RELEASE DATE: 4/24/04

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MOUNTIES SWEEP BLOOMSBURG TO EARN SPOT IN PSAC PLAYOFFS – ERIC BAKER BLAST GRAND SLAM IN OPENER

BLOOMSBURG – Jeff Papi (Tunkhannock/Tunkhannock) threw a complete game five-hitter in the opener and DJ Hoshauer (Hamburg/Hamburg) blasted his 10^th home run of the season in the nightcap to lead Mansfield to a 12-2, 10-6 sweep over Bloomsburg Saturday afternoon and with it a spot in the PSAC Championship Tournament.

Papi scattered six hits and struck out five in earning his eighth win of the season. Leading 1-0 going into the top of the fourth inning, the Mountaineers exploded with three runs on an RBI double by Brett Shockloss (Williamsport/Loyalsock) and runs scoring single by Travis Wurster (Montoursville/Montoursville).

Mansfield would added four more runs in the sixth inning on a grand slam home run by Eric Baker (Apalachin,NY/Owego). The Mountaineers would score another four runs in the seventh with Brandon Brokaw (Altoona/Altoona) delivering the key hit with a two-run double.

In the nightcap, the Mountaineers pounded out 16 hits to back up the pitching of Dan Yoder (Williamsport/Williamsport) who went six innings before giving way to Marty Rakaczewski (Wilkes-Barre/Hanover) in the seventh.

Mansfield opened the scoring when DJ Hoshauer leadoff the second inning with a solo home run and added three more in the third with Eric Baker and Dan Kochenderfer (Lewistown/Lewistown) each doubling in a run.

Hoshauer went 3-4 with two RBI’s with Kockenderfer 3-5. Josh Rearick, Brokaw, Baker and David Meldrum each had two hits.

It marks the eleventh time the Mountaineers have reached the PSAC playoffs in head coach Harry Hillson’s 19 years at the helm. The Mountaineers are currently in first place with a 14-4 conference mark and 29-17 overall record. Kutztown, which clinched the other PSAC East playoff spot with a sweep over West Chester, has completed its season with a 15-5 conference record. If Mansfield sweep Bloomsburg on Sunday, the Mountaineers would win the PSAC East outright. A split would create a tie for first place with Kutztown and because both teams have the same records against tiebreaker teams – a coin toss would decided the top ranked Eastern Division team at the playoffs.

Shippensburg won the PSAC West with California finishing second. Mansfield, Kutztown, Shippensburg and California will meet in the PSAC Championship Tournament in State College starting on Thursday.

GAME ONE

Mansfield       010     304     4          12-11-2

Bloomsburg   000     002     0          2-6-2

Mansfield (28-17, 13-4): Jeff Papi (W, 8-2) and DJ Hoshouer

2b – Brandon Brokaw, Dan Kochenderfer, Brett Shockloss

HR – Eric Baker (9)            RBI – Baker 4, Brokaw 3, Shockloss 2, Travis Wurster 2, Josh Rearick

Bloomsburg (14-26, 4-12): Matt Funk (L, 3-4), Jim Danforth (7) and Aaron Wheeler

HR – Wheeler            RBI – Wheeler 2

GAME TWO

Mansfield       013     141     0          10-16-3

Bloomsburg   000     213     0          6-10-2

Mansfield (29-17, 14-4): Dan Yoder (W, 6-2), Marty Rakaczewski (7) and DJ Hoshauer

2b – Baker, Kochenderfer               HR – Hoshauer (10)

RBI – Hoshauer 2, Brokaw, Baker, Kochenderfer, Maldrum Stuart Sumner

Bloomsburg (14-27, 4-13): Corey Helfrich (L, 1-2), Josh Unger (5) and Wheeler

2b – Brian Zorger, Wheeler, Andy Howard

RBI – Mark Reiter, Chris Husted, Wheeler, Howard