Lock Haven, Pa. - Lock Haven defeated Bloomsburg 8-1 on Sunday afternoon on its home field to capture its fourth consecutive PSAC Tournament championship. In the first game of the day, Bloomsburg topped Kutztown, also by an 8-1 score, to advance to the championship game. This also marked the second straight year that Lock Haven topped Bloomsburg in the championship game.
Game 1 - Bloomsburg 8, Kutztown 1 (Kutztown eliminated)
Bloomsburg scored four runs in the first inning off Kutztown starter Mary Hoch, knocking Hoch out of the game before she was able to record an out, and then scored two more runs in the second inning to take a commanding 6-0 lead and never looked back as the Huskies topped the Golden Bears 8-1 to advance to the PSAC championship game against top-seeded Lock Haven.
The Huskies loaded the bases in the first on a hit by pitch, a fielder's choice and a single before Lacy Mauro drew a bases-loaded walk to force in the first run. Mandy Koch then slapped a two-run single to make it 3-0 and she was followed by another RBI single by Lori Neyhard to make it 4-0.
Kutztown brought in Katlin Arbogast to reliever Hoch but after she got out of the first, she ran into trouble in the second by loading the bases with one out on a pair of singles and a fielder's choice. Koch then drew a bases-loaded walk to force in one run and Neyhard lifted a sacrifice fly to make it 6-0.
The Golden Bears scored their lone run in the sixth inning on a bases-loaded hit by pitch. But the Huskies got that run back in the bottom of the inning as Tara Reed led off with a solo home run and they would get one more run in the inning on an RBI single by Jenna Hampton.
Shavaun Fisher threw a complete-game four-hitter for the Huskies, allowing just the one run on two walks with 11 strikeouts. Reed went 3-for-3 and scored three times to lead the Huskies' offense, while Koch went 2-for-3 with three RBI.
Game 2 - Lock Haven 8, Bloomsburg 1 (Bloomsburg eliminated)
Lock Haven scored three second-inning runs to take an early 3-0 lead but it remained a close game going into the sixth with Lock Haven having just a 3-1 lead. However, the Lady Eagles scored five runs in the sixth, knocking out Bloomsburg pitcher Tara Reed in the process and from that point cruised to an 8-1 win to capture their four consecutive PSAC championship.
Julia Popovich, who was named the tournament MVP, went 2-for-3 with four RBI, as she picked up a two-run single in the second and a two-run base hit in the sixth. Kristen Erb picked up her 40th win of the season as she tossed a complete-game five-hitter, striking out six and walking none.
The Lady Eagles scored all three of their runs in the second with two outs. With two outs and Erica Eisenbise at second, Brittany Muthard came through with an RBI single and after Nancy O'Connor followed with a double, Popovich drove home both runners with the first of her two-run singles.
Bloomsburg scored its run in the fourth as Nikki Shiko doubled with one out and then Lacy Mauro drove her home with a two-out single.
Lock Haven benefitted in the sixth from three straight walks that loaded the bases with one out. Muthard singled home two and one out later, Popovich singled home two more to make it 7-1. A Sarah Norris single made it 8-1.