BLOOMSBURG – The Bloomsburg University baseball team dominated the early game Monday afternoon vs. Mansfield in a 14-1 victory at Danny Litwhiler Field and then put on rally caps to win in eight innings, 7-6, in the nightcap for a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division doubleheader sweep.
The wins move Bloomsburg to 9-13 overall and 8-10 in PSAC East play while Mansfield falls to 4-20, 3-13.
Mansfield was designated as the "home" team for both games as the contests were originally scheduled to be played at the home of the Mountaineers, but were moved due to unplayable field conditions there.
In all, the Huskies blasted five home runs – all from players who had not homered previously this season.
GAME ONE – Bloomsburg 14, Mansfield 1 | Box Score
The Huskies cranked out their most hits in nearly two years, pounding out 21 to roll in the early game.
Mansfield led early when Zephan Kash roped a two-out double down the left field line for a 1-0 advantage.
It took Bloomsburg until the fourth to get on the scoreboard, but when it did, the flood gates opened.
Eric Frain (Philadelphia/Archbishop Ryan) picked up the first hit of the game for the Huskies with a bunt single to lead off the fourth, but was later picked off between first and second. Damin Muth (Breinigsville/Parkland) then worked a walk which set the stage for senior Tim Ravel (Sinking Spring/Wilson) who would take an 0-1 delivery from Mansfield starter Jeremy Mapstone out to left field for his first home run since 2012 and a 2-1 lead.
Ryan Kirman (Little Silver, N.J./Red Bank Regional) then got in on the long ball game one out later, drilling his first homer in a Huskies uniform to left center. After a Brady West (Harleysville/North Penn) single, Bloomsburg hit its third home run of the inning when Preston Bare (Palmyra/Palmyra) picked up his first home run in Maroon and Gold out to left center for a 5-1 cushion.
Bloomsburg poured it on from there. Two runs crossed the plate in the fifth including an RBI single from West. The Huskies scored another pair in the sixth when Damin Muth (Breinigsville/Parkland) brought in two runs with a single up the middle.
Finally, in the seventh, the Huskies plated five runs on eight hits with run-producing singles from Frain, Kirman, West, Cy Treaster (Lewistown/Mifflin County) and Corey Baiada (Harleysville/LaSalle).
All the run support was more than enough for freshman Mike Warren (Garnerville, N.Y./St. Joseph Regional), who turned in his finest effort in a Huskies uniform. Warren went the distance, scattering five hits and did not walk a batter while striking out a career high seven. The right-hander was in command all day, throwing 70 of his 102 pitches for strikes.
West and Tyler Benson (Montville, N.J./Montville Township) had three hits apiece for the Huskies while Kirman went 2-for-5 with three RBIs.
GAME TWO – Bloomsburg 7, Mansfield 6 (8 innings) | Box Score
A total of 324 pitches were thrown in game two at Danny Litwhiler Field, but the two most important pitches thrown to the Huskies left the yard.
Both clutch late-inning home runs came on full count pitches – first, with the Huskies down 5-3 in their final at-bat, Treaster took the sixth pitch he saw from Mansfield reliever Zach Sacoman over the fence in right center field for a game-changing, three-run home run and a 6-5 lead heading for the bottom of the seventh. The home run was the first of the collegiate career of Treaster.
Mansfield answered in its half of the inning, however. Scott Rockwell started the comeback with a high one-out fly ball into no-man's land in shallow right that bounced off the glove of a diving Shane Woelfel (Mahwah, N.J./Mahwah) for a double. Rockwell scored one batter later when Taylor Hillson singled to right center for the 6-6 tie to send the game into extra innings.
Then, with one out in the top of the eighth, another Huskies player picked a good time for his first home run. Again on a full count pitch, this time it was Austin Edgette (Exton/Downingtown East) who connected and just cleared the fence in left center for his first career round-tripper and a 7-6 lead.
Cody Heane (McClure/Indian Valley) then worked a 1-2-3 bottom of the inning for his first win of the year.
Mansfield owned a 3-1 edge until the sixth behind starter Luke Hils who lasted 4.2 innings and did not allow an earned run despite six walks. Bloomsburg pulled to a tie score in the sixth when Tyler Benson (Montville, N.J./Montville Township) singled in two runs with a hit through the right side.
The Mountaineers moved ahead, 5-3, in the bottom of the sixth, though, with a two-out hit from Jacob Molison to break the tie and seemingly put Mansfield in control until the Huskies rallied in the seventh.
Muth started the uprising with a one-out single before Ravel worked a walk. Treaster then homered to give the Huskies the lead.
Sean McCloskey (Warminster/Archbishop Wood) started and went 1.2 innings, allowing two runs on two hits. Jared Schaffer (Perkasie/Pennridge) pitched 2.2 innings of relief, allowing one run. Alex Carpenter (South Williamsport/South Williamsport) also worked 1.2 innings, surrendering two runs on three hits with two strikeouts.
Muth posted three hits and went 5-for-8 on the day at the plate. Benson also went 5-for-9 on the afternoon.
Bloomsburg returns to action at Kutztown on Tuesday afternoon at 1 p.m. as PSAC East play continues.
