Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Box Score - Game 1 (HTML)  |  Box Score - Game 2 (HTML)

BLOOMSBURG – The Bloomsburg University softball team rallied from two early deficits on the way to a doubleheader sweep of visiting Kutztown on Thursday afternoon at sunny Jan Hutchinson Field, defeating the Golden Bears by scores of 5-2 and 10-3.

The wins move the Huskies to 22-13 overall on the season and 14-8 in the PSAC East while Kutztown slumps to 17-28, 8-16.

GAME ONE – Huskies 5, Kutztown 2
Kutztown grabbed a 2-0 lead before Bloomsburg came to bat behind a single through the left side from Colleen Smith to score a pair of runs.

Bloomsburg tied the score in the home half of the second. Sarah Bertoni (Nanticoke/Greater Nanticoke Area) led off the inning with a hit through the right side and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Taylor Parker (Dewart/Warrior Run). An error and ground out put runners at second and third with two outs, setting the stage for Chrissy Belko (Old Forge/Old Forge) who delivered by driving a pitch into center field for the tie as Bertoni and Rachel Fredell (Dingmans Ferry/Delaware Valley) both came home.

The Huskies seized the lead one inning later. Erika Yanora (Tunkhannock/Tunkhannock) singled to lead off and moved to second on a sac bunt from Kayla McHale (Dillsburg/Northern). A single off the bat of Mandi Baer (Douglassville/Daniel Boone) moved Yanora to third with Baer scoring on a muffed catch by the Kutztown third baseman on a throw back into the infield from left. A sacrifice fly later in the inning scored Baer for a 4-2 lead.

That would be enough for Parker who settled into a groove in the circle following a rough first inning. The freshman allowed only two hits between the second and sixth innings, keeping the Golden Bears off the scoreboard the rest of the way. Kutztown did threaten in the seventh, however, sending the tying run to the plate following a pair of singles. Smith then drove a ball deep to right center with two outs, but Belko was able to track it down two steps in front of the fence to end the game.

Belko went 2-for-3 with two RBI to pace the Huskies offense.

Parker (11-7) earned the win with a complete game effort in the circle, allowing two earned runs on eight hits with three strikeouts.
 
GAME TWO – Huskies 10, Kutztown 3
The Golden Bears again led after posting a run in the top of the first with a double from Savannah Nierintz bringing home the game's first scoring.

Kutztown's momentum would be short-lived, however. Bloomsburg roared back in the bottom of the frame, posting five straight hits before an out could be recorded. Baer gave the Huskies the lead with a single up the middle to score Yanora and McHale who had singled before her while Parker and Hannah Moir (Mount Laurel, NJ/Lenape ) each tallied run-scoring singles in the four-run uprising with Bloomsburg ultimately sending nine players to the plate in the inning.

Kutztown pulled within a run thanks to a pair of Huskies miscues in the field during the third inning, making the score 4-3.

Yanora responded with a blast to center leading off the Bloomsburg fourth for her third home run of the year and a two-run edge for the hosts.

Bloomsburg opened the flood gates in the fifth, scoring five times to put the game away. Mallory Tomaschik (Catawissa/Southern Columbia), Yanora and Baer all drove in runs during the inning.

Belko capped her strong day at the plate with two more hits while Yanora ignited the offense from the leadoff spot with three hits, three runs and two RBI. McHale, Baer and Bertoni all had two hits apiece with Baer driving in four runs to highlight an impressive offensive performance that saw the Huskies pound out 15 hits.

Tomaschik (5-2) picked up the victory in the circle with 4.2 innings of relief, blanking Kutztown while scattering four hits with two strikeouts.

The Huskies and Golden Bears quickly renew acquaintances on Friday afternoon with Bloomsburg traveling to Kutztown for another PSAC East doubleheader.