GAME 1 HTML BOX SCORE | GAME 2 HTML BOX SCORE

BLOOMSBURG, Pa. - The Bloomsburg University baseball team erupted for ten runs in game one but was held in check in game two and had to settle for a doubleheader split against visiting Kutztown University on Saturday afternoon at Danny Litwhiler Field. The Huskies took game one by a 10-3 final before dropping a 2-1 decision in game two as they took three-of-four games against the Golden Bears over the weekend. Bloomsburg moved to 14-7 overall and 4-4 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division while Kutztown moved to 3-15 overall and 2-6 in divisional play.

In the opener, Kutztown scored all three of its runs in the first two innings against junior righthander JJ Spehrley (Pottsville, Pa./Pottsville Area) as it jumped in front, 3-0. In the first inning, Spehrley struck out the side but allowed three walks and then plunked Mike Villa with the bases loaded as the Golden Bears took a 1-0 lead without the benefit of a hit. After the Huskies left a runner stranded at third in the bottom of the first, the Golden Bears went back to work in the top of the second. Kutztown loaded the bases with nobody out before Spehrley allowed an RBI fielder's choice to Tanner Miller and then a run-scoring single to Zach Moretski as the visitors extended the advantage to 3-0. The junior righthander, however, did a great job limiting the damage as he retired the final two batters of the inning to get out of further trouble.

Bloomsburg got on the board in the home half of the second against Kutztown starter Zach Peters. Sophomore Jared Burcin (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) led off the inning with a double and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. After junior Andrew Holmes (Egg Harbor Township, N.J./Egg Harbor Township) drew a walk, senior Ryan Shiffer (Toms River, N.J./Toms River South) plated the Huskies' first run of the game with a double down the left field line to score Burcin. Junior Nate Krizan (Montoursville, Pa./Home School) followed with a sacrifice fly that scored Holmes which trimmed the Kutztown lead to 3-2. But, Peters was able to retire freshman Gianni Sinatore (Whitehall, Pa./Whitehall) and sophomore Jake Reed (Quakertown, Pa./Quakertown) to leave Shiffer stranded at third.

Spehrley settled down the rest of the way, and the Huskies' bats continued to heat up as Bloomsburg took its first lead of the game in the bottom of the third. Swiger opened the frame with a single back up the middle, stole second, and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Two batters later, sophomore Ben Newbert (Bala Cynwyd, Pa./Harriton) tied the contest at 3-3 with a run-scoring single down the left field line. After Peters retired Burcin for the second out of the inning, Holmes belted his third home run of the week (and of the season) - a two-run shot to right - to give the Huskies a 5-3 advantage.

Neither team was able to score again until the bottom of the sixth when the Huskies exploded for five runs to break the game wide open. Holmes singled to start the inning but was erased on a fielder's choice off the bat of senior Colton Hooker (Warrington, Pa./Upper Moreland), who advanced to second on an errant throw as the Golden Bears tried to turn a double play. Krizan doubled to score Hooker, and then Sinatore singled to drive home Krizan and to push the advantage to 7-3. Sinatore stole second and scored on a double from Reed to balloon the lead to 8-3. Swiger put an exclamation point on the inning with a mammoth home run to left center for the final two runs of the frame. With the round-tripper, Swiger moved into a tie for the team lead in home runs with five.

Senior Zach Newmyer (New Cumberland, Pa./Red Land), who came on in the sixth, pitched around a pair of hits in the seventh to preserve the victory.

Spehrley struggled with his command for much of the game but was sensational making big pitches when he needed. He went five innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits while walking six and striking out four to improve to 2-1 on the season. Newmyer, who came on with a two-run lead to start the sixth, earned his team-leading third save of the season. The right-hander allowed two hits and a walk in his two innings and recorded all six of his outs via strikeout. In 13.1 innings of work this season, Newmyer has now struck out 24 batters.

Peters dropped to 0-2 for Kutztown after allowing five runs on five hits in four innings. Jeff Charles allowed five runs on six hits in two innings of relief for the Golden Bears. Bloomsburg had 11 hits in the opener with all nine starters recording at least one. Swiger went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI while Holmes was 2-for-2 with two runs scored and two RBI. Moretski went 3-for-3 for Kutztown in the loss.

Game two featured a pitcher's duel between Bloomsburg junior Chad Cooperman (Allentown, Pa./Salisbury) and Kutztown junior Gavilan Fogarty-Harnish. The Golden Bears struck first with an unearned run in the top of the first inning to take a 1-0 advantage before the Huskies knotted the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the third.

Krizan led off with a double to left field and then advanced to third on a bunt single by Sinatore. However, Sinatore was picked off at first by Fogarty-Harnish which proved to be a huge out for the Golden Bears as Swiger and sophomore Kyle OFier (Pittston Township, Pa./Pittston Area) followed with back-to-back singles. Swiger's hit plated Krizan to tie the score at 1-1 and then advanced to third on OFier's hit. OFier stole second, but Fogarty-Harnish was able to get out of the inning on a strikeout of Newbert.

Kutztown got the run right back in the top of the fourth on back-to-back doubles by Andy Blum and Connor Teschko to start the inning.

The Huskies could not get to Fogarty-Harnish again despite plenty of opportunities. In the bottom of the fourth, Burcin doubled to lead off the inning but was left stranded at third. Then, in the seventh, Holmes drew a leadoff walk but his pinch-runner, sophomore Christian Ciotti (Harrisburg, Pa./Susquehanna Township), was erased on a fielder's choice as Shiffer tried to bunt him over. Freshman Anthony Viggiano (Wallingford, Pa./Strath Haven) came on to pinch run for Shiffer and Krizan followed with a single to put runners at first and second with one out. Both runners advanced 90 feet on a wild pitch with Sinatore at the plate, and then, three pitches later, Viggiano broke on the first contact on a chopper to third but was thrown out trying to score for the second out of the inning. Sinatore stole second to, again, put runners at second and third but Fogarty-Harnish finished off his complete-game effort by striking out Reed on a 3-2 pitch to end the contest.

Cooperman dropped to 2-2 on the season despite a solid effort on the mound. He went six innings and allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits, walked three, and struck out seven. Senior Trey Hinkle (Macungie, Pa./Emmaus) pitched the seventh and allowed a walk with a pair of strikeouts. Fogarty-Harnish improved to 1-1 on the year after allowing a run on seven hits. He walked two and struck out seven.

Krizan was the only player on either side with multiple hits as he finished 2-for-3 at the dish.

The Huskies return to action next Friday and Saturday, April 5 and 6, when they take on Shippensburg University in a four-game weekend series. The teams will be at Shippensburg on Friday before heading to Bloomsburg on Saturday. Both twinbills start at 1:00 p.m.

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