Softball Drops NCAA Regional Opener

KUTZTOWN-- The Bloomsburg University softball team lost to West Virginia Wesleyan, 2-1, in the opening game of the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region tournament at Kutztown University.

The Bobcats jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning using four hits off of Huskies starter Shavaun Fisher (Coplay/Allentown Central Catholic). Bloomsburg was able to escape further damage when Fisher got a force out to end the inning. Bloomsburg threatened in the bottom of the first after getting a single from Danielle Lazorka (Williamsport/Jersey Shore), while Lacy Mauro (Jersey Shore/Jersey Shore) reached on an error, but could not score.

Mauro got a double leading off the fourth, while Mandy Koch (Dauphin/Central Dauphin) was hit by a pitch, but West Virginia Wesleyan was able to escape the jam the two-on, nobody out jam. Bloomsburg finally got on the board in the fifth inning when Lazorka doubled to lead off the inning and later scored when Koch was hit by a pitch forcing in a run. However, the Huskies stranded three runners and trailed 2-1 going to the sixth.

Bloomsburg had a runner on in both the sixth and seventh innings, but could not come around to score. In all the Huskies left 11 runners on base.

Lazorka and Mauro both finished with two hits each for the Huskies, while Stephanie Wheeler had two hits for West Virginia Wesleyan, now 43-13.

Bloomsburg, 34-10, will face West Chester on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in an elimination game.