BLOOMSBURG, Pa - The Bloomsburg University softball team suffered their first conference loss to Shepherd University with a combined score of 25-9 between the two games of their doubleheader. The Rams took the first game in just 5 innings with a score of 13-2. In the second game, the Rams defeated the Huskies 12-7. With the loss the Huskies drop to 14-12 overall and 0-2 PSAC, while the Rams advance to a record of 10-12 overall and 3-1 conference play.
 
The Rams came out swinging as they collected five runs in the first inning. Senior Nicolette Ray (Abington, Pa./Abington) stepped up to the plate and sent the ball high over centerfield for her sixth home run of the season and the first run for the Huskies. Shepherd kept their momentum up as Alex Mantz singled up the middle to send Nicole Purtell home to give the Rams a 6-1 lead.
 
The Huskies were unable to get a hit off Shepherd pitcher, Kourtney McNatt and the game was taken into the third inning. The Rams put up three more runs as Chloee Burton scored off of Purtell's triple to right field. Leann Brown singled down the left field line to push Purtell home for a 8-1 lead. The Rams secured one more run throughout the inning before sending the Huskies to the bottom of the third.
 
Senior Sammi Starr (Berwick, Pa./Berwick Area) grounded out to Shepherd's shortstop to push Alex Wetzler home for their final run of the game. The Rams posted four more runs before closing out the top of the 5th inning to secure the sweep.
 
Nicolette Ray (Abington, Pa./Abington) led the Huskies in the first game with one run, one hit, one RBI and one home run, while Alexis Wetzler (Bellefonte, Pa./Bellefonte Area High School) finished out the first game going 1-for-2.
 
Headed into game two, Shepherd kept their momentum going as they racked up nine runs in the first inning. As the Huskies entered the bottom of the first, Sammi Starr (Berwick, Pa./Berwick Area) stepped up to the plate and smacked a homer over left field for her fourth home run of the season. The Huskies were able to keep the Rams at bay as they were only able to collect one more run off of Purtell's single out to left field to bring the Rams to a nine run lead over Bloomsburg.
 
The Huskies had promise for a comeback as Alex Wetzler singled out to left field with bases loaded to advance Erin DelPierre (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) to home plate. Danielle Barnes (Coopersburg, Pa./Southern Lehigh) was able to find home plate shortly after DelPierre as Starr doubled down the left field line. With bases loaded, Ray grounded out to second base to send the game into the top of the fifth. Only one run away from ending the game, Huskies pitcher Callie Sowers (Irwin, Pa/Hempfield Area) was able to hold off the Rams and push the game to seven innings.
 
With bases loaded, Bloomsburg's hopes were kept alive as Bella Culp (Harrisburg, Pa/Central Dauphin) slammed a double and was able to advance to third on a throwing error off Shepherd's left fielder. Barnes collected her second run of the game and Alex Iseminger (Everett, Pa./Everett Area) found home plate for the first time.
 
Shepherd homered right out of the gate, and took the game to a 12-6 score. Kayleigh Lenner (Sunbury, Pa./Shikellamy) got into the action in the final inning as she collected an RBI off an error that drove Wetzler home for a final game score of 12-7.

Barnes led the Huskies through the second game going, 2-for-4; while Starr finished out the game, going 1-for-4 with three RBI and one home run.

Iseminger and DelPierre both went 1-for-3 and Culp added two RBI for the Huskies.

The Huskies get back into action tomorrow as they host Shippensburg University for the Pediatric Cancer Awareness Game. The doubleheader against the Raiders is slated to begin at 1:00 pm.