Quakertown, Pa. - The Bloomsburg University softball team advanced to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) championship game before falling to the West Chester Golden Rams on Saturday afternoon.

The Huskies won their first game of the day, a 7-5 semifinal victory over Lock Haven, before losing, 6-0, to the Golden Rams in the title game.

Bloomsburg is now 31-18 (16-4 PSAC) on the season, and will wait to see if it earns an at-large bid to the NCAA Regional Tournament.

SEMIFINAL RECAP

In the first game of the day, Bloomsburg raced out to a 7-0 lead over the Bald Eagles, and held on for the win.

Taylor Parker (Dewart, Pa./Warrior Run) opened the scoring with a two-run home run in what would be a five-run bottom of the first inning. After back-to-back walks by Holly Peacock (Williamsport, Pa./Jersey Shore) and Alex Erney, Lock Haven changed pitchers, bringing in Rachel Mouillesseaux for Bekah Slattery.

Marissa Shelhamer (Bloomsburg, Pa./Central Columbia) immediately welcomed the new pitcher, blasting a three-run home run over the left-field fence to put Bloomsburg up 5-0 after just one inning of play.

Parker came up to bat in the bottom of the second inning and hit a low-flying lazer over the wall in center to extend the Bloomsburg advantage to 7-0.

Lock Haven would not go quietly, as a Moriah Lindsey double to the outfield plated Traci Kromko and put the Bald Eagles on the board. They would get three more runs back on one swing by McKenna Garlock, making it a 7-4 game after three innings.

The Huskies' PSAC central rival would add one more run in the top of the fifth inning, on a double by Jodi Weaknecht that scored MaKaylah Holbert.

Parker would come in relief of starter Mallory Tomaschik (Catawissa, Pa./Southern Columbia), and close out the game in the final two innings.

For the game, Parker went a perfect 3-for-3 with two home runs and four RBI, while Taylor Winkelman (Springfield, Pa/Springfield) scored twice.

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME RECAP

In the final, West Chester once again got out to a strong start, scoring two runs in the top of the first inning against Parker, who was tapped the starter.

The Golden Rams added three more runs in the top of the third inning on a Cat Hammer three-run home run to center.

The Huskies had two runners on base in the fourth and fifth innings respectively, but West Chester starting pitcher, Amanda Houck, worked out of the jam each time.

Houck was named the PSAC Tournament MVP for her efforts, as she went 4-0 in the circle for the Golden Rams.

Alyssa Davies (Mountain Top, Pa./Crestwood) came in relief of Parker and pitched 3.1 innings of shutout ball while allowing just one hit.

At the plate, Erin Smith (Tunkhannock, Pa./Tunkhannock Area), Winkelman and Emily Mayhew (Perkasie, Pa./Pennridge) each tallied a hit for Bloomsburg.