DOBBS FERRY, NY - Kirsten Wilson fired a shutout in game one with 16 strikeouts and also hit a solo home run to pace Bloomfield to a 1-0 win over Mercy.  In game two, Aubrey Orr singled home Annette Daw in the sixth and Stephanie Miller was great once again in the circle as the Bears topped the Mavericks in game two, 3-2.

With the win in game two of the doubleheader, head coach Rocco Constantino became just the third coach in the CACC Division II era to reach 200 career wins.

"Reaching 200 wins is really a testament to the support I get in the athletics department here and the girls who have played for the program," said Constantino.  "I like to think we coach them the right way, but when it comes down to it, they are the ones out there performing and executing.  But it's a nice milestone, especially considering only a couple other coaches have done so."

Game one was a quick contest as Bloomfield (16-8, 6-2 CACC) scored the lone run of the game in the top of the first inning when Wilson blasted a solo home run to right center field.

From there, Wilson (10-2) and Mercy starter Holly Pundick matched zeroes on their way to a 1-0 Bloomfield win.

The Bears threatened in the seventh to add runs when they had runners on second and third with no outs, but nothing came of the threat.

The only real threat Wilson faced came in the fourth when Mercy was able to get runners on first and second , but Wilson ended the threat by inducing a fly out to left.

Wilson finished with her fifth shutout of the year and struck out 16 girls in the process.  It was her eighth double-digit strikeout game and her sixth game of the season with 14 or more strikeouts.

"Once again Kirsten was totally dominant," said Constantino.  "It was good to see her control back to where it should be.  People look at the strikeout numbers, but her walk rates are usually excellent.  She has seven complete games this year with three walks or less, including two games that lasted 10 and 11 innings.  Her control and command were excellent today."

Bloomfield outhit Mercy in the game, 9-5.  Shannon Brennan, Kelly Stites and Lauren Bueno each had two-hit games.

Bloomfield found themselves in a tight contest once again in game two as Bloomfield's starter Miller and Mercy starter Anna Cochis were as good as their counterparts in game one.

The Bears got an early 2-0 lead in the third.

Aubrey Orr doubled to deep left and Wilson walked.  Greta Coleman then executed a successful sacrifice bunt to move the runners up to second and third.  Melissa Yepez then delivered Orr when she reached on an error and Janese Timmons knocked in the second run with a sacrifice fly to left.

Mercy tied the game off of Miller (6-6) in the fourth when they registered three of their six hits in the game.  However, the sophomore lefty allowed just one hit the remainder of the game to seal the win.

Bloomfield scored the decisive run in the top of the sixth when Annette Daw doubled to left and was bunted to second by Stites.  The bunt by Stites was a crucial turning point and came with two strikes.  Orr then delivered a single to right to score Daw with the go-ahead run.

"I was inspired watching Annette run the bases," said Orr.  "When she stretched that into a double, I knew I couldn't let her down and had to drive her in.  I looked for a pitch inside, got it, and hit it through to right.  I'm happy I was able to support Stephanie like that and help the team win."

The only baserunner Mercy got after that point was on a two-out single in the sixth.

The Bears outhit Mercy 8-6 on the game with Orr going 2-4 with a run, RBI and double to lead the way.  

With two one-run wins today, Bloomfield has now won five one-run games this season, which is a big improvement from last year when they only won two.  Bloomfield's 16 wins are the highest total in the East Region going into the final month of the season.  Wilmington has the second most with 12 and Southern New Hampshire and Pace have 11 each.

Constantino joined Caldwell's Dean Johnson and Dominican's Joe Burbridge as the only three coaches who have won 200 games in CACC play during the Division II era (2005-2015).  The program has averaged 24 wins during Constantino's tenure.  In the six years prior to Constantino working as the head coach, the program averaged 8 wins a season.

"When I started coaching here I heard a lot of people tell me Bloomfield wasn't a place where you could recruit and that we couldn't win here," said Constantino.  "I didn't believe that.  There's great support here for the students and it's a great department to be involved in.  I knew we could attract the best students and players on a national level.  Coaches get second-guessed and doubted all the time as part of the job.  The only thing you can do to answer that is to run a consistent winning program and maintain a program where kids get good grades.  We have been able to do both here because the coaches work hard, we all get the support from our athletics department and the kids work hard and perform on the field and in the classroom."

The Bears return to CACC action on Saturday as they face University of the Sciences for a road doubleheader.  Game time is set for 12:00pm.  Bloomfield is reaching a crucial point in their schedule as they have 10 CACC games scheduled to be played in the next week.

SOFTBALL HEAD COACH WINS DURING CACC DIVISION II ERA

1. Dean Johnson 352 (Caldwell)
2. Joe Burbridge 281 (Adelphi, Dominican)
3. Rocco Constantino 200 (Bloomfield)
4. Tracy Garofalo 157 (Post)
5. Erin Harvey 157 (Wilmington)
6. John Kelly 120 (Philadelphia, Chestnut Hill)
7. Kathy Laoutaris 114 (Concordia)
8. Jeff Franquet 108 (Georgian Court)
T9. Rick Krasny 71 (Dominican, Felician)
T9. Mickey McGroarty 71 (Holy Family)

*Totals include wins accrued during the Division II era of the CACC beginning with the 2005-2006 season through April 1, 2015.  Many coaches on the list have also recorded wins in the years prior to this.