KUTZTOWN, PA (March 27, 2010) – After spending the first eight weeks of the season traveling up and down the East Coast, the Kutztown University softball team finally made their home debut against East Stroudsburg in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division contest Saturday afternoon.
After earning a 2-0 victory in the opening game (BOXSCORE) of a doubleheader against East Stroudsburg, the Golden Bears saw their rally come up a run short in the 10th inning of the nightcap, 6-5. (BOXSCORE)
Ranked No. 21 in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches' Association Top 25 poll, the Golden Bears (24-9 overall, 4-2 PSAC East) had their eight-game winning streak halted.
However, it wasn't for a lack of effort as the Golden Bears had the potential tying run on second base when the second game ended. Kutztown's trademark this season has been its ability to overcome any deficit and battle to the final out.
“We're a very scrappy team,” Kutztown senior pitcher Katlin Arbogastsaid. “We have a lot of heart and we don't settle very easily.”
East Stroudsburg (13-14, 3-1) found that out late in the second game. Caitlin Monahan slugged a two-run home run to give the Warriors a 3-1 lead in the top of the seventh inning. Monahan then retired the first two Kutztown batters in the bottom of the seventh before Kutztown displayed its come-from-behind ability.
Jennifer Stow began the rally with a single and Maria Schiavo followed with a double down the left field line. Suddenly, the Golden Bears trailed, 3-2. Sarah Couch delivered a game-tying pinch hit single that made the score 3-3.
ESU escaped that inning and put three runs on the board in the 10th inning to open a 6-3 lead. Again, the Golden Bears put another two-out scare into the Warriors. After Monahan got the first two outs in the bottom of the 10th inning, Krista Tedjeske's double scored Katie Lynch and Nicole Henninger.
“I thought we were going to pull it out again,” Schiavo said. “We don't like to lose conference games at home, but we battled hard and didn't give up. We just need to work on stringing hits together and getting them home. Right now I think we are leaving too many runners on base.”
In the second game, the Golden Bears collected eight of their 10 hits from innings seven through 10. Schiavo, Henninger, Tedjeske and Lynch all had two hits in the second game. Henninger's first inning RBI single gave Kutztown an early 1-0 lead. ESU's Alicea Ashe quickly tied the game by slamming the second pitch she saw in the top of second inning over the left centerfield fence.
The first game belonged to Arbogast and Henninger. Arbogast struck out nine batters to earn her 28th career shutout. She was dominant in allowing two hits. Henninger then provided all of the offense Kutztown needed when she belted a two-run home run down the leftfield line that just cleared the fence. It was Henninger's 10th home run of the season and seventh in four games. Lynch, who singled for KU's first hit in the opener, scored ahead of Henninger.
Henninger has been in some groove lately for the Golden Bears.
“I am seeing the ball well and when it's released from the pitcher's hands,” Henninger said. “Today, they were trying to pitch me inside and I hung in there and got my hips around. This home run stretch is a little unreal and crazy. I am really surprised.”
Henninger also gave an all-out effort when chasing a foul ball during the second game. Her effort ended up sending her tumbling over the fence. She was fine. Once Henninger got back on the field, she and her teammates exchanged laughs and smiles.
“I was just trying to help our pitcher and make a play,” Henninger said. “I knew my momentum was going to carry me over the fence so I just focused on trying to break my fall. As a team, we have a lot of heart and we seem to pick it up when the other team gets some runs.”
Schiavo also had the Golden Bears' other hit in the opening game.
“I am happy with our pitching,” Kutztown coach Judy Lawes said. “We need to improve our defense. I thought today we were sluggish offensively. We're better than that but we'll keep working. It's frustrating not to be able to sweep at home but we battled.”
Kutztown returns to action Wednesday afternoon when it travels to Shippensburg University for a doubleheader beginning at 2:30 p.m.
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