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JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - The Bloomsburg University baseball team had no answer for the Seton Hill University offense on Thursday night as the Huskies dropped a 19-8 decision to the Griffins during day two of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) tournament at Point Stadium. The game was halted after seven innings due to the newly-enforced mercy rule during postseason play. Bloomsburg dropped to 30-17 overall while Seton Hill improved to 29-20 on the year.

The Huskies used six pitchers on Thursday night and they combined to allow 19 runs on 17 hits, seven walks, and six hit batsmen.

Freshman Nick Stoner (Elizabethtown, Pa./Elizabethtown) took the mound but could not get out of the first inning as he allowed five runs on two hits, three walks, and a hit batter in two-thirds of an inning. After a leadoff walk, Stoner retired the next two batters. But, things unraveled as Seton Hill got another walk, an RBI double from Mark Colella, a hit by pitch, a bases loaded walk, and then a three-run triple from Colton Carney to end Stoner's outing. Sophomore JJ Spehrley (Pottsville, Pa./Pottsville Area) came on and struck out Garret Vrbanic to end the inning.

Bloomsburg went quietly in the home half of the inning but Spehrley retired the Griffins in order in the top of the second and it appeared as if order was restored for the Huskies. In the bottom half, the Huskies responded against Seton Hill starter Patrick Monteverde. All told, the Huskies sent 11 men to the plate in the bottom of the second and, when the dust settled, Bloomsburg scored five times on seven hits and all of a sudden, the game was tied at 5-5 after two innings.

The Huskies started the bottom of the second with six consecutive batters reaching base. Freshmen Ben Newbert (Bala Cynwyd, Pa./Harriton) and Kyle OFier (Pittston, Pa./Pittston Area) posted back-to-back singles and junior Ryan Shiffer (Toms River, N.J./Toms River South) followed with a run-scoring double to get the Huskies on the board. Sophomore Chad Cooperman (Allentown, Pa./Salisbury) then laced a two-run single to cut the lead to 5-3 and sophomore Nate Krizan (Montoursville, Pa./Loyalsock Township) followed with a two-run home run over the left center field wall to knot the game at 5-5. It was Krizan's third round tripper of the season. The Huskies had the potential for an even bigger inning, but Monteverde was able to strike out Newbert and OFier with the bases loaded to end the inning.

However, in the top of the third, Seton Hill came right back with four runs to take a 9-5 lead and the Huskies never really bounced back. All four runs came with two outs and Spehrley and the Huskies were one pitch away from getting out of the inning before Carney belted a 2-2 offering over the left field wall for a three-run home run.

Seton Hill added a pair of runs in the fourth, four more in the fifth, one in the sixth, and three in the seventh against relievers Mike Warren (Garnerville, N.Y./St. Joseph Regional), Ed Herbener (Freeland, Pa./MMI Preparatory School), Jeremy Zezza (Exeter, Pa./Wyoming Area), and James Reardon IV (Springfield, Pa./Springfield).

Bloomsburg tried to bounce back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth and one in the sixth but could not keep up with the Griffin offense.

In the home half of the fifth, freshman Jared Burcin (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) and redshirt senior Austin Edgette (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East) had run-scoring singles while, in the sixth, Newbert led off with a triple and then scored on a single by OFier.

Spehrley suffered the loss as he fell to 6-3 on the season. He was charged with six runs on seven hits in 2.2 innings. He walked one and struck out three. The other four relievers combined to allow eight runs on eight hits in 3.2 innings.

Monteverde got the win for Seton Hill to improve to 3-2 on the year. He allowed six runs on nine hits in 4.2 innings while walking three and striking out five.

Bloomsburg had 15 hits in the contest as the offense did their best to keep pace. Edgette, for the second straight day at the tournament, went 3-for-5 to lead the Huskies. Newbert, OFier, Cooperman, and Burcin had two hits apiece. Meanwhile, Carney had a career day for the Griffins as he finished 4-for-5 with two runs scored, a home run, and eight runs batted in.

The Huskies, due to the Millersville/Mercyhurst game being moved to Friday morning, will now play their elimination game against Slippery Rock on Friday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.