KUTZTOWN, Pa. (April 6, 2012)— The Kutztown University softball team stretched its winning streak to 26 after topping East Stroudsburg University 9-1 and 6-2 in a pair of Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East Division matchups at Zimbar Field, Friday afternoon.

The Golden Bears (34-1 overall, 8-0 PSAC) are ranked fifth in this week's National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Top 25 poll, which is the highest feat in program history.

Junior Katie Lynch (Willow Street, PA/Lampeter-Strasburg) (Willow Street, PA/Lampeter-Strausburg) packed a powerful bat in the first game. After trailing 1-0 to ESU (9-20, 3-5) after a solo homer from Brittany Zanzalari in the second inning, the Golden Bears picked up its offense and put on a show in the fourth inning.

It was Lynch who got KU started with a solo home run to centerfield to tie the game 1-1. But Kutztown didn't stop there. With one out, Samantha Derr (Lititz, PA/Warwick) (Lititz, PA/Warwick) doubled and Maria Isgro (Galloway, NJ/Absegami) (Galloway, NJ/ Absegami) reached on a walk. Morgan Booth (Stroudsburg, PA/Stroudsburg) (Stroudsburg, PA /Stroudsburg) cleared the bases with a triple to centerfield to give KU its first lead of the game. Jackie Hetzler (Sewell, NJ/Washington Township) (Turnersville, NJ/ Washington Twp.) singled to score Booth, pushing the lead to 4-1. Kelly Strittmatter (Wyckoff, NJ/Indian Hills) (Wyckoff, NJ/ Indian Hills) used a bunt to get on base and set Kelly Fitzgerald (Upper Darby, PA/Archbishop Prendergast) (Upper Darby, PA/ Archbishop Prendergast) up for the perfect scenario. Fitzgerald, who leads the team in hitting (.408) smacked a three-run homer to put Kutztown up 7-1. The Golden Bears proceeded to bat around and Lynch appeared again for another repeat performance of her last at-bat. Lynch belted another solo home run as Kutztown took the 8-1 advantage. Lynch is second on the team in home runs (seven).

Derr put KU up 9-1 in the sixth inning following a single to leftfield to score Fitzgerald.

The Golden Bears finished with 12 hits in the first game. Brianna Knipe (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty) (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty), Lynch, Fitzgerald, Booth, and Derr each recorded two hits.

Derr improved to 18-0 and finished with five strikeouts. Taylor Webb took the loss for ESU and fell to 4-4 on the season.

In Game 2, KU got on the board in the second inning following back-to-back- doubles from Knipe and Derr. With a 1-0 lead and runners on second and third, Hetzler used a single to solidify a 3-0 advantage.

However, the Warriors cut the score to 3-2 in the fourth inning after scoring two runs, off three hits and a Kutztown error.

It was ESU's defense in the sixth inning that allowed the Golden Bears to score three runs off two hits and three errors to expand KU's lead to 6-2. Kutztown notched its final run of the game in the seventh inning after Heather Hannum (Horsham, PA/Hatboro-Horsham) (Horsham, PA/ Hatboro-Horsham) scored on a fielder's choice.

Nicole Colineri (Scotch Plains, NJ/Scotch Plains-Fanwood) (Scotch Plains, NJ/Scotch Plains-Fanwood), Strittmatter, and Booth each led Kutztown with two hits each.  Colineri and Booth finished with two runs apiece. KU combined for 24 hits in the twin bill on Friday.

Tori Marcavage (Collegeville, PA/Perkiomen Valley) (Collegeville, PA/ Perkiomen Valley) started the second game and pitched 3.1 innings. She finished with five strikeouts. Derr pitched 3.2 innings and struck out two batters to record the win.

Laura Suits recorded the loss for East Stroudsburg.

The Golden Bears will host Mercyhurst College, Saturday, April 7 in a doubleheader set to begin at noon at North Campus Field.