GAME 1 HTML | GAME 2 HTML

MANSFIELD, PA -- Tara Baney (Howard, Pa./Bellefonte) struck out eight in a four-hit shutout in game two as the Bloomsburg University softball team split a pair of games at Mansfield University Thursday afternoon. The Huskies lost game one 3-2 on a walk-off RBI double from Joelle Snyder in the bottom of the ninth inning, but bounced back to take game two by a final of 3-0. Bloomsburg is now 10-11 overall, and 1-1 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Central this season.

Baney was stellar in the circle in game two, surrendering just four hits and three walks in seven innings of work. The sophomore has now won three consecutive games and dropped her earned run average (ERA) to 4.78 after losing eight of her first nine decisions. Baney has not allowed an earned run in her last 15.2 innings, and has compiled 42 strikeouts on the year.

Baney helped herself at the plate in the top of the sixth inning, jump-starting a rally with a double to lead off the frame. She would score on the very next better when Taylor Winkelman (Springfield, Pa/Springfield) laced a double to right center to give Bloomsburg a 1-0 lead. Winkelman scored two batters later on an RBI double from Erin DelPierre (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin), and DelPierre later scored on an error to cap the three-run inning.

The three runs would be more than enough for Baney, who retired the Mansfield side in order in the sixth, and cruised to a scoreless seventh to complete the shutout victory. Winkelman and DelPierre both went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in game two, while Baney went 2-for-3 at the dish. Snyder continued her strong day for the Mountaineers in game two, going 2-for-3 with a walk.

Game one showcased a tremendous pitchers dual between Abby Wild (Collegeville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley) and Arianna Young, as both hurlers went the distance in the Mountaineers nine-inning win. Young allowed just one earned run and struck out three in the victory, while Wild fanned six, but took the loss after Joelle Snyder roped a walk-off double in the bottom of the ninth to give Mansfield the thrilling 3-2 win.

Bloomsburg drew first blood in game one, tallying a pair of runs on an RBI sacrifice fly from Julia Knight (Kennett Square, Pa./Unionville) that scored Marissa Shelhamer (Bloomsburg, Pa./Central Columbia) and an Emily Getz (Hagerstown, Md./North Hagerstown) RBI double that brought in Kelsey Impink (Schwenksville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley), but the Mountaineers answered with runs in the fifth and sixth frames to force extra innings. Lacey O'Donnell had an RBI double in the bottom of the fifth, and later scored on the Snyder double to win the game. 

Shelhamer went 3-for-3 with a run scored in game one, while Winkelman went 2-for-4. Alli McGovern was 2-for-3 with a run scored for Mansfield.

The Huskies continue PSAC central play this Saturday afternoon when they return home to host Lock Haven. First pitch in game on from Jan M. Hutchinson field is set for 1:00 p.m.