BLOOMSBURG, PA (April 17, 2010) – In a battle between softball heavyweights, 25th-ranked Kutztown University and sixth-ranked Bloomsburg University went toe-to-toe in splitting a doubleheader at Jan Hutchinson Field Saturday afternoon. Bloomsburg edged Kutztown 2-1 in the opener. However, the Golden Bears rallied to win the second game, 7-3. (GAME 1 BOXSCORE) / (GAME 2 BOXSCORE)
This game proved to be a sneak preview of another possible matchup next weekend in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference playoffs. West Chester defeated Millersville, 10-8, in 10 innings of the opening game of its doubleheader, to secure the East Division's top seed. With it, the Golden Rams will host a PSAC playoff pod.
Meanwhile, the Golden Bears will open the PSAC playoffs in Bloomsburg next weekend against an opponent to be determined. Also joining KU at Bloomsburg next weekend will be either Edinboro or Mercyhurst, the third place finisher in the West. The pairings and times for the 2010 PSAC softball tournament are expected to be announced by Monday afternoon.
Kutztown headed back home with plenty of confidence knowing it can play with nation's elite. This was a matchup between the top two teams in the recent NCAA Division II Atlantic Region poll. Bloomsburg was first followed by Kutztown.
The Golden Bears (35-14 overall) ended the 22-game winning game streak of Bloomsburg (38-4) with their victory in the second game. The Golden Bears had their hitting shoes on in both games. The hottest bat belonged to freshman catcher Katie Lynch, who had two hits each in both contests.
In the opening game, Lynch was the only KU player to have multiple hits. Lynch's RBI single scored Jennifer Stow and sliced Bloomsburg's advantage in half, 2-1. The Golden Bears had the potential tying run on third base with one out in the top of the seventh inning but unfortunately could not bring her home. Katlin Arbogast finished with five strikeouts.
In the second game, the windy conditions couldn't chill Kutztown's bats. Maria Schiavo paced the Kutztown offense with three hits. Nicole Colineri, Lynch and Heather Hannum had two hits each for Kutztown, which pounded out 12 hits. Half of the Golden Bear hits were extra-base hits.
It didn't take long for the Golden Bears to get started against the Huskies.
Krista Tedjeske's first inning double scored Michelle McGinty and Colineri. That gave Kutztown a quick 2-0 lead. After the Huskies scored in their half of the first inning, the Golden Bears immediately responded with a pair of runs in the top of the second. Lynch slugged a double that scored Colineri and Stow and expanded KU's lead to 4-1.
Kutztown was relentless in its attack as it handed Bloomsburg pitcher Cait Paine her first defeat of the season. Maria Isgro got in on RBI double party by striking her blow in the fifth inning to score Hannum, who also doubled in the same inning.
Lynch added an RBI single in the sixth to cap off her brilliant afternoon. Hannum finished Kutztown's hit barrage by slamming a home run to lead off the seventh inning.
With hits in each game, Colineri extended her hitting streak to 10. Schiavo's hitting streak stretched to nine games. Meanwhile, Lynch, who has hit a double in four of KU's last six games, enjoyed her 12th multi-hit game of the season. Katlin Arbogast earned the victory in the second game by tossing 4.1 innings of relief. Arbogast has 95 career victories and 983 strikeouts.
Kutztown will visit Goldey-Beacom College in a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. This is a make-up of a game that was supposed to be played on March 16.
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