BLOOMSBURG – The Bloomsburg University baseball team celebrated Senior Day on Sunday afternoon at Danny Litwhiler Field and it was senior Jared Schaffer (Perkasie/Pennridge) who pitched the Huskies to a doubleheader split with visiting Slippery Rock with a complete game effort on the mound for a 4-3 win in the nightcap after Bloomsburg dropped game one, 9-1.

Bloomsburg moves to 12-18 overall on the season following Sunday's non-conference twin bill while Slippery Rock is now 25-16.

Before the first game, the Huskies honored seniors Eric Frain (Philadelphia/Archbishop Ryan), Tim Ravel (Sinking Spring/Wilson), Cody Heane (McClure/Indian Valley), Tyler Hill (Lehighton/Lehighton) and Schaffer as well as A.J. Stump (Reading/Antietam) who missed the season due to injury.
 

GAME ONE – Slippery Rock 9, Bloomsburg 1  |  Box Score

It wasn't one big inning that gave Slippery Rock its cushion, but rather multiple productive frames – two runs in each the second and fourth innings and a run each in the third and fifth before a three-run seventh.

The run support was enough for Rock starter Alex Pantuso (3-2), who went 6.1 innings while scattering five hits and allowing one run with seven strikeouts along with five walks.

Bloomsburg had its chances – the Huskies had runners in scoring position in the first, third and fifth innings, but could not break through, ultimately stranding nine runners on base.

The Huskies got a run in the seventh on an RBI ground out from Austin Edgette (Exton/Downingtown East) to chase Pantuso from the game, but reliever James Divosevic picked up the final two outs by strikeout to end the threat.

Tyler Benson (Montville, N.J./Montville Township) went 3-for-4 out of the leadoff spot, collecting three of the Huskies five hits.

Ty Zimmerman powered The Rock out of the nine hole in the lineup, going 3-for-4 with four RBIs.

GAME TWO – Bloomsburg 4, Slippery Rock 3  |  Box Score

The Rock struck early in game two, as Zimmerman moved to the leadoff spot and promptly doubled down the left field line on the first pitch of the game. Zimmerman later scored with a steal of home and another run crossed the plate on an RBI double from Logan Brown for a 2-0 lead.

Slippery Rock added a run in the second, but the Huskies answered with two runs in the third. Benson started the rally with an infield single, moving to third on a single to right by Edgette who would then steal second. A double steal allowed Benson to swipe home with the first run and Edgette came home on a run-scoring single through the left side from Cy Treaster (Lewistown/Mifflin County).

By then Schaffer had settled into a groove on the mound, allowing just one hit in the fourth through sixth innings.

The Huskies seized the lead with two runs in the fifth. Ravel greeted reliever Geoff Sanner with a hit to shallow center and got into scoring position by stealing second, advancing to third on an infield hit by Damin Muth (Breinigsville/Parkland). A fielder's choice forced out Ravel at home on the next at-bat, but Brian Almand (Haddon Township, NJ/Paul VI) brought both runners on base home with a smash off the third baseman behind the bag that ricocheted into left for a 4-3 edge.

After a 1-2-3 sixth from Schaffer, The Rock threatened in the seventh. A single and a double put runners at second and third with no outs before a pop up on the right side of the infield gave Bloomsburg the first out. Tyler Walters then grounded weakly back to the mound on a check swing attempt for the second out. Adam Urbania made the final out a loud one, lining a ball at left fielder Shane Woelfel (Mahwah, N.J./Mahwah) who had entered the game earlier in the inning as a defensive replacement. Woelfel snared the sinking liner to send the Huskies home with a victory.

Schaffer (2-2) finished with his first career complete game victory, scattering nine hits and striking out three with one walk.

Stephen Mckee started for SRU, allowing two runs in his four innings of work. Sanner (2-1) was charged with the loss after working two innings and surrendering two runs on four hits with a walk and two strikeouts.

Benson had three more hits to finish the day 6-for-8 at the plate with Edgette also adding two hits.

The Huskies return to non-conference play on Tuesday, traveling to IUP for a doubleheader set for a 1 p.m. start.