Huskies Sweep Millersville; Keep Playoff Hopes Alive

BLOOMSBURG- The Bloomsburg University baseball team kept their Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) playoff hopes alive with a sweep of Millersville on Saturday. The Huskies took game one 6-4 and routed the Marauders in game two, winning 22-3.

In game one, the Huskies got on the board first when Vinnie James (Bristol/ Bristol) hit a solo home run in the bottom of the first to take a 1-0 lead. However, Millersville would respond with a run in the top of the second to tie the game at 1-1.

In the bottom of the fourth, Bloomsburg would score two more runs to retake the lead. James led the inning off with his second solo home run of the day. After Kevin Ward (Upper Darby/ Monsignor Bonner) reached on an error and Andy Bucher (Littlestown/ Littlestown) doubled him to third, Paul Eckley (Port Matilda/ State College) singled home a run to make it 3-1. However, once again, the Marauders would respond in the very next inning and tie the game up. With two outs and the bases loaded, Millersville's Brett Rhoads blooped a two-run single just out of the grasp of Bucher in center field.

In the bottom of the sixth and the game still tied at 3-3, the Huskies took the lead again when the Millersvile left fielder dropped a two-out fly ball that allowed Ward to score from second base. The Huskies would then add two more runs on the strength of back-to-back doubles by Chris Tressler (Lewistown/ Lewistown) and Matt Robinson (York/ Red Lion). In the top of the seventh, Dustin Johnson (Sunbury/ Shikellemy) allowed a solo home run but then retired the next three batters to end the game. Johnson tossed a complete game, allowing nine hits and four earned runs, while striking out eight.

In game two, the Huskies pounded out 21 hits in a 22-3 rout of the Marauders. The Huskies scored in every inning but the third and put the game out of reach early after scoring seven runs in the bottom of the first. James had another big game, going 3-4 with three runs and four RBI, while Ward went 3-4 with three runs and four RBI. Tressler was 3-5 with a home run, three runs and three RBI and Robinson also homered, going 1-2 with three RBI and two runs scored. Casey Markey (York/ Dallastown) pitched his seventh complete game of the season, allowing just five hits and three earned runs to improve to 4-3 on the year.

With the win the Huskies improve to 17-26, 7-11 in the PSAC East. They will wrap up the regular season tomorrow at Millersville. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. In order to make the playoffs, the Huskies will need to win both games tomorrow and hope that West Chester can sweep East Stroudsburg this weekend.