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HAMPTON, VA – The Bloomsburg University baseball team scored three runs to tie the game in the eighth inning, but allowed the Apprentice School to score on a wild pitch in the bottom half of the inning as the Huskies fell to the Builders 4-3 Thursday afternoon in Bloomsburg's season opener and the opening game of the Builder Invitational.
 
Junior right-hander Casey Cooperman (Allentown/Parkland) was the opening day starter for the Huskies (0-1) and threw terrific.  He pitched five scoreless innings and allowed two hits while striking out four. It is the third time in his career he pitched five or more scoreless innings.
 
Fellow junior right-hander Nick Donofry (Newtown/Council Rock North) took over for Cooperman to start the sixth inning.  Apprentice scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, two of which were unearned as Bloomsburg committed three combined errors in the sixth and seventh innings.
 
Down 3-0 in the top of the eighth, sophomore A.J. Stump (Reading/Antietam) ripped his second double of the day and was driven home on Brad Smith (Morgantown/Twin Valley)'s single up the middle to put the Huskies on the board.
 
Following a double steal by Smith and senior Nickolas Eversole (Lewistown/Indian Valley) to put two runners in scoring position, freshman Brian Almand (Haddon Township, NJ/Paul VI) hit a two-RBI single to left field to tie the game at 3-3. The RBI single was Almand's first hit of his career.
 
Freshman Jack Fritz (West Chester/Rustin) took over on the mound in the bottom of the eighth and with two outs and a man on third base, Fritz threw a wild pitch to score the Apprentice run and give the Builders a 4-3 lead.
 
Sophomore shortstop Tim Ravel (Sinking Spring/Wilson) had Bloomsburg's first hit of the season with an infield single from the leadoff position in the top of the first inning. He advanced to second on a passed ball later that inning, but was picked off later that inning. 
 
Stump and Eversole each hit doubles in the third and sixth innings, respectively, but did not advance any further.
 
The Huskies return to action at the Builder Invitational tomorrow, Friday Feb. 22, to face Briarcliffe College at 9 a.m. Bloomsburg will also face Lock Haven in the nightcap at 6 p.m.