Softball | 3/25/2019 12:04:00 PM
THE STORY
• The Bloomsburg University softball team hits the diamond at Jan M. Hutchinson Field for the first time this season when they host the Jefferson Rams in a doubleheader Tuesday afternoon. The Huskies are 7-10 overall on the young season, but have won three straight games including a two-game sweep over Goldey-Beacom College on Sunday. The Rams are 6-12 overall, and 1-5 in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) this season.
THE HISTORY: BLOOMSBURG vs. JEFFERSON
• The Huskies are 17-1 all-time against Jefferson (formerly Philadelphia University), including a doubleheader split with the Rams back in 2017. The teams were scheduled to meet for a twinbill at Hutchinson Field last April, but inclement weather forced the games to be canceled.
THE HUSKIES AT A GLANCE
•
Abby Wild (Collegeville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley) hurled a two-hit gem in game one and Freshman
Danielle Barnes (Coopersburg, Pa./Southern Lehigh) had four RBI on the afternoon as the Huskies cruised to a doubleheader sweep over Goldey-Beacom College Sunday afternoon. The Huskies waltzed to a 7-0 victory in game one thanks to Wild's tremendous pitching performance, and used a five-run rally in the top of the seventh inning to win game two 5-2. Wild was electric in the circle for Bloomsburg in game one, striking out nine and allowing just two hits in the complete game shutout.
Julia Knight (Kennett Square, Pa./Unionville) had the big hits at the plate in game one, going 2-for-4 with a double, triple, run scored, and four runs batted in, while
Sammi Starr (Berwick, Pa./21st Century Cyber Charter) had her first collegiate inside-the-park home run in game two.
• The Huskies offense has been powered by a trio of freshmen in Barnes, Starr, and
Erin DelPierre (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin). DelPierre leads the team in batting average (.380), walks (6), and stolen bases (3), while Starr is hitting .243 with a team-high three homers and seven RBI. Barnes has seven runs batted in, eight runs scored, a dinger, and two doubles. Senior
Emily Getz (Hagerstown, Md./North Hagerstown) is batting .361 with six runs scored on the year, while
Taylor Winkelman (Springfield, Pa/Springfield) is hitting .286 with six RBI.
• Wild has been tremendous in the circle for the Huskies in the early-going. The sophomore is 5-2 overall, but has allowed just six earned runs in 49.0 innings of work. Her 1.10 earned run average (ERA) ranks third in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) this season, while her 47 strikeouts are seventh in the conference.
Tara Baney (Howard, Pa./Bellefonte) has notched six starts on the year for the Huskies, and has a 6.75 ERA and 23 strikeouts.
Balee Leeser (Sunbury, Pa./Shikellamy) has appeared in five games for Bloomsburg and has a 5.06 ERA.
SCOUTING THE RAMS
• Jefferson enters Tuesday's games at 6-12 overall on the season, but the Rams have dropped four straight including a pair of losses to West Chester this past Sunday. Jefferson is 1-5 on the CACC on the year, with its lone conference win coming against Chestnut Hill back on March 19. The Rams mustered just eight hits on the afternoon in the doubleheader with West Chester, falling 4-1 in game one and 7-0 in game two. Winnai Hoyt went 2-for-3 with a triple and a run scored in game one, while Erin Maher went 1-for-4 in game two.
• Madison Heno is hitting .350 with four RBI and six runs scored this season, while Hoyt is batting .327 with a homer, two triples, five RBI, and seven runs scored. Naomi Stas has a team-high nine runs batted in for the Rams, and Breck Urban leads the team in scored with nine. Stephanie Pepper has six RBI a team-high four doubles on the year.
• Stas and Pepper have been the workhorses on the Jefferson pitching staff this season, notching seven starts apiece and combining for five wins on the year. Pepper has a 3.07 ERA and a team-high 58 strikeouts in 45.2 innings of work, while Stas sports a 5.94 ERA and has fanned 18 batters. Anastasia Reale has started four games in the circle for the Rams and has a 4.50 ERA and 15 strikeouts.
LOOKING AHEAD
• Bloomsburg opens conference this Friday, March 29, with a doubleheader at Mansfield University. The Huskies return home this Saturday, March 30, to host Lock Haven. First pitch in game one with Mansfield is set for 2:30 p.m. Friday.
