COLUMBUS, GA-A pair of freshmen, Liza Pepper and Julie Undercuffler, propelled Bloomsburg University past Merrimack College, 6-0, in the opening round of the NCAA Division II Softball playoffs in Columbus, Georgia. Pepper went two for three and Undercuffler allowed just three hits, just one after the first inning, for the Huskies.

Bloomsburg got on the board in the third inning when Pepper singled down the right field line to open the inning. After Chris Bertatie sacrificed her to second, Tanya Heath singled to left advancing Pepper to third. Erica Miller then lined a clean single to center scoring Pepper.

The Huskies made it 3-0 in the fourth when Melanie Anderson singled to start the inning. After Alison Necci came in to pinch run, Lisa Mull sacrificed her to second. Pepper then singled with Necci just beating the throw to the plate. After Bertatie and Michele Dreistadt walked, Heath singled to score Pepper and make it 3-0.

The Huskies tacked on a fourth run in the fifth when Vanessa Sterner singled and with two outs stole second. Mylan Le then singled with Sterner scoring easily on the play.

Bloomsburg put an exclamation point on the game in the sixth when Driestadt singled with one out. After Heath sacrificed her to second, Miller slammed her 17th home run of the season, a deep blast that traveled about 250 feet, making it 6-0.

Merrimack's best chance to score came in the first inning when the Warriors loaded the bases without the ball leaving the infield. Undercuffler was able to get out of the inning unscathed, though.

The Huskies, 48-10-1, will play North Dakota State, a 9-1, five-inning winner, over Lewis (IL) College at 5 p.m. Friday. North Dakota comes in with a record of 64-10 and is the champion of the North Central Region.

Merrimack 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0

Bloomsburg 0 0 1 2 1 2 x 6 11 2

WP-Julie Undercuffler (23-5), 7 IP, 2 BB, 5 K

LP-Julie Connoly (25-10), 6 IP, 6 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO

Top Hitters

BU-Erica Miller, 2-4, HR, 3 RBI; Tanya Heath, 2-3, RBI; Liza Pepper, 2-3, RBI, 2 RS; Melanie Anderson, 2-3

M-Stacey Arpin, 2-4; Laura Garzone, 1-4