KU vs. Dowling Box

KU vs. Mass-Lowell Box

OCOEE, Fla. (March 10, 2012)—The Kutztown University softball team picked up two monumental wins at the second day of the National Training Center (NTC) Spring Games on Saturday afternoon.

The Golden Bears (11-1 overall) defeated Dowling College, 2-0 in its morning game and finished the day off by winning 11-7 against the University of Massachusetts-Lowell in eight innings.

As it faced another day of stiff competition, Kutztown knew that it wouldn't be an easy task of facing two well-rounded teams. However, the Golden Bears have been displaying various signs of quality, leadership and maturity on all sides of the ball.

After going scoreless for three innings, KU got on top in the bottom of the fourth inning to give it the 2-0 lead over Dowling College (2-4). Senior Kelly Fitzgerald (Upper Darby, PA/Archbishop Prendergast) (Upper Darby, Pa./  Archbishop Prendergast) led off the inning with a single, followed by another single from senior Heather Hannum (Horsham, PA/Hatboro-Horsham) (Horsham, Pa./ Hatboro-Horsham). With two outs and runners on first and second, junior Brianna Knipe (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty) (Bethlehem, Pa./ Liberty) couldn't have been more clutch for the Golden Bears as she doubled to right centerfield to score KU's only runs of the game.

Fitzgerald was 3-for-3, while Morgan Booth (Stroudsburg, PA/Stroudsburg) (Stroudsburg, Pa/ Stroudsburg), Elizabeth Kangas (Douglassville, PA/Daniel Boone) (Douglassville, Pa./ Daniel Boone), and Jackie Hetzler (Sewell, NJ/Washington Township) (Turnersville, NJ/ Washington Twp.) each recorded a hit.

Sophomore pitcher Samantha Derr (Lititz, PA/Warwick) (Lititz, Pa./ Warwick) kept the Golden Lions off the bases as they only recorded five hits. Derr finished with five strikeouts.

Senior Jessie Stavola took the loss for the Dowling College.

“Sam is continuing to provide solid pitching for us,” Kutztown University head coach Judy Lawes said. “Our defense did a good job of making plays and our offense capitalized at the right moment to give us the lead.”

In its second game on Saturday, the Golden Bears would tassle with the Univ. of Mass-Lowell for eight innings to secure its third consecutive win at the NTC Spring Games. With the game tied 6-6 heading into the eighth inning, Kutztown's bats burst open as it used five runs to push the game out of the River Hawks' hands.

As the game went out of regulation in the seventh inning and into an international tie breaker, both teams automatically received a runner on second base.

Senior Katie Lynch (Willow Street, PA/Lampeter-Strasburg) (Willow Street, Pa./ Lampeter-Strasburg) was placed on second base which led to Knipe reaching first base on a walk. Maria Isgro (Galloway, NJ/Absegami) (Galloway, NJ/ Absegami) used an infield single to score Lynch and moved Knipe to second. Derr kept it rolling as she singled to centerfield, scoring Knipe to put KU up 8-6.  Senior Nicole Colineri (Scotch Plains, NJ/Scotch Plains-Fanwood) (Scotch Plains, NJ/ Scotch Plains-Fanwood) reached on a fielder's choice, making the bases loaded. Isgro advanced to home after Hetzler was hit by a pitch. Kutztown collected its final two runs off a hit from freshman Kelly Strittmatter (Wyckoff, NJ/Indian Hills) (Wyckoff, NJ/ Indian Hills) and a fielder's choice from Fitzgerald.

Knipe had another great game offensively for the Golden Bears, finishing 3-for-3, with three runs scored. Derr finished with two hits, three RBIs, and a run followed by Isgro who was 2-for-3 with three RBIs and three runs.

The River Hawks took a 5-3 lead heading into the fourth inning. Freshman pitcher Tori Marcavage (Collegeville, PA/Perkiomen Valley) (Collegeville, Pa./ Perkiomen Valley) relieved Mary Kociencki (Columbia, N.J./Sparta ) (Columbia, NJ/ Sparta) in the fourth and kept the River Hawks scoreless for three innings. KU picked up three runs in the sixth inning to take the 6-5 lead.  Mass-Lowell's Megan Guy ripped a homer in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game 6-6. Derr came in for Marcavage in the seventh and eventually recorded the win for KU.

“I'm proud with how the team battled back,” Lawes said. “This win shows the character of our team. Tori did a great job pitching and our offense was really key.”

Kutztown returns back to action on Sunday, Mar. 11 for an 11 a.m. game against American International.  It will also face St. Michael's College at 3 p.m.