Senior pitcher Taylor Parker pitched a complete game against Kutztown on Wednesday, and hit a grand slam in the fourth inning.
 

     The Bloomsburg University softball team wrapped up the 2017 regular season on Saturday, splitting a pair of games with Lock Haven University. The Huskies won game one, 3-2, and then lost game two by a 2-1 margin. Bloomsburg, the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Central Division champions for the second consecutive year, finish with a 28-16 record and a 16-4 record against their central division foes.

GAME ONE RECAP:
     In game one, all of the scoring came in the first inning. Lock Haven got to Bloomsburg starter Taylor Parker early, as senior McKenna Garlock hit an RBI double that scored senior Jodi Weaknecht, who reached base on a fielder’s choice. Senior Michelle Holweger produced the Bald Eagles’ second run when Garlock made it home on an RBI single. Just three outs into the game, the Huskies found themselves in a two-run deficit.

     The Huskies did not wait long to answer the Bald Eagles, as seniors Taylor Parker and Holly Peacock hit singles. Sophomore Alexa Erney was next up, and she delivered, smashing a ball over the left field fence to give Bloomsburg the 3-2 lead. All of this was done with two outs, and Erney had a 1-2 count on her before hitting the long ball. It was her second home run of the season.

     “We all work together as a team,” Erney said after Saturday’s split. “I wanted to help out and did the best I could. I had two strikes on me, so I had to be aggressive and see [the pitch] all the way in.”

     After the first inning, Parker was dominant for the rest of the game. Excluding the first inning, she allowed just two baserunners on a hit and a walk. She struck out seven Bald Eagles, earning her 15th win of the season. Parker finishes the 2017 regular season campaign with a record of 15-6.

GAME TWO RECAP:
     In the second game, Bloomsburg got on the board first. Junior Erin Smith singled, and eventually scored off a double by sophomore Taylor Winkelman.

     However, Bloomsburg was unable to hold the lead long. In the fourth inning, Holweger hit a two-run home run that also scored Garlock. Bloomsburg out-hit Lock Haven 7-3, and threatened in the fifth and sixth innings, but the Huskies were unable to mount a comeback.

     Senior Mallory Tomaschik gave the Huskies another valiant effort in the circle, pitching the complete game and allowing two runs on three hits and seven strikeouts. She ends the 2017 regular season with an 11-8 record.

UPDATE:
     On Wednesday, May 3, the softball team competed in the first round of the PSAC playoffs against Kutztown University, in Quakertown. The Huskies pummeled the Golden Bears, 16-0. Parker went 3-for-4 at the plate, with three runs scored and five RBI. She hit a grand slam in the bottom of the fourth inning, and tossed a complete game with five strikeouts, allowing just three baserunners.

     The Huskies will face Gannon University in the next round of the playoffs on Thursday. First pitch is scheduled for 12:30 p.m.