COLUMBUS, GA-Liza Pepper's two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted Bloomsburg University to a 6-4 win over hte University of West Florida in an elimination game at the NCAA Division II Softball Championships in Columbus, GA.

Pepper's blast to left center came with one out and Melanie Anderson, who singled, on first base. The homer was just the fifth for the freshman in the 2000 season and capped an emotional comeback for the Huskies.

Anderson got the Huskies on the board in the fifth inning with a two-out, two-run double. The inning started with a fly out by Michele Dreistadt. Tanya Heath then singled up the middle before Erica Miller fouled out to third for the second out of the inning. Vanessa Sterner then hit a low liner which bounced in front of the shortstop Nikki Johnson. Johnson tried to flip the ball to second for the force but the throw got by with Heath moving to third. Anderson then doubled to the gap in left center, scoring both Heath and Sterner.

The Argonauts answered in the top half of the sixth inning breaking up Julie Undercuffler's no-hit bid and grabbing the lead in the process. Alison Muzi led off with a ground rule double, moved to third on a groundout and scored on a single by Johnson. After walks to Nancy Rosado and Cindie Corey loaded the bases, Blake Baskin hit a sacrifice fly scoring Johnson and moving Rosado to third. Pitcher Krissy Styrna then hit a single to center socring Rosado. Jenna Scmidt then grounded to Heath, who bobbled the ball, allowing Corey to score.

The Huskies tied the game in the bottom of the sixth on a big hit by Miller. Bloomsburg got singles from Lisa Mull, Christi McHale, and Chris Bertatie to load the bases. After Dreistadt and Heath bounced into fielder's choice plays with runners forced out both times at home plate, Miller lined a clean single up the middle scoring pinch runner Mylan Le and Dreistadt with the third and fourth runs, tying the game.

Bloomsburg coach Jan Hutchinson was naturally elated about the win.

"I was pleased we kept our poise after falling behind in the sixth inning," said Hutchinson. "Both our pitchers threw well and we had a good day hitting the ball."

Pepper's homer, with one out, came on a pitcher's mistake.

"The pitcher (Styrna) was throwing a lot of curves but left one out over the plate and I was able to drive it," Pepper said.

The Huskies, 49-11-1, will play at either noon or 2:30 p.m. Sunday in another elimination game.

NCAA Division II Softball Championships--Game Nine

West Florida 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 4 4 2

Bloomsburg 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 2 6 16 2

WP-Kerri Cooper, 3.1 IP; 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K

LP-Styrna

Julie Undercuffler started for Bloomsburg and pitched 5.2 innings, 3 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K

Batting

BU-Melanie Anderson, 3-5, 2 RBI, RS; Lisa Mull 3-4; Vanessa Sterner, 2-5, RS; Erica Miller, 1-5, 2 RBI

WF-Krissy Styrna, 2-4, RBI; Nikki Johnson, 1-4, RS, RBI