Softball | 5/8/2024 3:20:00 PM

BLOOMSBURG, Pa. - The Bloomsburg softball team prepares for the Charleston Regional, beginning on Thursday, May 9, with its first game against Charleston (W.Va.).

Bloomsburg enters the NCAA field with a record of 33-22. The remaining members of the four-team group consist of the Golden Eagles of the University of Charleston, the West Chester Golden Rams and the Gannon Golden Knights. 

Fans can purchase tickets in person with cash for $10 for adults and $5 for senior citizens. Children under the set age and students from participating institutions receive free admission. Live streaming information and live stats can be found at ucgoldeneagles.com. Follow along at buhuskies.com and the Bloomsburg Athletics X page (@GoBUHuskies) for the most up-to-date information regarding the Bloomsburg softball program and other teams.

Scouting the Opponents
The West Chester Golden Rams enter the Charleston Regional as the No. 2 seed with a 34-20 record. The Golden Rams are coming off a 4-0 run at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championships last week, capturing the third title in program history.

Several players from West Chester continue into postseason runs on hot streaks. The Golden Rams follow Danielle Ciliberto from the mound, a two-time All-PSAC East selection. Ciliberto went 4-0 in Quakertown to lead West Chester to an undefeated weekend. The sophomore enters with a 21-8 record with a 2.34 earned run average in 188.2 innings pitched. Offensively, Madison Melvin is the active NCAA leader in hits (335) and stolen bases (169), with the outfielder hitting .417 while leading the PSAC and ninth nationally in stolen bases with 43. Mairead Hopkins enters the Regional on a tear, having gone 8-for-15 (.533) with five home runs, nine RBI and seven runs scored. The final of the three first-team All-PSAC East options, Katelyn Rittenbaugh patrols second base for the Golden Rams. 

The hosts of the NCAA Regional and the No. 3 seed, the University of Charleston Golden Eagles, enter with the second-best winning percentage in the nation at .918 and a 45-4 record. Charleston enters the Regional, winning its second consecutive Mountain East Conference Tournament title and second in program history. 

The Golden Eagles lineup begins at the top with two-time MEC Player of the Year Hannah Rose at shortstop. The West Virginia native is among the top 25 nationally in batting average (8th, .477), on-base percentage (11th, .548) and stolen bases (25th, 33). In the heart of the order, Allysa Lake and Isabella Andujar provide the power, combining for 30 home runs and 102 RBI on the season. From the bump, Charleston relies on All-MEC First Team pitchers Brianna McCown and Chloe Elliott. McCown was named the conference pitcher of the year with a 30-3 record across 187.0 innings pitched with a 1.57 ERA, 247 strikeouts, a 0.85 WHIP and a .189 opponent batting average. 

The Golden Eagles are among the top 10 teams in the nation in fielding percentage (1st), WHIP (1st), ERA (7th), batting average (8th) and on-base percentage (9th).

The Gannon Golden Knights (31-13) are making their fourth NCAA regional appearance since 2000. Gannon finished the regular season as the top seed in the PSAC West, finishing 1-2 at the 2024 PSAC Championships.

The Golden Knights possess five All-PSAC West First Team selections, including the division pitcher of the year, Maggie Lenda. Lenda boasts a 2.48 ERA on the season in 115.2 innings pitched. The junior has a 15-3 record in 20 appearances on the season with a 1.34 WHIP and a .234 batting average against. Gannon presents a balanced lineup with seven players batting over .300 with at least three home runs and 26 RBI. The other first-team selections from the Golden Knights include PSAC batting champion Natalia Mallozzi, two-way player Gabi Vasi, one of three freshmen named All-PSAC, Emma Smerick and two-time All-PSAC selection at second Jules Ryan.

Consistent Leadership
In the last 46 seasons of Bloomsburg softball, there have only been two leaders of the Huskies. Susan Kocher first took the helm of Bloomsburg during the 2011 season following a long stint as assistant coach and her tenure as one of the best pitchers in program history. 

The former pitcher has been a part of nearly 1500 wins in over 40 seasons as part of the program. 2024 is the seventh season under Kocher Bloomsburg eclipsed the 30-win threshold. With 33 following the conclusion of PSAC Championships, the Huskies have the most wins in a season since 2016. Kocher has been named a PSAC Coach of the Year twice in her tenure.

Bloomsburg makes its eighth Regional appearance under Kocher beginning Thursday.

Ace in the Hole
Callie Sowers (Irwin, Pa/Hempfield Area) heads the Bloomsburg pitching staff as the leading arm for the Huskies over her first three seasons. Sowers is in the middle of her best campaign with Bloomsburg, leading the team in every major statistical category and planting her flag as one of the top arms in the country.

Sowers this season has a 23-6 record heading into the Regional with a 1.40 earned run average, a .91 WHIP and a .188 batting average against in 190.2 innings pitched. The junior has tossed 26 complete games with six shutouts and 248 strikeouts to 43 walks allowed. Sowers is among the top three in every major pitching statistical category among PSAC pitchers.

Nationally, the Irwin, Pa. native sits among the top 30 pitchers in Division II in several categories, including complete games (T-1st), strikeouts (4th), victories (9th), strikeouts per seven innings (15th), WHIP (21st), hits allowed per seven innings (21st) and ERA (29th).

In the opening round of the PSAC Championships, the junior tossed her first career no-hitter and the 62nd in program history in a 1-0 win over Slippery Rock. Sowers struck out 15 batters in the seven-inning outing to throw the first hitless outing for the Huskies since 2017.

Sowers is a one-time NFCA All-Region selection and a three-time All-PSAC East recipient, receiving first-team honors for her play on the mound in 2022 and 2024. 

Return to the Dance
The Bloomsburg softball team makes its return appearance to the NCAA Championship field after missing the tournament in 2022. Overall, it is the 36th regional appearance in program history for the Huskies.

Of the members from the 2022 squad, 11 make their return appearance to the Dance, all now assuming the leadership roles as upperclassmen. Seven players played in Bloomsburg's two games, with Bella Culp (Harrisburg, Pa/Central Dauphin), Kayleigh Lenner (Sunbury, Pa./Shikellamy), Emma Little (Pittsburgh, Pa./Penn-Trafford) and Sowers getting starting nods. As established members of the Huskies' squad, all 11 returners will look to rewrite history in their second showing on the biggest stage. 

Of its previous 35 appearances, the Bloomsburg softball team has made 12 Super Regionals and 11 trips to the NCAA Championships.

Numbers to Know
36 - The Bloomsburg softball program is making its 36th appearance in the NCAA Championship field.

3 - The West Chester Golden Rams are coming off their third PSAC title after a perfect 4-0 week and an 11-7 victory over No. 1 Atlantic Region seed East Stroudsburg, their second victory against the Warriors of the week.

0.88 and .981 - Charleston has proven to be one of the most difficult teams in the nation to get base runners against. The Golden Eagles lead Division II in WHIP (0.88) and fielding percentage (.981).

4 - Gannon is making just its fourth regional appearance since 2000.