HARROGATE, Tenn. - The Bloomsburg softball team began action at Abe's Invitational by splitting its first two games of the weekend, defeating Lewis 3-2 and dropping a 5-1 result to hosts Lincoln Memorial. 

The Huskies (1-3) picked up their first victory of the season by defeating the Flyers (11-8), an NCAA Tournament side from a season ago and a squad with a six-game winning streak and the beneficiaries of a 9-1 stretch in their last 10. Bloomsburg scored the first three runs of the contest and let senior pitcher Callie Sowers (Irwin, Pa/Hempfield Area) handle the rest. Sowers used the lead and pitched out of several jams, racking up nine strikeouts in the process, to guide her side to the win.

In the second game of the day, the Huskies faced another strong arm in the mound from the Railsplitters (14-5), managing just one run in the process. Lincoln Memorial used a three-run sixth inning to solidify the lead and dampen any comeback hopes.

How It Happened:

Game One:
After a slow start to the season on Sunday, Bloomsburg came out strong in their first game of the weekend. The Huskies found three runs through the first three innings to build a solid foundation for success. Emma Little (Pittsburgh, Pa./Penn-Trafford) led off the bottom of the second by doubling into the gap in right-center field to provide a spark for her side. Mia Nemeth (Drums, Pa/Marian Catholic) followed it up with a double of her own into the opposite field gap to put the Huskies up 1-0.

Freshman Allie Wenrich (Dauphin, Pa./Central Dauphin) kept the momentum rolling for Bloomsburg, drawing a walk to put two runners on with no outs. Following a fielder's choice, Josie Straigis (Greensburg, Pa./Greater Latrobe) continued the double train with a pull-side two-bagger to make it a 2-0 contest and force a pitching change from Lewis.

The Huskies next faced a formidable foe in second-team All-GLVC pitcher Allie Wondrasek from the Flyers. After three consecutive outs to start her day, Bloomsburg pieced together the decisive series of offense to secure the win. Taylor Kranzley (Northampton, Pa./Northampton) showcased tremendous bat control to drop a single into center field, setting up Little for her second double of the game, this time turning provider to make it a three-run advantage. 

Lewis kept things interesting and began to creep back into the game with one-run innings in the fourth and fifth to cut the contest to 3-2. Wondrasek helped her team battle back into position by retiring the next nine Huskies in order. With confidence in their defense and pitching, Bloomsburg kept the Flyers scoreless through the final two frames to come out on top. 

Game Two:
Seeking to carry over positive momentum into their second game of the day, the Huskies faced another difficult opponent on the mound. One of the South Atlantic Conference's (SAC) top arms this season is Lincoln Memorial's Halle Grace Patton; the conference's leader in victories did not make things easy for Bloomsburg. 

The Huskies had a strong scoring opportunity in the first inning, with Bella Culp (Harrisburg, Pa/Central Dauphin) leading off the game with a single and an error from the Railsplitters, putting runners on first and second with no outs. Patton and Lincoln Memorial escaped the jam without a blemish, getting the next three Bloomsburg batters down in order. The Huskies and starting pitcher Kelly Eberly (Purcellville, Va/Homeschooled) escaped a similar compromising position, as the senior registered two consecutive lineouts with runners on second and third to keep the game scoreless after one inning. 

The trend continued for both sides through the second, but Lincoln Memorial broke through in the third. Taking advantage of aggressive base running and speed, the Railsplitters plated two runs in the third, further presenting danger with runners on first and second with one out. Eberly kept the damage in check, striking out the next two batters to keep it a 2-0 game through three innings. 

Despite the relief effort of Straigis on the mound helping Bloomsburg's cause, Patton and the Railsplitters did not allow the Huskies to stack positive plays at the plate. Lincoln Memorial posted a three-run inning in the sixth to set up the Huskies with a five-run deficit entering the seventh.

Bloomsburg went down swinging in its final at-bats, with Nemeth opening the final frame with a solo home run for her and the team's first of the season. In the end, the one swing was all the Huskies could muster with its final three outs. Bloomsburg had its chances on Saturday, with leadoff hitters for the Huskies going 3-for-7 (.429) and the team notching a hit in five of the seven frames in game two, including the first collegiate hit for freshman Emma Holmes (Mount Wolf, Pa./Northeastern Senior). 

Numbers of Note
3 - The opportunities for extra bases flashed on Saturday and was a welcome improvement for the Huskies from their opening series. Bloomsburg finished its first doubleheader of the season with just two extra-base hits against Goldey-Beacom. The Huskies surpassed that number in just three innings against Lewis.

6-17 | 0-9 - A difference in the offense performances in game two came down to how each side fared with runners on base. Lincoln Memorial was 6-for-17 (.353) with runners on, while Bloomsburg finished 0-for-9.

On The Horizon:
The Huskies wrap up their second weekend of play with another two games. Bloomsburg opens the day with a second matchup with Lewis at 10:00 a.m. before facing off with Elizabeth City State at approximately 12:00 p.m.