Quakertown, Pa. - The Bloomsburg University softball team showed why it is the defending Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) champions with a 16-0 victory over Kutztown University on Wednesday afternoon at Veterans Park.
The Huskies (29-16, 16-4 PSAC) used a seven-run second inning and nine-run fourth inning to help propel them to the opening game win, which lasted just five innings due to the mercy rule.
STATS AND NOTES
Taylor Parker (Dewart, Pa./Warrior Run) went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and five RBI, including a grand slam in the bottom of the fourth inning.
In the circle, Parker tossed a complete game with five strikeouts, while allowing just three base runners.
Emily Mayhew (Perkasie, Pa./Pennridge) registered two hits and two runs scored out of the leadoff spot.
Maggie Hall (Cooperstown, N.Y./Cooperstown) went 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBI, while Emily Getz (Hagerstown, Md./North Hagerstown) tallied two hits, three RBI and one run scored.
GAME RECAP
The two-teams traded zeros in the first inning, with Anna McElroy (Jessup, Pa./Valley View) throwing out Angie Carty as she attempted to steal second base.
The Huskies opened up the floodgates in the bottom of the second, when they got a run off a single to left by Maggie Hall (Cooperstown, N.Y./Cooperstown), scoring Holly Peacock (Williamsport, Pa./Jersey Shore).
Anna McElroy (Jessup, Pa./Valley View) followed with a single to right, scoring Alexa Erney (Carlisle, Pa./Cumberland Valley) to give the Huskies a 2-0 lead. Emily Mayhew (Perkasie, Pa./Pennridge) drove in Maggie Hall (Cooperstown, N.Y./Cooperstown) with a hard single to right, followed by a Taylor Winkelman (Springfield, Pa/Springfield) sac fly.
Parker then stepped up and rocked a double to right field, plating McElroy and extending the lead to 5-0. That was followed by Emily Getz (Hagerstown, Md./North Hagerstown)'s two RBI single that drove in Parker and Emily Mayhew (Perkasie, Pa./Pennridge).
Bloomsburg led, 7-0, heading into the top of the third inning, and knocked out Kutztown starting pitcher, Savannah Nierintz, after only 1.2 innings of work.
After a quiet third inning, Getz roped a double to right center field, scoring Parker and giving Bloomsburg an 8-0 lead in the bottom of the 4th.
Bloomsburg would score a total of nine runs in the inning, including four off of Parker's grand slam that plated Winkelman, Mayhew and McElroy.
The senior pitcher then sat the Golden Bears down, 1-2-3, in the bottom of the fifth inning to seal the win.
UP NEXT
With the victory, Bloomsburg will play tomorrow afternoon at 12:30 p.m. versus the winner of the Shippensburg/Gannon contest, scheduled to take place later today.
