KUTZTOWN, PA (April 2, 2010) – Nicole Colineri enjoys playing softball because it allows her to create trouble and be rewarded for it. The affable sophomore second baseman also has the toughness of a defensive lineman as she is playing with an extremely painful wrist and forearm. Fortunately for Kutztown University, Colineri's legs are fine.
Against West Chester University in what eventually ended in a doubleheader split, Colineri displayed toughness, showed resiliency and created havoc to lift the Golden Bears to a dramatic 3-2 victory in the opening game. However, Kutztown (27-10 overall, 7-3 PSAC East) dropped a difficult 1-0 decision in eight innings of the nightcap to remain a game behind the Golden Rams (23-7, 8-2) in the race for the PSAC East regular season title. GAME 1 BOXSCORE / GAME 2 BOXSCORE
Kutztown has specialized in one-run games this season, posting a 12-7 mark in those nail-biters. Friday was no different as the large crowd was treated to a pair of outstanding games and some brilliant pitching efforts from Kutztown's Katlin Arbogast and Monica Glomb on a beautiful sun-splashed afternoon. Arbogast struck out eight batters and tossed her 89th career complete game. She also upped her career strikeout total to 937.
Meanwhile, Glomb had six strikeouts and extended her scoreless streak to 15 innings before West Chester pushed across the only run of second game with two outs in the eighth inning.
In the opening game, Colineri started the decisive sixth inning by reaching on an infield single. Nicole Henninger's one-out single moved the fleet-footed Colineri into scoring position. With West Chester's defense playing Michelle McGinty to the right side of the field, Colineri along with Kristen Cornelis executed a perfect double steal that put runners on second and third with one out.
“I just wanted to make something happen in that situation,” Colineri said. “That's my job. I was just looking for something to put in play so that I can try and beat it out to get on base. I got the sign to steal and I knew I could beat the shortstop to third base. It was the perfect opportunity.”
Colineri wasn't finished with her exciting and adventurous trip around the bases. She eventually scored the decisive run in the bottom of the sixth inning when she raced home from third base on a groundout. As soon as the WCU third baseman released the ball, Colineri took off like a sprinter out of the blocks down the third base line.
Colineri's hustle and Allyson Felix-like speed forced an errant throw from the WCU first baseman. The ball sailed over the catcher's head and into the metal chain-link fence behind the plate as Colineri slid across home plate.
“She's just the heart and soul of our team,” Kutztown softball coach Judy Lawes said. “She read that play just right and froze the third baseman for just a second and then she forced an errant throw. She didn't start for us last year but she's doing well for us. She's a trooper and she's somebody you'd want in the foxhole with you.”
Colineri has also provided a spark at the plate throughout the season. She has the second highest batting average on the team at .333. She has 31 hits, 10 runs batted in and six stolen bases. She is the perfect table setter in the No. 2 hole behind leadoff extraordinaire Maria Schiavo and ahead of the power hitting duo of Katie Lynch and Nicole Henninger.
While Colineri's speed was on display in the opener, Lynch showcased her power and machine-gun-like arm by blasting a two-run first inning home run that gave the Golden Bears a 2-0 lead and throwing out a runner trying to steal second base. Schiavo, who had two hits in the opener, scored on Lynch's leftfield shot.
Lynch has also done a terrific job behind the plate as catcher working with Arbogast and Glomb. In an odd statistic, all four of Lynch's home runs this season have come with two strikes.
“It was rough starting as a freshman at first,” Lynch said. “But coach has plenty of confidence in all of us and there's a great support system in place. We are working together as a team. We know offensively we didn't hit the ball well, but we believe in each other and we know we're going to hit.”
After being held to two hits through five innings, West Chester strung together four hits in the sixth inning to tie the game at 2-2.
In the second game, Nicole Charles and Maria Isgro had Kutztown's only hits. Each player delivered a two-out single. Glomb was superb as she held the Golden Rams to one hit through seven innings. However, West Chester put three hits together to put some pressure on Kutztown.
It appeared as if the Golden Bears would escape the inning still locked at 0-0 after Isgro fired a strike to Lynch who tagged WCU's Mandy Gerhart, who tried to score from second base, for the second out. However, two pitches later, Stef Kerbacher scampered home with the decisive run for West Chester.
Glomb has been lights out in her last four appearances for Kutztown. In two of KU's last three games with Glomb in the circle, Kutztown has battled into extra innings.
“I've been working on my pitches a lot,” Glomb said. “I've been focusing on my speed. The second game was a tough loss but we'll learn from it and keep getting better.”
Kutztown visits Lock Haven Saturday afternoon in a PSAC crossover doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. The Golden Bears return home next weekend when they host Millersville on Friday April 9 (2:30 p.m.) and Gannon on Saturday April 10 ( 1 p.m.).
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