Box Score 1 | Box Score 2



KUTZTOWN, Pa. – No. 3 Kutztown University rebounded after a first game loss to defeat West Virginia Wesleyan twice as the Golden Bears won the NCAA Division II Atlantic Super Regional for the first time in school history. 
 
The two victories, by scores of 1-0 and 5-1, also lifted the team to 50 wins, the first time KU has reached that mark.
 
Mary Kociencki (Columbia, N.J./Sparta ) (Columbia, N.J./Sparta) started both games inside the circle for Kutztown and held the Bobcats scoreless for the first 12 innings of work and allowed just one total run in the two wins. 
 
In the opener, Kocienecki allowed just four hits as KU won 1-0.  She struck out just one batter and walked four, while inducing 12 ground ball outs. 
 
The game's only run came in the top of the fourth inning.  Kelly Strittmatter (Wyckoff, NJ/Indian Hills) (Wyckoff, N.J./Indian Hills) singled to lead off the frame and moved to second on a sacrifice by Kelly Fitzgerald (Upper Darby, PA/Archbishop Prendergast) (Upper Darby, Pa./Archbishop Prendergast).  With two outs, Katie Lynch (Willow Street, PA/Lampeter-Strasburg) (Willow Street, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg) doubled into the gap in left center to bring home Strittmatter for a 1-0 lead. 
 
West Virginia Wesleyan hit a pair of balls sharply in the bottom of the inning, but Fitzgerald made a pair of diving stops to preserve a 1-2-3 inning. 
 
In the bottom of the seventh, the Bobcats' Brittanie Gloyd led off the inning with a walk and after a bunt moved her to second, Paige Cummings was walked intentionally with two outs.  Kociencki, however, nailed down the win by getting Alexandrea Furr to fly out to center to end the game and force a decisive game three.
 
KU had just three hits in Saturday's first game, singles by Strittmatter and Fitzgerald and Lynch's game-winning double. 
 
Hillary Perez-Ashley tossed a complete game and allowed just three hits and a walk, while striking out eight, but took the loss.
 
In the deciding game, KU jumped ahead with a three-run second and went on to win 5-1. 
 
Kociencki went the distance for the Golden Bears again, this time allowing eight hits, while walking none.  She did not strike out a batter, but forced 13 ground ball outs. 
 
Heather Hannum (Horsham, PA/Hatboro-Horsham) (Horsham, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) led off the second with a single to right field.  Samantha Derr (Lititz, PA/Warwick) (Lititz, Pa./Warwick) and Maria Isgro (Galloway, NJ/Absegami) (Galloway, N.J./Absegami) had one out singles to load the bases.  Brianna Knipe (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty) (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) reached on an error that allowed Hannum to score for a 1-0 lead.  Jackie Hetzler (Sewell, NJ/Washington Township) (Turnersville, N.J./Washington Township) followed with a two-run single to break the game open. 
 
Neither team scored again until KU added a run in the sixth.  Hannum again started the rally with a double into the right centerfield gap to lead off the inning.  Lynch drove her in with an RBI single up the middle for a 4-0 Golden Bear lead after six innings.
 
West Virginia Wesleyan put together a two-out rally in the bottom half of the inning to get on the board.  Megan Malenstyn doubled with two outs and scored on a single by Kelli McCullough, but that was all the damage Kociencki would allow as Kutztown remained on top 4-1.
 
Hetzler was hit by a pitch and Morgan Booth (Stroudsburg, PA/Stroudsburg) (Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg) had a bunt single to put runners on first and second to lead off the seventh for the Golden Bears.  After the duo executed a double steal, a ground out by Strittmatter plated Hetzler for a 5-1 lead.
 
The Bobcats threatened in their last chance in the bottom of the inning with a leadoff single by Breanna Taylor and an error that put two runners on with two outs.  The next batter, Jacqui Omichinski hit a fly down the left field line, but Isgro roamed over to put it away for the final out, sealing Kutztown's first trip to the Division II Softball Championships. 
 
After just six hits for KU in the series' first two games, the Golden Bears had eight in the clinching victory.  Booth and Hannum each had two hits apiece, while Booth stole a base and Hannum scored twice.  Hetzler drove in two, scored once and stole a base.
 
Cummings had two hits for West Virginia Wesleyan.
 
Omichinski took the loss, allowing four runs in five innings.  Kaitlyn Carey allowed one run in relief over the final two innings.
 
Kutztown now advances to the NCAA Division II Softball Championships on May 16-19 in Louisville, Kentucky.  The Golden Bears will open play in the double elimination tournament against Augustana (S.D.) on Wednesday, May 16 at 10 a.m.