HTML Box Score (Game One)
HTML Box Score (Game Two)
BLOOMSBURG, Pa. – The Bloomsburg University softball team swept East Stroudsburg at home on Monday (Mar. 26) in the team's home opener, winning game one 4-3 and game two 6-5.
In game one, Bloomsburg would strike first with two runs in the bottom of the first inning.
Maggie Hall (Cooperstown, N.Y./Cooperstown) got things started with a one-out bomb to left, her first of the season.
Emily Mayhew (Perkasie, Pa./Pennridge) and
Kalynn Wheeland (South Williamsport, Pa./South Williamsport) would then knock back-to-back doubles to move the Huskies up 2-0. East Stroudsburg would get a run back in the second inning when Sofia Cecchin reached on an error in the infield that scored Kaitlyn Caleen unearned. The Huskies would plate two more runs in the third inning after Mayhew roped her second double of the game and was waiting on second with one out. Wheeland grounded out on the next play, but Mayhew was able to advance to third on the throw. That set the stage for
Tara Baney (Howard, Pa./Bellefonte), who blasted her first career dinger to left to put the Huskies up 4-1. The game would go scoreless until the top of the seventh when East Stroudsburg would score two runs to get within one. After Madison Oren began the rally with a single up the middle, Cecchin lined out to
Abbey Remley (Berwick, Pa./Berwick Area) at short for the first out. Kaylee Hazewski reached on a single to third base that moved Oren to second, before a wild pitch from Baney moved both runners up 60 feet. A walk drawn by Mackenzie Lewis would load the bases before Mary Wallick would hit into a fielder's choice that would retire Oren at the plate but leave the bases loaded with two outs. Heather Visco would reach on a costly error at second base, a play that allowed two runs to score and left Wallick at third and allowed Visco herself to advance to second on the throw home. Baney got Madison Vicendese to line out to
Bridget Casey (Perkasie, Pa./Pennridge) in left field to end the game and get the win.
The Huskies scored their four runs on eight hits while committing five errors in the win. Mayhew and Baney each had two hits in the win, while four others had one hit apiece. Baney drove in two runs, while Hall and Wheeland each drove in one. Mayhew would score twice, while Hall and Baney would each score once. Baney (2-3) got the win in the circle, allowing three unearned runs on five hits while walking two and striking out four.
The Huskies started game two in an even bigger way than game one, striking for four runs in the bottom half of the first.
Taylor Winkelman (Springfield, Pa/Springfield) led off with a double to left center before Hall reached on an error by shortstop Samantha Pickar. That brought Mayhew to the plate with runners on first and second, with Mayhew lashing a single up the middle scoring Winkelman. After a wild pitch moved both Hall and Mayhew up 60 feet, Wheeland would single up the middle to score them both and move the BU lead to 3-0. After a pitching change, Baney grounded out to third to move pinch-runner
Erin Smith (Tunkhannock, Pa./Tunkhannock Area) up to second with just one out.
Nicolette Ray (Abington, Pa./Abington) would drive a single up the middle and advance to second on the throw home to score Smith. East Stroudsburg responded with one run in the second on a RBI double from Cecchin to score Caleen. Bloomsburg would score two more runs in the fifth, coming on a Mayhew RBI single that scored Winkelman and Baney reaching on an error by the second baseman to score Mayhew. The Warriors would make the game interesting in the fifth, plating four runs. The frame began with a leadoff double to left center by Cecchin before a wild pitch moved her to third. After a pinch-hit walk by Morgan Walsh, Hazewski laid down a squeeze bunt that scored Cecchin and moved the runner Pickar to second with just one out. Lewis would reach on an infield single that moved Pickar to third, before Wallick would score Pickar with a sacrifice fly. Visco would continue the inning with a two-out two-run homer down the left field line to score Lewis to get the Warriors within one. That is the closest ESU would get in the game, as
Abby Wild (Collegeville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley) was able to shut the door in relief and preserve the win for
Alyssa Davies (Mountain Top, Pa./Crestwood) (3-3).
Bloomsburg scored their six runs on 10 hits while committing one error in the win. Mayhew paced the offense in game two with a 3-4 day, including two RBI and two runs scored. Winkelman notched two hits and two runs in the outing, while another five Huskies each recorded one hit in game two. Wheeland also drove in two runs, along with one RBI from Ray. Davies earned the win in the circle, allowing five runs on seven hits with one free pass and one punchout. Wild collected her first career save with two innings of scoreless relief, allowing two hits.
The wins move Bloomsburg to 8-9, while East Stroudsburg falls to 6-12.
The Huskies are back home at Jan M. Hutchinson Field on Friday (Mar. 30) when they open Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Central division play against Mansfield. First pitch of game one is set for 2:30 p.m.
