GAME ONE BOX | GAME TWO BOX

BLOOMSBURG—Sophomore Anna's McElroy's three-homer off the foul pole in left field in the bottom of the sixth inning lifted the Bloomsburg University softball team to a 7-4 win and a split of its doubleheader with Kutztown University (27-12, 13-8 PSAC East) on Friday afternoon. The Golden Bears hung on for a 6-5 win in game one.
 
With the score tied 6-6 in the bottom of the sixth inning Caitlin O'Connor (Rockaway, NJ/Morris Knolls) singled and went to second on an error leading off for the Huskies. Abbey Remley (Berwick/Berwick Area) then came in to pinch-run. After a pop out, Taylor Parker (Dewart/Warrior Run) was hit by a pitch putting runners on first and second. McElroy then lofted a fly ball that appeared as though it might curve foul. But as it was coming down it hit the foul pole. Initially the play was ruled a single. But after the two umpires consulted it was ruled a home run putting the Huskies on top.
 
In the top of the seventh, Kutztown put runners at first and second with two outs with power hitter Colleen Smith at the plate. With Sarah Bortner (Glenville/South Western) on in relief she got Smith on a called third strike to end the game and give the Huskies the split.
 
Bloomsburg started quickly in game two scoring three times in the top of the first. Emily Mayhew (Perkasie/Pennridge) reached on an error to start the bottom of the first. Valerie Carcasses (Barnegat, NJ/Barnegat) then singled to left and Sarah Bertoni (Nanticoke/Greater Nanticoke Area) walked to load the bases. O'Connor doubled to right scoring Mayhew and Carcasses. Parker followed with a double with Bertoni scoring for a 3-0 lead.
 
Kutztown took the lead in the fifth inning scoring four times with the big blow coming from Danielle Amato who blasted a three-homer to put the Golden Bears on top 4-3. The Huskies tied the score in the bottom of the fifth with Mayhew drilling a line drive homer to left to knot the game and set up the dramatic sixth inning.
 
Bortner got the win in game two with O'Connor leading the offense going 2-3 with two RBI.
 
In game one Kutztown jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning with KU's Smith hitting a three-run homer and Marissa Lindquist getting a two-run shot. The Huskies got one run back in the bottom of the first on an RBI single by Carcasses.
 
Bloomsburg made it 5-2 in the third O'Connor homered to right center, her team-leading fourth home run of the season.
 
Kutztown pushed the lead to 6-2 in the sixth setting up an exciting bottom of the seventh. Erica Keen (Gordonville/Bishop Shanahan) singled to lead off and scored on Holly Peacock (Williamsport/Jersey Shore)'s double to center. After a line out, Maggie Hall (Cooperstown, N.Y./Cooperstown) was hit by a pitch and Bertoni walked to load the bases with one out. Kutztown then brought in Savannah Nierintz in relief. O'Connor greeted her with a single to center scoring two runs and making it 6-5. A single by Carcasses loaded the bases with one out, but the Huskies went down on strikes for out number two and had the game end on a diving catch of a ball behind third base by Kutztown shortstop Blayse Cholish.
 
O'Connor was 2-3 with three RBI, while Carcasses was 3-4 with an RBI.
 
Bloomsburg, 17-9, 12-4 in the PSAC East, will host West Chester on Saturday at 1 p.m.