GAME 1 HTML BOX SCORE | GAME 2 HTML BOX SCORE

BLOOMSBURG, Pa. - The Bloomsburg University baseball team won its third consecutive weekend series by earning a split against visiting East Stroudsburg University on a beautiful Saturday afternoon at Danny Litwhiler Field. The Warriors hung on for a 9-8 victory in game one before the Huskies rebounded for a 6-3 win in game two to win the crucial series three games to one. Bloomsburg moved to 21-9 overall and 10-6 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division while East Stroudsburg moved its record to 24-12 overall and an identical 10-6 mark in the PSAC East. The two teams are now part of a three-way tie for second place in the division.

The Huskies got another solid outing on the mound from junior Chad Cooperman (Allentown, Pa./Salisbury) in game two and took advantage of some erratic pitching by the Warriors in the late innings to salvage the split.

Cooperman was locked in a pitcher's duel with East Stroudsburg's Nate Fiala in the nightcap with neither team able to dent the scoreboard until the top of the fourth when the Warriors scored a pair of runs to take a 2-0 advantage. The Huskies answered with a run in the bottom of the fourth to cut the deficit in half as sophomore Jared Burcin (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) reached on a fielders choice, advanced to third on a pair of wild pitches, and then scored on a sacrifice fly from junior Cole Swiger (Maple Glen, Pa./Upper Dublin).

East Stroudsburg got the run back in the top of the fifth on a run-scoring single from Anthony Torreullas before the Huskies responded with four runs in the home half of the inning to take their first lead of the contest. Senior Ryan Shiffer (Toms River, N.J./Toms River South) drew a four-pitch leadoff walk and then advanced to second when junior Nate Krizan (Montoursville, Pa./Home School) was hit by a pitch. Redshirt freshman Carter Chasanov (Magnolia, Del./Polytech) dropped a perfect sacrifice bunt to put runners at second and third with one out, and sophomore Jake Reed (Quakertown, Pa./Quakertown) followed with a single through the right side to plate junior Gianni Sinatore (Whitehall, Pa./Whitehall) who pinch-ran for Shiffer. Sophomore Kyle OFier (Pittston Township, Pa./Pittston Area) then laced a single to right center which drove home Krizan to tie the game at 3-3. The hit also signaled the end of the day for Fiala who was lifted for Justin Guidos. The Warriors' reliever struggled with his command as he uncorked a wild pitch which allowed Reed to score the go-ahead run and then, moments later, threw another errant toss that OFier scored on for the fourth run of the inning.

Cooperman put two runners on in the sixth inning which ended his afternoon as senior Trey Hinkle (Macungie, Pa./Emmaus) was summoned from the bullpen with one out and runners at first and third. Hinkle, as he has done all season, got out of the jam with a strikeout and a flyout to keep the Huskies in front by a pair of runs. Bloomsburg added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth on four walks with OFier drawing the final one to bring home junior Andrew Holmes (Egg Harbor Township, N.J./Egg Harbor Township).

Hinkle pitched around a leadoff walk in the top of the seventh to nail down his second save of the season. The right-hander has yet to allow an earned run in 12.2 innings of work this season (nine appearances).

Cooperman improved to 4-2 on the season after allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits in five and one-third innings. He walked one and struck out three. Fiala suffered his first setback of the year for East Stroudsburg as he was charged with five runs on five hits in four and one-third innings. He walked two and struck out five.

Bloomsburg had five hits in game two - two from Reed and one each from OFier, Shiffer, and Newbert.

The Huskies trailed the opener, 9-2, heading to the bottom of the sixth before nearly pulling off some late-inning magic. Bloomsburg scored twice in the sixth to cut the deficit to 9-4 and then scored four in the seventh and had runners at first and second before the Warriors recorded the final out to eke out game one.

In the sixth, Holmes led off with a double and advanced to third on a wild pitch before Sinatore reached on an infield single to put runners at the corners with nobody out. Freshman Tyler Wiik (Fogelsville, Pa./Northwestern Lehigh) plated Holmes with a run-scoring groundout to cut the deficit to 9-3. Krizan, who went 4-for-4 in the opener, brought home Sinatore with a double to pull the Huskies another run closer. But, East Stroudsburg reliever CJ Gonzales got out of the inning with a pair of strikeouts to prevent further scoring.

The home half of the seventh started harmlessly as Warriors' reliever Mike Yates retired OFier on a groundout to begin the frame. But, Newbert and Swiger were both hit by a pitch and the Huskies, all of a sudden, were in business. Holmes followed with a single to load the bases and, two batters later, Burcin ripped a pinch-hit three-run triple down the right field line to cut the deficit to 9-7. Chase Nowak came on to pitch for the Warriors and promptly gave up a run-scoring single to Krizan as Bloomsburg pulled to within a run. Then, after Chasanov was hit by a pitch, Nowak retired Reed to end the contest.

East Stroudsburg took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second with a pair of runs against junior starter JJ Spehrley (Pottsville, Pa./Pottsville Area). The Huskies bounced back with a run in the home half of the second against East Stroudsburg starter Joe Baran as Krizan ripped a two-out single to drive home Shiffer. Bloomsburg tied the game in the bottom of the third on a squeeze bunt from Swiger with Reed crossing the plate after leading off the inning with a single.

Zarley Cina led off the top of the fourth with a solo home run off of Spehrley and then scored six times in the top of the fifth to take a 9-2 advantage before the Huskies started their rally attempt.

Spehrley was saddled with the loss to fall to 3-2 on the season as he allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits in three and one-third innings. He walked two and struck out two. Senior Zach Newmyer (New Cumberland, Pa./Red Land), who has been brilliant all season, was touched up for six runs (four earned) in an inning and one-third. He walked one and struck out one. Junior Ed Herbener (Drums, Pa./MMI Preparatory School) pitched a scoreless inning and one-third with a strikeout, and freshman Jared Marshman (Berwick, Pa./Berwick) pitched around a leadoff error to toss a scoreless seventh.

Baran earned the win for East Stroudsburg to improve to 1-1 on the season.

The Huskies totaled 13 hits in the opener with Krizan posting a career-high four while driving in three. Holmes and Shiffer each had a pair of knocks while Reed, Swiger, Sinatore, Wiik, and Burcin recording a single hit apiece.

Bloomsburg will head to Slippery Rock on Tuesday, April 16, for a non-conference doubleheader against The Rock with first pitch being thrown at 1:00 p.m. The Huskies will then take on Mansfield University in a four-game weekend series beginning Friday, April 19, at Danny Litwhiler Field. The teams will finish the series on Saturday, April 20, in Mansfield.