Bloomsburg Softball Season Ends at the Hands of Kennesaw State

SALEM, VA—The road to an NCAA title came to and end on Saturday for the Bloomsburg University softball team as it lost to Kennesaw State of Georgia at the NCAA Division II championships.

The Huskies end their season with a record of 45-10, while Kennesaw improves to 54-12.

Despite not getting as hit until the sixth inning, the Huskies had one runner on in each inning except the second when Bloomsburg was retired in order. However, the Huskies did not get anyone to second base in the first six innings.

Kennesaw finally broke up the scoreless pitchers dual when Lori Cassell doubled down the right field line, just out of the reach of rightfielder Tiff Corliss (Lewisburg/Lewisburg). The Owls' Keri McKee then singled between third and short with Cassell initially stopping at third on the play.

However, leftfielder Stef Kline (Sinking Spring/Wilson) bobbled the ball allowing Cassell to score the first run and McKee to move to second. After Bloomsburg's Amanda Smith (Sandy Ridge/Philipsburg-Osceola) got the next two outs, Chelce Culbertson then singled home McKee with the second run of the game for Kennesaw.

In the sixth, Bloomsburg finally got through against Kennesaw pitcher Brittany Matthews. Sara Roba (Emmaus/Emmaus) singled with two outs, but was left stranded.

In the top of the seventh, the Huskies had their first real scoring threat. Alyson Taylor (Jersey Shore/Jersey Shore) singled to lead off the inning with Sarah McDaniel (Dallastown/Dallastown) coming in to pinch run. Laurel Koster then hit a ball to shortstop and was called out at first on a very close play with McDaniel moving to second. After pinchhitter Tina Jennosa (Downingtown/Hauppauge) popped out for out number two, Kline reached on an error by the shortstop putting the go-ahead run at the plate. Amanda Breon (Bellefonte/Bellefonte) then lifted a fly ball to deep leftcenter field that was hauled in by Kennesaw for the final out.

Smith finished with four strikeouts in 3 and 2/3 innings of work, while Jaime Wilson (Olyphant/Bishop O'Hara) finished up with two strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings.

Matthews allowed just two hits and fanned three to earn the win for strikeout.