Bloomsburg Splits Doubleheader With Mansfield for Second Straight Day

BLOOMSBURG--Andy Bucher's (Littlestown/Littlestown) two-run triple in the top of the seventh inning plated the tying and go-ahead runs as Bloomsburg University rallied for a 3-2 win over Mansfield University in game one of its Sunday twinbill. The Huskies dropped the nightcap, 5-4, after allowing four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning.

In the opener, the Huskies trailed 2-1 heading into the top of the seventh inning when Syril Kress (Littlestown/Littlestown) singled to open the inning and Rich Letts (Parkesburg/Octorara) was hit by a pitch putting two on with no outs. After Josh Howe (Williamsport/Williamsport) moved the runners over with a bunt, Matt Robinson (York/Red Lion) flied out to shallow left field for the second out of the inning. Andy Bucher then hit a triple scoring both Kress and Letts, then was thrown out at home trying to stretch the play into an inside the park homerun. In the bottom of the seventh, Bloomsburg pitcher Dave Rute (Milton/Milton) had one runner reach base, but picked up the win after not allowing any runs.

In the nightcap, the Huskies trailed 1-0 heading into the third inning when Rob Watlock (Plains/Coughlin) hit a three-run homer after Robinson and Bucher hit by pitches leading off the inning. Bloomsburg made it 4-1 in the fifth when Watlock walked and later scored on a ground out by Syril Kress.

Mansfield, though, rallied and scored four runs on six hits in the bottom of the seventh inning to pull out the win.

Bloomsburg goes to 7-24, 2-6 in the PSAC East, with the split, while Mansfield is now 23-13, 5-3 in the PSAC East. The Huskies host Kutztown on Friday at 1 p.m.