Softball | 3/27/2019 2:07:00 PM

 
 THE STORY
• The Bloomsburg University softball team opens up Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Central play this Thursday at Mansfield University. The Huskies are 9-10 overall and riding a five-game win streak after an impressive doubleheader sweep over Jefferson on Tuesday. The Mountaineers are 6-6 overall on the season, but have lost four straight.

SCHEDULE CHANGE
• Due to inclement weather in the forecast, the Huskies doubleheader with Mansfield has been moved up to this Thursday, March 28, with game one slated for a 2:00 p.m. start. The teams were originally slated to square off from Helen Lutes Field this Friday, but potential rainy conditions forced the schedule adjustment.

THE HISTORY: BLOOMSBURG vs. MANSFIELD
• The Huskies hold a 106-14 all-time advantage over Mansfield, but split four games with the Mountaineers in 2018. Bloomsburg was swept in a doubleheader at Hutchinson Field in early April, but bounced back with a two-game sweep on the road later that month. Emily Getz (Hagerstown, Md./North Hagerstown) and Tara Baney (Howard, Pa./Bellefonte) both had home runs in the wins for Bloomsburg.

THE HUSKIES AT A GLANCE
• The Huskies enter Thursday's contests with Mansfield riding a five-game win streak, including a home doubleheader sweep over Jefferson Tuesday afternoon. Sophomore Abby Wild (Collegeville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley) allowed just two hits and struck out seven in a 6-0 shutout in game one, while Baney surrendered just one hit in five innings as Bloomsburg rolled to a 10-0 game two victory. Freshman Erin DelPierre (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) continued her torrid start to the season at the plate, notching four hits and three RBI on the afternoon. Marissa Shelhamer (Bloomsburg, Pa./Central Columbia) was 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored in game two, while Taylor Winkelman (Springfield, Pa/Springfield) was 2-for-3 with two runs scored.

• Wild has been sensational in the circle this season, sporting a sterling 0.88 earned run average (ERA) in 61.1 innings of work, which is good for second in the PSAC. The sophomore is 7-4 on the season, and has a team-high 61 strikeouts. Wild has not allowed an earned run, and has surrendered just six hits in her last three starts. Opponents are hitting a paltry .179 off Wild this year, which is good for third in the conference. Baney has ben excellent as of late for the Huskies are a slow start to the year, posting a 5.52 ERA and notching 34 strikeouts in 45.2 innings.

• The Huskies offense has been powered by a trio of freshmen in DelPierre, Danielle Barnes (Coopersburg, Pa./Southern Lehigh), and Sammi Starr (Berwick, Pa./21st Century Cyber Charter). DelPierre leads the team in batting average (.476), runs batted in (13), walks (6), and stolen bases (3), while Starr has a team-high three homers and eight RBI. Barnes is hitting .246 with nine RBI, a long ball, two doubles, and a team-high 15 runs scored. Shelhamer is second on the team in RBI (10) and runs scored (9), and Winkelman is batting .294 with six RBI and eight runs scored.

SCOUTING THE MOUNTAINEERS
• Mansfield enters Thursday's games at 6-6 on the season, but the Mountaineers are hoping to snap a four-game losing streak that includes a pair of doubleheader losses to Millersville and Goldey-Beacom last week. Cassidy Smith went 2-for-3 with a double in an 11-3 game one loss to the Marauders, while Joelle Snyder notched three hits and a run scored in an 8-6 loss in game two. Mansfield was scheduled to travel to Bowie State for a doubleheader this past Sunday, but poor field conditions forced those games to be postponed.

• Snyder and Alli McGovern have sparked the Mansfield offense this season, combining for 16 runs batted in and 22 runs scored. McGovern leads the team with a .514 batting average and .581 on-base percentage, while Snyder is batting .500 with a team-high 10 RBI and 12 runs scored. Deshae Jones is batting .361 with five RBI and six runs scored, while Smith is hitting .325 with 10 RBI.

• Arianna Young and Alexis Easling have each started five games in the circle for the Mounties this season, with Easling tallying a team-high 30 strikeouts. Young has a 3.00 ERA in 25.2 innings of work, while Easling sports a 4-2 overall record and a 3.47 ERA.

LOOKING AHEAD
• The Huskies return home this Saturday, March 30, to host Lock Haven in PSAC Central action. Bloomsburg will remain home on April 3 for a doubleheader with Bloomfield College before returning to conference play on April 5 at Pitt-Johnstown. First pitch in game one with the Bald Eagles is set for 1:00 p.m. Saturday.