Game One HTML Box Score
Game Two HTML Box Score
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – The Bloomsburg University softball team earned a split with Pitt-Johnstown in its first doubleheader of Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Central division play on Saturday (Mar. 31). Bloomsburg took game one 4-3 and Pitt-Johnstown took game two 5-4.
The Huskies and the Mountain Cats traded early runs in game one, with UPJ scoring once in the bottom of the first and Bloomsburg scoring once in the top of the second. A RBI triple from Olivia Porter that scored Marley Elbin started the scoring, before an
Ashli Venokur (East Brunswick, N.J./East Brunswick) sacrifice fly scored
Tara Baney (Howard, Pa./Bellefonte) in the top of the second. The two teams traded runs in similar fashion over the next two innings, with the Mountain Cats tacking on a run in the bottom of the third and the Huskies tying the game in the top of the fourth. Elbin doubled to left field in the third to score Morgan Cannin, before
Marissa Shelhamer (Bloomsburg, Pa./Central Columbia) rocked her first long ball of the season to tie the game at 2-2. The Huskies would score once in each of the fifth and sixth innings holding UPJ to just one run over their final 12 offensive outs. The lone run for UPJ came on an infield single by Amanda O'Toole to score Sydney Flinn unearned in the fourth. Bloomsburg scored its final two runs on a solo shot from
Emily Mayhew (Perkasie, Pa./Pennridge) in the fifth and a RBI single from Venokur that scored Shelhamer in the sixth.
Bloomsburg scored four runs on nine hits while committing two errors in the win. Shelhamer led the offense going 3-3 while driving in one run and scoring twice. Mayhew chipped in a 2-4 day with a RBI and a run scored, while four other Huskies tallied hits in the win. Venokur drove in the other two runs for BU. Baney (3-3) got the win in the circle, twirling a complete game allowing three runs on five hits along with two walks and one strikeout.
In game two, Pitt-Johnstown would strike twice to take a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second to open the scoring. Back-to-back jacks from Stacey Walling and Jade Stubblefield gave the Mountain Cats the early lead which they would take to the fourth. Bloomsburg scored three times in their half of the fourth to take a brief 3-2 lead. Those three runs came on
Alexa Erney (Carlisle, Pa./Cumberland Valley)'s first jolt of the season that scored Shelhamer and
Kalynn Wheeland (South Williamsport, Pa./South Williamsport). The Huskies would extend their lead to two in the top of the fifth with a RBI single from Mayhew that scored
Taylor Winkelman (Springfield, Pa/Springfield) unearned. Pitt-Johnstown responded with three runs in their half of the fifth to take the lead for good. Ali Belgiovane led off the inning with a single against
Abby Wild (Collegeville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley), before Porter drew a walk to put two runners on with no outs. Wild was relieved by Baney, who allowed Taylor Hoover to reach via hit by pitch. Kristie Radvan reached on a fielder's choice and the first out was recorded at home, before Walling was hit by a pitch to score a run. The rough inning would continue for BU as Stubblefield would reach on an error to allow both pinch runners Elbin and Bree Ginther to score. After the damage had been done, the final two hitters of the inning were retired. The Huskies were retired in order in their final two innings at the plate.
Bloomsburg scored four runs on seven hits with one error in the game. Wheeland was the lone Husky with two hits, while another five players each recorded one hit. Erney collected a game-high three RBI, with Mayhew driving in the other run for BU. Baney (3-4) was hung with the loss in relief, allowing one unearned run in two innings without allowing a hit. Wild tossed 4.0+ innings in the start, giving up four runs, three earned on seven hits. The freshman walked one and fired three strikeouts in the effort.
The split moves Bloomsburg to 9-10 and 1-1 in the PSAC Central, while UPJ is now 3-9 and 1-1 in the Central division.
The Huskies are back at Jan M. Hutchinson Field on Monday (Apr. 2) to make up their doubleheader with PSAC Central division rival Mansfield. First pitch is set for 2:30 p.m.
