NCAA ATLANTIC REGIONAL: Third times a charm; Kutztown meets IUP in the championship

INDIANA, Pa. (May 15, 2011)—Rain, rain, go away, come again some other day. The Kutztown University softball team is hoping that day isn't Monday, May 16 as they take on host Indiana University of Pennsylvania in the championship round of the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional at IUP's Podbielski Field. The game is scheduled for 10 a.m.

KU (41-15) defeated California University of Pennsylvania 4-3 on Sunday to clinch its berth in the championship. The Golden Bears will have to beat the Crimson Hawks (35-6) twice to advance in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Super Regional next weekend against Bloomsburg University. KU defeated California University of Pennsylvania 4-3 on Sunday to clinch its berth in the championship.

Daily admission is $5 for adults, $3 for students and senior citizens, and $2 for children 12 and under. No pets are allowed at Podbielski Field. (NCAA TOURNAMENT PAGE)

The untimely weather forced Saturday's games to be moved to Sunday, which was originally the championship day. Saturday's early afternoon game between California and Winston-Salem State University lasted until the second inning, when the game was sent to a rain delay by the NCAA officials. As the rain continued, teams sat on their buses and eventually went back to their hotels, not knowing when they'd continue their game.

Sunday morning arrived with light drizzle and finally the games were resumed around 12:45 p.m. after over a dozen of IUP's field crew worked on the field condition for hours. So with all this free time, what were the Golden Bears doing?

“I enjoyed the breakfast buffet,” Jen Stow said. “I ate well this morning because I knew that it was going to be a long day. We just relaxed and some of us played pool this morning.”

“I slept until 10 a.m. to get those extra hours of sleep in,” Nicole Colineri (Scotch Plains, NJ/Scotch Plains-Fanwood) said. “I too enjoyed the breakfast buffet after all those hours of waiting.”

Sunday's championship game was postponed until Monday, with hopes of the weather holding off. Kutztown again has another day to rest up before it faces IUP.

“The rest and the rain delay is a good thing for us tomorrow,” Stephanie Pritchard (Parkesburg, PA/Octorara) said. “It gave us time to celebrate and take in what happened today and bring all back tomorrow.”

Both times that the Golden Bears have played the Crimson Hawks, they've lost to them by scores of 3-1 (10 innings) and 2-1. Coincidentally, the first time KU played IUP, the game went into a 13-minute rain delay.

Back on April 29, Kutztown's only run came from a solo homer by Nicole Henninger (Reading, PA./Muhlenberg). On May 14, Krista Tedjeske (Summerhill, PA/Forest Hill)'s double to right center drove in Brianna Knipe (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty) and was the only run KU scored.

The bats will definitely have to be in place for Kutztown as they've only faced IUP's pitcher Erin Holloway. In both appearances, Holloway combined for 19 strikeouts.

The combination of senior pitcher Monica Glomb (Mars, PA/Mars) and freshman pitcher Samantha Derr (Lititz, PA/Warwick) have each dueled with Indiana. Glomb tossed Saturday's game against the Crimson Hawks and didn't allow any walks. Derr proved that she could go the distance when she pitched 10 complete innings against IUP back in April.

Monday's championship will definitely be a pitching showcase as two top teams battle it out. One team will keep its post-season dreams alive, as the other will see their season come to an end.

“We have to do everything right tomorrow,” Colineri said. “That means getting consecutive key hits, laying down bunts, and having great defense in two games, if we want to move on.”

Print Friendly Version