BU Softball Wins NCAA D-II Regional Opener
Pitcher Shavaun Fisher (Coplay, Allentown Central Catholic) threw a two-hitter and hit a solo homer and Sam Pientack (Archbald, Valley View) went 3-3 with three runs batted in to lead the Bloomsburg University softball team to a 9-0 win over California, Pa. in game one of the best of three NCAA Division II Atlantic Super Regional series at Bloomsburg.
Pitcher Shavaun Fisher (Coplay, Allentown Central Catholic) threw a two-hitter and hit a solo homer and Sam Pientack (Archbald, Valley View) went 3-3 with three runs batted in to lead the Bloomsburg University softball team to a 9-0 win over California, Pa. in game one of the best of three NCAA Division II Atlantic Super Regional series at Bloomsburg.
Bloomsburg, now 48-6, needs just one win tomorrow to advance to the NCAA Division II championship round in Missouri next week. California, 37-13, will need to beat the Huskies twice tomorrow to advance. The first game is scheduled for 11 a.m. with a game at 1:30 p.m. if necessary.
The Huskies wasted little time grabbing the lead in the game. After Fisher put down the Vulcans in order in the top of the first inning, Nikki Shiko (Shamokin, Southern Columbia) singled and Danielle Lazorka (Williamsport, Jersey Shore)was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second. After Shiko was out at third on a fielder’s choice by Lacy Mauro (Jersey Shore, Jersey Shore), Pientack singled scoring Lazorka with both runners moving up a base on the throw home. Emily Young (Nescopeck, Central Columbia) then put down a bunt with Mauro sliding under the tag to make it 2-0. After Mandy Koch (Dauphin, Central Dauphin) was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Fisher grounded out to the second baseman scoring Pientack for a 3-0 lead.
Bloomsburg made it 4-0 in the second when Lazorka walked and Mauro singled putting runners at first and second. Pientack then singled hard off the glove of the third baseman Danielle Easton scoring Lazorka.
In the top of the third inning, Cal got its first hit of the game when number nine hitter Kayleigh Braim singled to center, but Fisher got a fly out to end the inning. In the bottom of the third the Huskies put the game out of reach with five runs. With one out, Fisher, who went into the game with just five at-bats on the season, hit a long, towering drive that easily cleared the fence in right center for a 5-0 lead. Casey Massimini (Downingtown, Downingtown West) then doubled to right and later scored on a single by Lori Neyhard, who went to second on an error. Lazorka then followed with a singled to score Neyhard for an 7-0 lead. Mauro then doubled home Lazorka for an 8-0 lead with Pientack driving home the final run with a single.
Cal did threaten in the fifth inning getting two runners on with one out, but Fisher got one out on a batter’s interference call and a ground out to end the game.
Overall, Fisher, now 33-5, allowed just two hits to go with no walks and two strikeouts while going 1-2 at the plate with two RBI. In addition to Pientack’s 3-3, Massimini was 2-3 with a run scored.
Bloomsburg will be aiming for its 11th trip to the NCAA championship round and first since 2005 for retiring coach Jan Hutchinson, the all-time leader in career coaching victories in Division II history.
Play-by-Play
2010 Bloomsburg University Softball
California, PA at Bloomsburg Univ.
May 21, 2010 at Bloomsburg, PA (Jan Hutchinson Field)
California, PA starters: 7/2b Daley; 10/3b Easton; 16/ss Russell; 22/c Johnson; 25/cf Mackenzie; 31/rf Wallace; 37/lf McKenzie; 12/1b Mueller; 6/dh Braim; 92/p Greco;
Bloomsburg Univ. starters: 2/3b SHIKO, N.; 8/2b LAZORKA, D.; 7/c MAURO, L.; 23/1b PIENTACK, S.; 15/dh YOUNG, E.; 10/ss KOCH, M.; 19/p FISHER, S.; 1/rf MASSIMINI, C; 24/lf NEYHARD, L.; 12/cf KUHNS, R.;
California, PA 1st – Daley grounded out to 3b. Easton flied out to cf. Russell grounded out to ss. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Bloomsburg Univ. 1st – SHIKO, N. singled. LAZORKA, D. hit by pitch; SHIKO, N. advanced to second. MAURO, L. reached on a fielder’s choice; LAZORKA, D. advanced to second; SHIKO, N. out at third 3b unassisted. Daley to cf. Mackenzie to 2b. PIENTACK, S. singled, advanced to second on the throw, RBI; MAURO, L. advanced to third; LAZORKA, D. scored. YOUNG, E. reached on a fielder’s choice, bunt, RBI; PIENTACK, S. advanced to third; MAURO, L. scored. Shaheen to p for Greco. Daley to 2b. Mackenzie to cf. KUHNS, R. pinch ran for YOUNG, E.. / for KUHNS, R.. KOCH, M. hit by pitch; KUHNS, R. advanced to second. FISHER, S. grounded out to 2b unassisted, RBI; KOCH, M. advanced to second; KUHNS, R. advanced to third; PIENTACK, S. scored. MASSIMINI, C lined out to p. 3 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
California, PA 2nd – YOUNG, E. to dh for KUHNS, R.. KUHNS, R. to cf. Johnson grounded out to 3b. Mackenzie lined out to ss. Wallace grounded out to p. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Bloomsburg Univ. 2nd – NEYHARD, L. fouled out to 1b. SHIKO, N. flied out to cf. LAZORKA, D. walked. MAURO, L. singled to left field; LAZORKA, D. advanced to second. Daley to cf. Mackenzie to 2b. PIENTACK, S. singled to left field, advanced to second on the throw, RBI; MAURO, L. advanced to third; LAZORKA, D. scored. YOUNG, E. grounded out to 3b. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
California, PA 3rd – McKenzie struck out swinging. Mueller grounded out to ss. Braim singled to right center. Daley flied out to cf. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Bloomsburg Univ. 3rd – Daley to 2b. Mackenzie to cf. KOCH, M. struck out swinging. FISHER, S. homered to right center, RBI. MASSIMINI, C doubled to right field. Otter to cf for Mackenzie. NEYHARD, L. singled, advanced to second on an error by rf, RBI; MASSIMINI, C scored. SHIKO, N. lined out to lf. LAZORKA, D. singled, advanced to second on the throw, RBI; NEYHARD, L. scored, unearned. Greco to p for Shaheen. MAURO, L. doubled to left center, RBI; LAZORKA, D. scored, unearned. PIENTACK, S. singled,, RBI; MAURO, L. scored, unearned. DEBARO, S. pinch hit for YOUNG, E.. DEBARO, S. grounded out to p. 5 runs, 6 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
California, PA 4th – Easton struck out looking. Russell flied out to rf. Johnson grounded out to ss. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Bloomsburg Univ. 4th – KOCH, M. hit by pitch. HAMPTON, J. pinch hit for FISHER, S.. HAMPTON, J. popped up to 3b. MASSIMINI, C singled, bunt; KOCH, M. advanced to second. NEYHARD, L. grounded out to p; MASSIMINI, C advanced to second; KOCH, M. advanced to third. SHIKO, N. walked. LAZORKA, D. flied out to rf. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 3 LOB.
California, PA 5th– FISHER, S. to p for HAMPTON, J.. Otter popped up to p. Wallace singled to center field. Lupinacci pinch ran for Wallace. McKenzie reached on an error by cf; Lupinacci advanced to second. Mueller out on batter’s interference. Braim grounded out to p. 0 runs, 1 hit, 1 error, 2 LOB.
Line score: Bloomsburg Univ. 9, California, PA 0 (May 21, 2010 at Bloomsburg, PA)
California, PA…… 000 00 – 0 2 1 (37-13)
Bloomsburg Univ….. 315 0X – 9 11 1 (48-6)
Pitchers: California, PA – Maria Greco; Lauren Shaheen(2). Bloomsburg Univ. – Shavaun Fisher.
Win-Shavaun Fisher(33-5) Loss-Maria Greco(16-8) T-1:16 A-215
HR BLOOM-S – Shavaun Fisher.
Weather: Sunny, Hot
Photos Courtesy BU Sports Information
