GAME 1 HTML BOX SCORE | GAME 2 HTML BOX SCORE

KUTZTOWN, Pa. - The Bloomsburg University baseball team started its four-game weekend series against Kutztown University off on the right foot with a pair of impressive victories on Friday afternoon at Kutztown's North Campus Field. The Huskies took game one by a 7-2 final and then completed the doubleheader sweep with an 8-2 victory in game two to improve to 13-6 overall and 3-3 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division. The Golden Bears dropped to 2-14 overall and 1-5 in divisional play.

Junior Nate Krizan (Montoursville, Pa./Home School) and sophomore Jake Reed (Quakertown, Pa./Quakertown) paced the offense for much of the afternoon while senior Ashton Raines (Wallingford, Pa./Strath Haven) and sophomore Nick Stoner (Elizabethtown, Pa./Elizabethtown) each posted quality starts as the Huskies extended their winning streak to three straight. Bloomsburg also welcomed sophomore Ben Newbert (Bala Cynwyd, Pa./Harriton) back to the lineup on Friday and the slugger went 3-for-6 with a double, two runs scored, and an RBI on the day.

Raines ran into trouble in the bottom of the first inning of game one but did an excellent job of limiting the damage as he allowed only one run despite giving up a pair of hits and two walks in the opening frame. Kutztown's only run of the inning came on an RBI groundout from Andy Blum.

The senior righthander settled down after the first as he allowed only one hit over the next three innings. Meanwhile, the Huskies' offense was stymied by Kutztown starter Doug Conrad over the first three innings before Bloomsburg scored four times in the fourth and three more in the fifth to take a 7-1 advantage.

In the fourth, sophomore Kyle OFier (Pittston Township, Pa./Pittston Area) led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a throwing error. Newbert then picked up his first hit of the season to put runners at the corners with nobody out. Two batters later, freshman Tyler Wiik (Fogelsville, Pa./Northwestern Lehigh) was able to beat out a double play attempt which allowed OFier to trot home for Bloomsburg's first run of the game. Senior Ryan Shiffer (Toms River, N.J./Toms River South) reached on a bunt single and then stole second base with two outs to put runners at second and third. Krizan then deposited a 2-1 offering from Conrad over the center field fence for a three-run home run to give the Huskies a 4-1 advantage. It was Krizan's first round-tripper of the season after belting four a year ago.

Bloomsburg added three more in the top of the fifth to break the game open. After Reed led off with a single, Conrad looked like he would get out of the inning unscathed as he retired junior Cole Swiger (Maple Glen, Pa./Upper Dublin) and OFier for two quick outs. But, Newbert doubled down the left field line on a 2-2 pitch to score Reed from first and to extend the Huskies' lead to 5-1. Junior Andrew Holmes (Egg Harbor Township, N.J./Egg Harbor Township) followed with a two-run home run to right field which ballooned the advantage to 7-1. It was Holmes' second home run of the season after hitting a grand slam on Tuesday during Bloomsburg's 16-4 win over St. Thomas Aquinas.

Kutztown got a run back off of Raines in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI single from Zach Moretski which trimmed the Huskies' lead to 7-2. Raines was one out away from tossing a complete game but allowed a two-out double by Moretski and then a walk to Nick Lafferty which prompted a call to the bullpen in the bottom of the seventh. Junior Ed Herbener (Drums, Pa./MMI Preparatory School) came on in relief and retired Blum on a groundout to short to end the game.

Raines threw 106 pitches and allowed two runs on eight hits in six and two-thirds innings. He walked three and struck out four and recorded 11 ground-ball outs in his outing. He improved to 3-1 on the season. Conrad dropped to 1-3 for Kutztown as he allowed seven runs on nine hits in five innings while walking two and striking out four.

Krizan went 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBI in the opener. Reed and Newbert also added a pair of hits as the Huskies had nine hits in game one.

Stoner got the ball in game two and received plenty of offensive support in the top of the second as the Huskies touched up Kutztown starter Aaron Cleveland for six runs for a 6-0 advantage.

After back-to-back singles from Newbert and sophomore Jared Burcin (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty), a sacrifice bunt by Holmes, and a walk to Shiffer, Krizan started the scoring with a bases-loaded walk to drive home the first run of the inning. Freshman Gianni Sinatore (Whitehall, Pa./Whitehall) singled back up the middle to plate Burcin and Reed followed with a single to score Shiffer for a 3-0 lead. Swiger made in 4-0 with a run-scoring fielder's choice and OFier brought home a pair with a two-run double for a 6-0 Bloomsburg advantage.

Kutztown scored a run in the bottom of the second without the benefit of a hit to trim the Huskies' lead to 6-1. Bloomsburg scored two more in the top of the third on a two-out, two-run single by Reed for an 8-1 advantage.

Stoner carried a no-hitter into the fourth until Mike Villa singled with one out to drive home Lafferty, who walked, to cut the lead to 8-2. The Golden Bears continued to threaten but Stoner struck out Jeff Zebrowski with the bases loaded to prevent further damage.

The Huskies' offense went stagnant against reliever Garrett Alread as Reed's two-run single in the third proved to be the last Bloomsburg hit of the contest. But, the Huskies' pitching kept Kutztown off the scoreboard the rest of the way. Stoner pitched around a hit in the fifth before giving way to redshirt junior James Reardon IV (Springfield, Pa./Springfield) in the bottom of the sixth. Reardon IV pitched around a pair of hits and a wild pitch in the sixth and then retired the side in order in the seventh to complete the sweep.

Stoner went five innings to improve to 3-1 on the season. He allowed two runs on three hits with three walks and five strikeouts while throwing 87 pitches. Cleveland dropped to 1-3 for Kutztown as he allowed eight runs on eight hits in three innings. He walked three and struck out four. Alread walked two and struck out four in four hitless innings of relief.

Reed paced the offense by going 3-for-4 with three RBI in game two. OFier drove in a pair and was one of five Huskies with one hit in the nightcap.

The teams are scheduled to conclude the weekend series on Saturday, March 30, with a doubleheader at Danny Litwhiler Field. First pitch of game one is scheduled to be thrown at 1:00 p.m.

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