BLOOMSBURG, Pa. - The Bloomsburg softball team suffered a setback Friday afternoon with a pair of road defeats against No. 12 East Stroudsburg. 

The Huskies' (28-16, 18-12 PSAC East) well-established hitting form entering the series was bested by the pitching of the Warriors (40-9-1, 24-5-1 PSAC East). A Bloomsburg lineup averaging almost nine runs per contest in its last 10 entering the weekend was held scoreless with just nine combined hits between the two games in 5-0 and 3-0 results.

How It Happened:

Game One:
One inning decided the eventual outcome of the first game of Friday afternoon, with a five-run second inning all East Stroudsburg needed to secure the win. The Warriors loaded the bases with three walks while staring at two outs on the scoreboard. A chopped grounder at third base led to a close play at first, forcing a throw wide of first base and allowing two runs to score. The Huskies would not catch a break, as another single and a double added to the two-out rally for the home side and a five-run advantage. 

Bloomsburg found base runners with leadoff singles in the fourth and fifth innings but could not capitalize on the early offense into run-scoring opportunities. The lone inning with multiple runners aboard came in the top of the sixth, as Sarah Yamrick (Fort Myers, Fla./Bishop Verot) and Mia Nemeth (Drums, Pa/Marian Catholic) had back-to-back singles with one out. Both players eventually found their way into scoring position, as the Huskies came up empty with their best opportunity of game one.

Josie Straigis (Greensburg, Pa./Greater Latrobe) pieced together an admirable relief appearance for Bloomsburg, tossing four scoreless innings while surrendering four hits and recording three strikeouts. The pitching appearance was the sophomore's third stint on the bump this season.  

Game Two:
The Huskies' aggressive approach at the plate in game two did not provide the desired chances to shift any momentum in their favor. 

No. 12 East Stroudsburg struck early again, this time finding the necessary runs to sustain an advantage in the bottom of the first. The Warriors put speed on the base paths, creating chaos before a two-run single for a 2-0 lead. Despite several threatening predicaments to grow the gap, Sarah Yamrick (Fort Myers, Fla./Bishop Verot) on the mound fended off those attempts, with the final run of the afternoon coming on an RBI groundout in the bottom of the fifth. 

Yamrick's day finished in the bottom of the sixth, having tallied seven strikeouts to her ledger. Kelly Eberly (Purcellville, Va/Homeschooled) recorded the final two outs for the Huskies' arms with two quick outs. Bloomsburg had its chance to tie the game in the top of the seventh after Taylor Kranzley (Northampton, Pa./Northampton) and Allie Wenrich (Dauphin, Pa./Central Dauphin) reached base safely off a walk and single, respectively. The Huskies' two-out efforts would come up short once more in the final frame. 

Numbers of Note: 
0 - The two decisions on Friday came against a run of consistency from the Huskies. The Bloomsburg softball team had not been held scoreless in consecutive contests or both games of a doubleheader against an opponent all season. 

4.0 - Despite the setback in game two, the opportunity was a bright spot for Starigis. The second-year utility player had arguably the best outing of her young career, with Friday being the sophomore's first career scoreless effort of at least four innings. 

On the Horizon: 
The Bloomsburg softball team finishes the regular season at Jan Hutchinson Field on Sunday, April 27, at 1:00 p.m. for a pivotal doubleheader against West Chester.