Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

BLOOMSBURG, PA – Kelly King (Nazareth/Bethlehem Catholic) allowed just four earned runs in two complete game efforts in the circle, but the IUP softball team could only muster five hits on the afternoon in a pair of shutout losses to Bloomsburg in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Central action Tuesday.

Cait Paine was outstanding for the Huskies in game one, notching a PSAC-record 18 strikeouts in a three-hit 5-0 win for Bloomsburg. Paine walked just two batters and hit three in the shutout effort.

The Crimson Hawks threatened in the fourth inning when Tara Waldo (Pittsburgh/Baldwin) was plunked and Ashley Strack (Johnstown/Westmont Hilltop) doubled to put two in scoring position with no outs, but Paine struck out the next three in order to work out of the jam.

Monica Iachini (Claysburg/Claysburg-Kimmel) and Stef McCoy also had singles for IUP, but the Crimson Hawks were unable to string together enough hits to break through on the scoreboard.

King allowed five runs in the circle for the Crimson Hawks in game one, but all were unearned. King allowed just seven hits and struck out one in the outing.

Game two saw another dominating pitching performance from the Huskies, as Mandy Black allowed just two hits and struck out five in a complete game 8-0 win in six innings.

The Crimson Hawks were held hitless until the third inning when Marissa Leslie (Claysburg/Claysburg-Kimmel) led off the inning with a single, but Black worked out of the jam.

IUP looked to put together a rally in the fifth when Jen Beaver (Chester Springs/Owen J. Roberts) reached on an error to start the inning and Leslie walked to put two on with one out. After an Iachini single loaded the bases with just one away, the Crimson Hawks looked to finally plate a run. Black dashed any hopes of that, however, retiring the next two batters to preserve the shutout for the Huskies.

King allowed four earned runs on 12 hits and walked one in five innings of work for IUP, while Iachini knocked two hits on the day.

With the loss, the Crimson Hawks fall to 16-10-1, 3-3 in the PSAC Central. They continue their road trip this Friday with a doubleheader at Clarion. First pitch in game one is set for 2:30 p.m.