BLOOMSBURG, PA (April 21, 2010) – Trailing by a run entering the top of the seventh inning to host Bloomsburg University, freshman shortstop Brianna Knipe still found a way to have some fun. She took her homemade paper microphone that had KU scribbled on it and bopped Jennifer Stow on the top of the helmet. Stow was in the white on-deck circle preparing to lead off.
However, while the subtle tap didn't produce another exciting rally, it did loosen up the Golden Bears. Despite the playful pause of a long day, the 19th-ranked Kutztown University softball team saw its rally come up short, 3-2, to sixth-ranked Bloomsburg University in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) first round playoff game at Jan Hutchinson Field Friday afternoon. (BOXSCORE)
The defeat left the Golden Bears (38-15 overall) with a tough, but hardly impossible task, of beating Bloomsburg (40-4) twice on Saturday to advance to next weekend's PSAC championship round. With the win, Bloomsburg took the season series lead, 2-1, over Kutztown in this heavyweight tilt. You get the feeling that KU and Bloomsburg could be facing each other several times before the year is finished.
Bloomsburg is ranked first in the latest NCAA Atlantic Regional poll. Kutztown is second.
“We are pretty confident in our ability and we know what we need to do,” Knipe said. “We have to go out and take care of the first game and go from there. Bloomsburg was tough, but once we settled into the game, we had our chances to do some things.”
It took Kutztown a little too long to find its groove against Bloomsburg pitcher Shavaun Fisher. By the time the Golden Bears got their bats going, they were staring at a 3-0 deficit with nine outs remaining.
Undaunted, Kutztown chipped away at its deficit. Maria Isgro delivered an RBI two-out single in the fifth inning that scored Michelle McGinty and cut the Huskies' lead to 3-1. Heather Hannum got Kutztown closer in the sixth inning when she hit her fifth home run of the season – a two out solo shot -- that sailed over the rightfield fence.
“It's our fault because we weren't ready at the beginning of the game,” Knipe said. “We weren't used to how quick the ball came to the plate especially after facing a slower pitcher in the first game. It just took us some time to adjust.”
Once KU did, it started spraying hits and drawing walks. Isgro and Hannum had two hits each for Kutztown. Katlin Arbogast battled strong for six innings for the Golden Bears. With four strikeouts in the game, she raised her career total to 991.
However, the Golden Bears were the victims of a bad baserunning mistake with two outs in the top of the fourth. Kutztown trailed 1-0 at the time. With runners on first and second, Hannum singled, which would've loaded the bases. Unfortunately for the Golden Bears, the runner on third base at the time over ran the bag and was tagged out when she tried to scamper back.
Bloomsburg made KU pay by scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Knipe has thrived for the Golden Bears this season seamlessly transitioning from high school to a program with a tradition of excellence. Knipe sports shades most of the times when playing shortstop and more often than not; she has resembled a vacuum in the middle of the left side. Knipe is currently riding a seven-game hitting streak. This season, she has five multi-hit games and four home runs.
“It took me a while to learn my role and what was expected of me,” Knipe said. “I got thrown into the fire quick but that's what I wanted. I've had to grow into my leadership role.”
Even if that means doing something unconventional or funny during the most tense moments of a game. Now, Knipe and her teammates face the ultimate challenge Saturday afternoon. It seems only fitting for a team that has lived on the edge the entire season. Rest assured, Knipe will be ready with her homemade microphone, electric smile and sizzling bat.
--KU--
