BLOOMSBURG, Pa. - Redshirt junior Austin Edgette (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East) went 4-for-4 with three runs scored, a grand slam home run, and a career-high six runs batted in to lift the Bloomsburg University baseball team to a 12-6 victory in game one of Monday afternoon's doubleheader against East Stroudsburg University at Danny Litwhiler Field in what was the Huskies' home opener. The Warriors bounced back for a 4-1 victory in the nightcap as the teams played to a split in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division twinbill. The Huskies moved to 13-11-1 overall and 3-4-1 in league play while the Warriors moved to 12-11-1 overall and 2-5-1 in the conference standings.

Edgette singled in the first, belted his first home run of the season in the second, singled in the third, and singled in the fifth as the Huskies reached double digits in scoring for the fourth time this season, but first since a 13-3 win at Brevard College on March 11. It was Edgette's ninth multiple-hit game of the season and was his fifth multiple-RBI game of the year. His previous high in runs batted in was five during the Huskies' 21-0 win over Philadelphia University in game one of a doubleheader on April 6, 2016.

Sophomore Trey Hinkle (Macungie, Pa./Emmaus) got the start on the mound in game one and pitched in-and-out of trouble for much of the afternoon. But, after striking out East Stroudsburg's Mike Sulcoski with the bases loaded in the top of the first, Edgette and the Huskies went to work.

The redshirt junior led off the inning with a single through the left side of the infield, stole second, and then advanced to third when junior Tyler Benson (Montville, N.J./Montville Township) found a hole through the right side of the infield. Senior Damin Muth (Breinigsville, Pa./Parkland) bounced into a 6-4-3 double play but Edgette came in to score as the Huskies grabbed a 1-0 lead.

The Warriors tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the second on an RBI groundout from Joey Paolini but the Huskies rebounded for four runs in the bottom half of the frame to take a 5-1 lead. Freshman Cole Swiger (Maple Glen, Pa./Upper Dublin) was hit by a pitch to start the inning but was retired when redshirt senior Ryuta Amaike (Whitehall, Pa./Whitehall) hit into a fielder's choice. After East Stroudsburg starter Conner Crookham retired freshman Andrew Holmes (Egg Harbor Township, N.J./Egg Harbor Township) on a flyout, freshman Chad Cooperman (Allentown, Pa./Salisbury) singled and freshman Nate Krizan (Montoursville, Pa./Loyalsock) was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Edgette. The outfielder crushed a 1-1 offering from Crookham over the left center field fence for his first career grand slam home run and a 5-1 Bloomsburg advantage.

East Stroudsburg got a pair of runs back in the top of the third - both unearned - when Casey Saverio belted a two-run home run to center field to cut the Huskies' lead to 5-3. But, the hosts kept the bats rolling in the bottom of the third as they scored four more runs to take a 9-3 advantage. Amaike drove home the first run of the inning with an RBI single to extend the lead to 6-3. Cooperman added a run on an RBI fielder's choice and Amaike would later score on a wild pitch for an 8-3 lead. Edgette then laced his third hit in as many innings to drive home Cooperman for the fourth run of the frame.

Things settled down in the fourth but picked up again in the fifth as the Warriors plated a pair of runs to cut the Bloomsburg lead to 9-5. Dylan Tamecki came up with the big hit for East Stroudsburg with a two-run double down the right field line that ended the afternoon for Hinkle. Freshman Brett Alaimo (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) came on in relief and retired Steven Zimmerman on a called strike three to prevent any further damage.

In the bottom half of the fifth, however, the Huskies answered with three runs to take a 12-5 lead. Holmes led off the inning with a walk and then stole second. Cooperman walked which allowed Krizan to sacrifice both runners ahead 90 feet to second and third. Edgette singled through the left side of the infield for his fourth hit, and sixth RBI, of the day to drive home Holmes for the Huskies' tenth run of the afternoon. Edgette stole second and then he and Cooperman scored when Benson singled to extend the lead to 12-5.

The Warriors got a run in the top of the sixth against Alaimo but that would prove to be the final run of game one.

Hinkle improved to 3-1 on the season despite allowing twelve hits and three walks in four and two-thirds innings. He was charged with five runs (three earned) but did strike out eight batters. Alaimo came on to get out of the jam in the fifth and the finished out the contest to earn his third save of the season. He went two and a-third innings and allowed a run on three hits while striking out three.

Bloomsburg had 11 hits in the opener - four from Edgette and two each from Benson and Amaike. Crookham suffered his first loss of the season (2-1) as he allowed nine runs (five earned) on six hits in two and two-thirds innings.

Game two was more of a pitcher's duel between Amaike and East Stroudsburg starter, Ben Stine.

The Warriors jumped out early with a pair of runs in the top of the first to take a 2-0 lead. Back-to-back walks to start the game ended up haunting the righthander as they both came around to score.

The Huskies answered with a run in the bottom of the second to cut the lead to 2-1. Amaike singled with one out and then advanced to third when freshman Blake Gular (Harleysville, Pa./Souderton) singled to right center. Cooperman lifted a deep fly ball to center that scored Amaike for, what proved to be, the Huskies' only run of the game.

The scored remained 2-1 until the Warriors belted back-to-back solo home runs off Amaike in the top of the fifth to take a 4-1 lead. Amaike had struck out the first two batters of the inning but then Zimmerman and Laine Renaud both went deep to add a pair of insurance runs for Stine.

Bloomsburg threatened in the bottom of the seventh as Amaike walked to lead off the inning and then advanced to second on a Cooperman single. But, with the tying runners on base, Stine retired Krizan on a fly ball to right and then struck out Edgette to end the contest.

Amaike allowed four runs on eight hits, walked four, and struck out six to suffer his first loss of the season (2-1). Sophomore Jeremy Zezza (Exeter, Pa./Wyoming Area) pitched around two hits in the seventh and struck out a pair in a scoreless frame. Stine earned his first win of the year (1-2) with a complete-game five hitter. He walked two and struck out 12.

The Huskies will return to action on Friday, April 7, when they host Mansfield University at Danny Litwhiler Field. Start time of the doubleheader is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.