanora on base, Pientack hit a towering shot well over the left field fence to give the Huskies a 9-5 lead. For Pientack it was her 19th homer of the season setting a new school record.
IUP though answered the Huskies offensive explosion with its own in the bottom of the sixth.  With no outs, the Crimson Hawks loaded the bases. However, Bloomsburg pitcher Caitlin O'Connor (Rockaway, NJ/Morris Knolls), got a fly out to short center and a fielder's choice ground with the runner out a home and keeping it a 9-5 game. But, IUP's Mary Ward then hit a ground rule double scoring two runs and pulling Crimson Hawks to within 9-7. Ashley Stracker then hit a three-run homer to right center field putting IUP on top for the first time at 10-9.
 
In the seventh the Huskies did not go quietly. After two were out, Raychelle Kuhns (Williamsport/Loyalsock) beat out a comebacker to the pitcher to give Bloomsburg life. Baer then singled up in the infield for runners at first and second. Yanora then drew a four-pitch walk to load the bases for the Huskies top hitter, Sam Pientack (Archbald/Valley View). But there were no late game heroics for the Huskies as Pientack went down swinging and giving IUP its second straight PSAC title.
 
The Huskies dropped to 35-14 with the loss, while IUP goes to 29-12-1. Bloomsburg will await word now on a bid to the NCAA championships. Those will be announced on Monday.