CHARLESTON, W.Va. - The Bloomsburg softball team fell in its opening contest of the Charleston Regional to the hosting Golden Eagles, 3-0, Thursday afternoon. 

The Huskies could not muster many opportunities in a game packed with strong pitching performances.

The Bloomsburg softball team moves to 33-23 on the season and plays the loser of game two between West Chester and Gannon. Charleston improves to 46-4 and plays the winner of the day's second contest.

How It Happened:
The opening three innings of Thursday were tightly contested, with neither side able to break through during the first part of the game. 

The Huskies looked to strike first in the top of the first after Bella Culp (Harrisburg, Pa/Central Dauphin) led off the game with a walk. The Bloomsburg shortstop advanced to second off a wild pitch with one out, but the Huskies could not capitalize as they went scoreless.

The Golden Eagles had their first opportunity of the game to get on the board after the first two batters reached via an inning-starting double and a walk. With two runners in scoring position and no outs, starter Callie Sowers (Irwin, Pa/Hempfield Area) escaped a bases-loaded jam with a slick grab at third base from Kayleigh Lenner (Sunbury, Pa./Shikellamy), a strikeout and a weak pop-up foul to Sarah Yamrick (Fort Myers, Fla./Bishop Verot). 

Charleston grabbed the momentum in the bottom of the fourth. The Golden Eagles' right fielder Bianca Polistina opened their inning with a double before being bunted over. The runner would score on a wild pitch and give the host team a 1-0 lead. 

Charleston added to its advantage in the bottom of the fifth with a two-run home run to extend the lead to three.

Mia Nemeth (Drums, Pa/Marian Catholic) recorded Bloomsburg's first hit of the afternoon with a one-out single in the top of the sixth. 

On The Horizon:
The Huskies await the loser of the Thursday afternoon game between Gannon and West Chest Chester on Friday, May 10, at 2:30 p.m.

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 PSAC Championships last week, capturing the third title in program history.

Several players from West Chester continue into postseason runs on hot streaks. On the mound, the Golden Rams are led by Danielle Ciliberto, 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 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 are led by 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. Other first-team selections on the squad 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.