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HAMPTON, Va. - Despite seven strong innings from junior Mike Warren (Garnerville, N.Y./St. Joseph Regional), the Bloomsburg University baseball team suffered a 7-0 loss at the hands of IUP on Friday evening at the Builder Invitational, hosted by the Newport News Apprentice School. The Huskies dropped to 4-3 on the season while the Crimson Hawks picked up their first win of the year as they improved to 1-2.

Warren was sensational in his seven innings as he allowed only one run on five hits. The righthander walked three and struck out seven in his first start of the season. However, the bats went ice cold against three IUP pitchers as the Huskies could muster only six hits - two each from senior Damin Muth (Breinigsville, Pa./Parkland) and freshman Cole Swiger (Maple Glen, Pa./Upper Dublin). Bloomsburg had plenty of opportunities to scratch some runs across but could not get a timely hit as the Huskies left 13 runners on base for the game.

Warren and IUP's Jeff Allen were locked in a scoreless pitchers' duel for five innings until Allen was relieved by Dillon Swanger in the bottom of the sixth inning. Both teams were not without chances, though.

In the top of the first, IUP got its first two batters on via a walk and a hit batsman before Warren wriggled out of the jam with a flyout and a pair of strikeouts to end the inning. In the fourth, IUP left a pair of runners on base as did Bloomsburg in the bottom half of the frame. Muth led off the inning with a single and then advanced to second on a single from redshirt senior Ryuta Amaike (Whitehall, Pa./Whitehall). After Muth advanced to third on a flyout, Allen struck out freshman Tyler Nowmos (Wrightstown, Pa./Council Rock North) to end the threat.

In the bottom of the fifth, Bloomsburg left two more runners on base as redshirt junior Austin Edgette (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East) and junior Tyler Benson (Montville, N.J./Montville Township) drew back-to-back two-out walks. However, Allen struck out Muth to end the inning. The Huskies left three more on in the bottom of the sixth against Swanger. Amaike was hit by a pitch with one out and then advanced to third on a double by Swiger. Nowmos was hit by a pitch to load the bases before Swanger recorded the final two outs with no damage being done.

IUP capitalized in the top of the seventh against Warren. Matt Swartz led off the inning with a single - only the Crimson Hawks' third hit of the game to that point - and then was moved up 90 feet on a sacrifice bunt. Bo Putt then singled through the right side of the infield to score Swartz for the game's first run.

Bloomsburg left two more runners on in the bottom of the seventh but could not score. Then, the roof caved in for the Huskies in the eighth. Freshman Ed Herbener (Freeland, Pa./MMI Preparatory School), who was making his first collegiate appearance, was greeted rudely by the IUP bats as the Crimson Hawks scored five runs on three hits and two errors to take a 6-0 lead. Tyler Adams and Cory Wheeler had the big hits for IUP as they each collected two-run singles to blow the game open.

IUP tacked on one final run in the ninth against sophomore Jeremy Zezza (Exeter, Pa./Wyoming Area) for the final margin.

Warren was saddled with the tough-luck loss despite the solid outing on the mound. Herbener was charged with four runs (three earned) on one hit and two walks in one-third of an inning before he gave way to Zezza. The sophomore allowed two runs on three hits and three walks in an inning and two-thirds.

Allen went five scoreless and allowed three hits and four walks while striking out eight. Swanger got the win in relief as he allowed three hits and a walk over three scoreless innings. Dan Roan closed out the contest in the ninth.

Wheeler led IUP at the plate, going 3-for-3 with two runs batted in.

The Huskies will square off against Kutztown University on Saturday afternoon. First pitch has been moved up and will now begin at 2:00 p.m. instead of the originally-scheduled 6:00 p.m. start.