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The win streak rolls on to 15 for the Husky softball team, as they swept IUP in a double- header on Tuesday, with final scores of 1-0 in 13 innings and 12-1 in five innings.
It was the battle of the top two teams in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Central Division, and game one was a straight clash of the Titans. The ninth ranked Huskies and the twelfth ranked Crimson Hawks traded zeroes on the scoreboard through the first 12 innings.
Bloomsburg's Shavaun Fisher and IUP's Erin Holloway were tough on opposing hitters, strategically working both the inside and outside corners. Fisher once again proved her talent, hard work, and strategic abilities by getting out of numerous nail-biting situations.
As always, Bloomsburg displayed solid defense the whole time. But as the game droned on, the Huskies started to wane a little offensively, losing their usual patience, selectiveness and focus at the plate. You could see a bit of frustration building up in the players, but being the strong team they are, it never got to them.
The biggest threats came when IUP had the bases loaded in the top of the first inning with two outs, but Fisher was able to get out of the jam with a well deserved strike out. In the ninth, IUP had two runners on with one out, but Fisher fanned the next two batters, putting the tie breaking rule into effect. The tie-breaking rule allows a team to start the inning with a runner on second base. In the bottom of the 11th, the Huskies had two runners on with two outs, but failed to score.
In the bottom of the 13th, Shen Debaro started the inning on second due to the tie-breaking rule. Casey Massimini beat out a bunt and advanced to second when the base was left unprotected. Nikki Shiko then hit a ball to the third baseman that was thrown away, allowing Debaro to score the game's only run.
Fisher finished with nine strikeouts and two walks.
The Huskies' momentum carried straight into game two, where they got off to a quick start, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first. After Lacy Mauro worked a two-out walk, Sam Pientack hit a two-run homer to take a 2-0 lead.
In the very next inning, Bloomsburg sent 10 batters to the plate and added five runs to the lead. Shiko, Danielle Lazorka, and Pientack each drove in one run with hits, while Emily Young had a two-run single to put the Huskies ahead 7-0.
On the season, Lazorka is the toughest player in Division II to strikeout, having zero strikeouts in 98 at-bats. She currently leads the Huskies in hitting at .459.
The hitting proceeded on into the third, when Shiko got a two-out triple and Lazorka worked a walk putting runners at the corners. Mauro then singled Shiko in to add to the lead. Back-to-back homers followed with the first coming from Pientack who hit a three-run shot, putting Bloomsburg significantly ahead, which was followed by Jenna Hampton who contributed a solo homer to make it 12-0.
In the top of the fifth IUP scored one run, but Cait Paine shut the Crimson Hawks down and finished the game with three strikeouts. In game two, Pientack went 3-3 with two home runs and five RBI.
Earlier this week, the Huskies also swept Philadelphia University with final scores of 2-0 and 8-7. In the opener Fisher pitched a two-hit shutout, while striking out 11. In game two Mandy Koch went 2-2, driving in three runs to lead Bloomsburg to the win. Mauro went 2-4 with a run scored and two RBI, while Shiko scored three runs and Lazorka two, as the Huskies rallied from a 7-1 deficit to win 8-7.
Mandy Leach was named the PSAC Central Division Player of the Week for her play last week. In three games Leach hit .545 with a homer and four RBI. She drove in the winning run in a 1-0 win over East Stroudsburg in game one, and then hit a go-ahead homer in game two against the Warriors.
Currently, Bloomsburg is 31-3, and 8-0 in the PSAC Central. The Huskies will travel Friday to take on Lock Haven.
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