Hazleton drops both ends of double-header to Bloomfield College

Cocoa Beach, FL - Penn State Hazleton saw outdoor play for the first time this young season as they traveled to Cocoa Beach, Florida for spring break competition. In their first action of the year, the Lions dropped both games of a double-header to NCAA Division 2 opponent Bloomfield College. Game 1 finished in favor of the Bears 7-2. Game 2, also won by the Bears, finished in 6 innings by the score of 13-0.

Game 1: Bloomfield College 7, Penn State Hazleton 2

The Lady Lions committed a pair of errors in the 2nd inning, allowing the Bears to take an early 4-0 lead. Bloomfield tacked on another run in the 3rd before Hazleton's Kayla Rhome drove in Erin Dougherty on a double in the top half of the 4th inning. The Bears countered in the bottom half of the 4th to regain the 5 run advantage. Both teams traded runs in the 5th and 6th innings, but Hazleton was unable to touch up the Bloomfield pitching staff and threaten the 5-run cushion. 

Kayla Rhome got the nod in game 1 for Hazleton, throwing four solid innings of work, giving up six runs, but just two were earned. Rhome added a double and RBI to help her cause, and catcher Erin Dougherty pushed across Hazleton's 2nd and final run on a base on balls in the 5th.

Bloomfield pitching kept the Lions guessing at the plate, with Stephanie Miller tossing 6 strong innings while fanning 10 batters. Bayley Lagarreta went 2-2 at the plate for Bloomfield, smashing a double in the 4th and scoring two runs in the winning effort. 

Game 2: Bloomfield College 13, Penn State Hazleton 0

Bloomfield College jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the first inning connecting on three hits and some spotty play from the Lions in the field. Hazleton's Kayla Karchner held the Bears to just two more runs through the 5th but the Lions were stimied by Bloomfield's dominant pitching. Kirsten Wilson and Greta Coleman threw a combined no-hitter for the Bears allowing just five baserunners for the Lions. Bloomfield added seven insurance runs in the 6th inning to send the Lions home early.

Despite allowing 9 runs on the day, Hazleton's Kayla Karchner surrendered just two earned runs for Hazleton in 5 and 2/3 innings pitched as fielding miscues plagued the Lions in their 2nd outing of the day.

Kirsten Wilson pitched a gem for Bloomfield in four innings of work, striking out 9 batters and surrendering just two free passes. Greta Coleman finished the job on the mound, striking out four in the final two innings to complete the combined no-hit bid. Shannon Brennan went a perfect 4-4 at the plate, driving in two runs, and Lauren Bueno drove in three scores for Bloomfield on two hits to aid the Bears in the win.