BLOOMFIELD, N.J. – The Bloomfield softball team showcased resilience Saturday afternoon at Clark's Pond South, splitting a doubleheader against Cecil College. After an emotional Senior Day Ceremony, the Bears took Game 1, 6-4 and then dropped Game 2, 9-0 which snapped their 15-game winning streak to close out the 2026 season.
Head Coach
Delanie Cruz delivered a tear-jerking message to the program's two seniors,
Hailey Connor and
Kate Juskiewicz that left not a dry-eye on the infield as the players and their families assembled for a photo to close the 2026 Softball Senior Day Ceremony.
Game 1 got underway and Cecil took a quick 1-0 lead in the first inning but the Bears answered in the 2
nd, pushing across three runs. Bloomfield extended their lead with another run in the third and two more in fourth but three late runs by the visitors in the sixth kept them within striking distance before the 6-4 outcome.
The script flipped entirely in Game 2. Cecil's bats ignited for nine runs, fueled by a massive five-RBI performance from Kylie Bergman. Bergman finished 3-for-3 with a home run and a double. On the rubber, the Seahawks' pitching staff was flawless, combining for a five-inning no-hitter powered by Taylor Stapleford who led the charge with a commanding 11 strikeouts over four innings of work, allowing zero hits and just one walk.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Eckert's Big Day: Angelina Eckert dominated Game 1 finishing with three hits, including a double and four RBIs.
- No-Hit Dominance: In Game 2, Cecil pitchers combined for a five-inning no-hitter, striking out 11 Bloomfield College batters.
- Power at the Plate: The Seahawks tallied a total of 22 hits across the two games, highlighted by Keira Wolfe's 4-for-7 performance.
- Senior Day Smiles: Juskiewicz and Connor went 4-for-6 combined at the plate with a double while Kate added a complete-game, eight strikeout performance in the circle for
SEASON WRAP-UP
The success of the 2026 season was driven by standout individual performances. Below are the top statistical leaders for the Bloomfield College Bears:
Top Three Hitters:
- Kate Juskiewicz: A dual-threat for the Bears, Juskiewicz led the team in multiple offensive categories, including a stellar 3-for-4, 2-RBI performance against Camden County that featured a highlight-reel triple. She launched a career-high, 6 homeruns in her senior campaign and batted .458 with 34 RBI and team-leading, 1.416 on-base percentage to go along with 10 doubles.
- Jaida Hastings: Hastings emerged as one of the most consistent bats in the lineup, frequently recording multi-hit games, finishing the season batting .500 and a team-leading 37 RBI, good enough for 2nd in the nation for driving in runs.
- Angelina Eckhardt: The newcomer, Eckhardt finished the year leading the team with a .512 batting average. She recorded 6 doubles and 2 triples to go with 17 RBI. She bolstered a .756 slugging percentage.
Top Two Pitchers:
- Kate Juskiewicz: The senior ace of the staff, Juskiewicz led the team in wins (carrying an 8-4 record on the season) and strikeouts (67), consistently pitching deep into games and keeping opponents off-balance. She pitched 6 complete games and 62.1 innings on the year.
- Jaida Hastings: Hastings proved to be a reliable force in the circle, going 7-4 for the season pitching 59 innings. The freshman right-hander notched 49 strikeouts and had 2 complete games in 2026.
GAME 1 VIDEO
GAME 2 VIDEO
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