MORGANTOWN, Pa. – The Bloomsburg baseball team picked up a 4-1 victory over California (Pa.) in the opening game of the Atlantic Region Crossover at Kendrick Family Ballpark on Friday afternoon.
Bloomsburg (3-0) posted nine hits on the day including three from
Matt Freda (Lafayette, N.J./High Point Regional). The junior went a perfect 3-for-3 from the plate while recording an RBI and drawing one walk.
Casey O'Brien (Moosic, Pa./Riverside) and
Dylan Hirsh (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury) each went 2-for-4 on the day with O'Brien tallying an RBI.
The game proved to be a defense showcase, with the contest remaining scoreless through six innings. The fourth frame test the Huskies defensively as California (3-1) lead off the inning with a deep drive to left field that bounced off the top of the fence and landed on the warning track. The Vulcan's Brandon McClainBanks looked to turn the play into an inside-the-park home run but was thrown out at home. Connor Evans then reached on a single before Kyle Rizzo lined a shot back to
Brandon Wozniak (Nanticoke, Pa./Nanticoke Area) on the mound who immediately turned the double play to end the inning.
A four-pitch walk put
Mike Miller (Lafayette Hill, Pa./Plymouth Whitemarsh) on base to start the top of the seventh for the Huskies. A pair of groundouts left the maroon and gold with just one out left in the frame with Miller on second. O'Brien broke the deadlock on an RBI-single through the left side.
Jace Jarmon (Millsboro, Del./Sussex Central) reached base as the Vulcan's first baseman didn't have his foot on the bag for the out. O'Brien took advantage of the confusion in the infield, advancing to third base on the play. Freda laid a bunt past the pitcher and brought the Huskies' third baseman home to make it 2-0.
Nathan Kress (Lansdale, Pa./La Salle College H.S.) doubled the Bloomsburg lead, bringing in a pair of runs on a dropped flyball to centerfield.
The Vulcans managed to score just one run in the contest, ending the shutout bid with an RBI-single.
Wozniak got the start for the Huskies, going five-plus scoreless innings while striking out two.
Bryce Danish (Mount Union, Pa./Mount Union Area) earned the win for the maroon and gold allowing just two hits and one run in four innings. The redshirt-freshman struck out five batters. The pitching duo did not allow a single walk on the day.
Bloomsburg is right back in action on Saturday, February 28 as they face off against Frostburg State at 3 p.m.
