MANSFIELD – Alli McGovern went two-for-three and Joelle Snyder drove in the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth as Mansfield came back to claim their first PSAC Central victory of the season 3-2 over Bloomsburg in game one of the home opener on Thursday.
Mansfield dropped game two 3-0 to split the day.
GAME 1:
The scoring started early for the Huskies when Julia Knight brought home the game's first run in the top of the fourth inning on a sacrifice fly to left. Knight was followed by Emily Getz, who sent a sharp single to centerfield scoring Kelsey Impink to stretch the Bloomsburg lead to 2-0.
Starting pitcher Arianna Young would settle in, not allowing another run over her next five innings of work. Young would go the distance, going nine innings allowing two runs, one earned, while striking out three and walking one.
Mansfield would get the bats going in the fifth, with Lacey O'Donnell ripping a double to left center field that would score pinch-runner Abbey Woodard to cut the Huskie lead to 2-1.
A string of smart base running in the 6th inning would allow Mansfield to tie the game, as Alli McGovern raced home on a fielder's choice gone wrong for Bloomsburg to tie the game at two.
The score would stay the same until the ninth inning, as both Young and Abby Wild would battle to have the last laugh in the circle. Wild wenteight and two-thirds innings, allowing three runs on six hits while striking out six and walking four.
Fortunately for the Mounties, Joelle Snyder made sure that last laugh would go to Mansfield as she ripped a two-out double down the left field line, scoring O'Donnell and securing a 3-2 come from behind victory for the Mounties.
GAME 2:
Bloomsburg responded in the nightcap despite a masterful effort from a trio of Mountaineer pitchers, combining to allow only three runs, two earned, while striking out two and not walking a batter in a 3-0 loss to the Huskies.
Tara Baney and Alexis Easling would go inning for inning, neither one willing to bend through the first five frames. Baney would end up going the distance in a stellar performance, allowing just four hits while striking out a season-high eight Mounties.
The scoring would start for Bloomsburg (10-11, 1-1 PSAC Central) when Taylor Winkelman ripped a double to the right-center field gap, scoring Baney. Winkelman wouldn't stay on second for long, as she would be driven in by Erin DelPierre to stretch the lead to 2-0 in the top half of the sixth inning. The Huskies would tack on one more run when DelPierre would come around to score on a Mansfield (7-7, 1-1 PSAC Central) throwing error.
The Mountaineers put up a fight in the bottom of the seventh, getting Alex Hein into scoring position with only one out, but Mansfield was unable to complete the comeback as Bloomsburg earned the split by a score of 3-0.
Mansfield returns to action on Tuesday, April 2 at IUP with first pitch of the doubleheader set for 2 p.m.
