CALIFORNIA, PA (May 14, 2010) – Since the Kutztown University softball team has done things the hard way all season, it seems only natural that it will have to take a scenic route if the Golden Bears want to advance to next weekend's Super Regionals.
Of course, the Golden Bears didn't plan on losing 8-3, to sixth-seeded Shepherd in their NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional opener at the California University's Lilly Field Friday afternoon. (BOXSCORE)
Playing its first game in 15 days, Kutztown (41-17 overall) could not overcome a four-run first inning deficit against Shepherd.
The Golden Bears did give their fans a thrill by scoring three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to trim their deficit to 4-3. Unfortunately, Kutztown was unable to get over the hump. With the defeat, Kutztown meets Fairmont State in an elimination game Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m.
The Golden Bears have enjoyed the upper hand over Fairmont State this season defeating the Falcons three times. Two of those victories were by one run.
“We needed a couple of extra hits,” Kutztown sophomore third baseman Nicole Henninger said. “Unfortunately, we didn't get key hits when we needed them. I am confident that we'll come out and hit the ball a little better. We know what we have to do and we're not ready to go home yet.”
Henninger paced the Golden Bear offense by collecting two hits, including a two-run double in the fourth inning. Henninger was the only KU player to record multiple hits. Overall, the Golden Bears recorded half of their eight hits in the fourth inning. Kutztown chipped away at its deficit by demonstrating its trademark resilience.
PSAC East Freshman of the Year Katie Lynch opened the fourth inning with a double and Heather Hannum followed with a single, which set the stage for Henninger, who delivered a huge blow. Lynch and Hannum crossed the plate with the Golden Bears' first runs of the contest. Brianna Knipe smacked a single that scored Henninger. Suddenly, Kutztown had plenty of life, trailing, 4-3 with nobody out.
“I just focused on keeping my head down and my shoulders in,” Henninger said of her double. “I was looking to drive something through the infield. That's all that was going through my mind when I was up at the plate.”
The Golden Bears also threatened in the fifth inning. Trailing 5-3, Kutztown loaded the bases with two outs. However, a groundout ended the inning. The Rams expanded their advantage by scoring two runs in the sixth inning and another one in the seventh.
Nicole Colineri extended her hitting streak to 12 games with a third-inning bunt single. Colineri, Kutztown's leading hitter, was playing in her first game since April 18 against Goldey Beacom.
Shepherd meets California, Pa, a 7-4 winner over Fairmont State in the opening game at Noon. The final game of the afternoon will match the loser of the Cal-Shepherd contest against the winner of the Kutztown-Fairmont State tilt at 4:30 p.m. The Golden Bears are still confident in their ability to advance to Sunday's survival round.
“We had our chances today,” Kutztown coach Judy Lawes said. “It's tough when you don't make the finals of the PSAC tournament and you're off for that amount of time even though we practiced, it's not the same. Our pitching wasn't sharp and we didn't hit our spots. Shepherd hit the ball hard. We played good defense.”
--KU--
