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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Inman's Clutch Performance Helps Mounties to 8-5 Win over Bloomsburg

MANSFIELD – The Mansfield University softball team pounded out 14-hits to pick up a key 8-5 win over rival Bloomsburg University in game two of a PSAC Central twinbill Sunday afternoon at Lutes Field. Kate Pratt broke her own school record set last season by hitting her 11^th home run of the season in the opener, but the Huskies rallied for an 8-5 win.

The Mountaineers move to 17-11 overall and are third in the central division with a 4-4 conference mark. Bloomsburg is now 20-10 overall and is second in the Central at 6-2.

In the nightcap, the Mountaineers opened the scoring in the bottom of the second when Chara Dixon plated Megan Miller on an RBI single down the left field line. Miller reached on a one-out single to first base then advanced to second on a wild pitch.

In the top of the third inning, the Huskies tied the game at 1-1 when Erika Yanora's RBI single up the middle brought in Kayla McHale from second.
Mansfield answered the Bloomsburg run in the bottom of the inning when Courtney Bauder laced a lead-off double to right-centerfield before Pratt went to first on a hit by pitch. Danielle Long singled to load the bases before Miller brought in Bauder and Pratt with a one-out single down the right field line to put the Mounties up 3-1.

Ashley Inman, the Mansfield relief pitcher, retired the side in order in the top of the fourth to set up a three-run inning for the Mounties in the bottom of the inning. Taylor Stupski drew a lead-off walk followed by a Dixon bunt single to put runners at first and second. Stephanie Simmeth scored Stupski with an RBI single before Bauder brought in Dixon with a stand-up double down the left field line. Simmeth scored on a Pratt RBI single to centerfield to put the Mounties on top 6-1.

Inman was dealing on the mound for Mansfield as the freshman allowed just one hit through her first 3.1 innings of work.

Kaitlyn Harris scored an unearned run in the fifth on a fielding error before plating Long on an RBI single in the sixth to give the Mountaineers an 8-1 advantage.

Bloomsburg opened the seventh inning with a lead-off single to left field, but followed with two straight outs. The Huskies used back-to-back singles to score one run then drew a walk to juice the bases. Yanora's timely bases-clearing double to right centerfield scored three runs to make it an 8-5 game.

Emily Crandell came on to strike the final batter out swinging to earn her second save of the year and give Mansfield the key victory.

Inman earned the win in her first pitching decision of the season. The rookie allowed five hits and struck out one batter on 4.0 innings, her longest outing of the season.

Mandi Black took the loss for Bloomsburg.

Pratt was a perfect 3-for-3 in the game with an RBI and run scored. Miller went 3-for-4 with a pair of RBIs and a run.

The Huskies' Kayla McHale went 3-for-4 in the game with two runs and an RBI.

In the opener, Mansfield took an early lead in the bottom of the first when Simmeth, who reached on a lead-off double, scored on Pratt's sacrifice fly to right field.

The Mountaineers scored four more runs, all unearned, in the second inning to take a 5-0 lead over Bloomsburg. Stupski drew a lead-off walk then advanced to third on a sac bunt and groundout. With two outs, Simmeth's fly ball to left field was bobbled by the Huskie defender and allowed Stupski to score a run. Bauder singled to right field before Pratt blasted a three-run homer over the left field fence.

Pratt's round-tripper broke her own school record of home runs in a season set last year with 10. The junior's homer gives her 11 on the season, which is tied for first in the PSAC with Bloomsburg's Chrissy Belko and Kutztown's Colleen Smith.

The Huskies added a run in the third inning and a pair of runs in both the fourth and sixth innings to tie the game at five runs each.

Mansfield put a runner in scoring position in the bottom of the seventh, but couldn't bring Dixon home as the game went into extra innings.
After a scoreless eighth, Bloomsburg got two runners aboard with a pair of singles before Belko put the Huskies on top with a three-run shot to centerfield.

Dixon roped a two-out double to left center but the Mounties were unable to rally back from the three-run deficit.

Bloomsburg's Caite Paine earned her 10^th win of the season after pitching 7.1 innings in relief.

Caitlin Klobosits took the loss for Mansfield.

Long and Dixon each went 2-for-4 at the plate for the Mountaineers.

Mansfield is back in action on Tuesday, April 14 when the Mounties host Gannon at Lutes Field for Beat Cancer with a Bat day. First pitch is set for 2:30 p.m.