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LOUISVILLE, Ky. (May 15, 2012)—After a long-lasting, yet entertaining trip to the home of the Kentucky Derby, the Kutztown University softball team is ready to make its mark on Louisville as it faces No. 16 Augustana College on Wednesday, May 16 at 10 a.m. for the first round of the NCAA Division II Championship.
The Golden Bears (50-5) will face either No. 1 Valdosta State or No. 24 UC San Diego in the next round on Thursday, May 17.
Augustana (53-10) defeated Concordia University, 10-2 in the NCAA Super Regional to advance to the national championship. The Vikings offense has been solid this season. As a team, they have a .330 batting average. The Vikings are led by Jenelle Trautmann who is hitting .394 with a team-leading 76 hits and 18 home runs. Theresea McMahon has 67 hits on the year and 18 homers.
Ashley Mayor, Augustana's ace pitcher has a 27-3 record and a 1.53 ERA. She leads the Vikings with 136 strikeouts.
As Kutztown makes its first appearance to the national tournament, it plans to take the moment in and reflect on its accomplishments. However the Golden Bears are strictly here for one reason, and one reason only, to bring home a national championship.
Everything that they have worked for the entire season has led up to this point. Since preseason, KU has mentioned that its goal was to make it to the NCAA Division II Championship, and its hard work, determination, and perseverance has led it here.
As Kutztown enters its final week of games for the 2012 season and competes with the top eight teams in Division II, its success this season has been more than phenomenal. After a program-changing, record-setting, chart-topping season, the 2012 team will go down as the best team in KU softball history.
“Its an accomplishment to be here,” Kutztown University head coach
Judy Lawes said. “We want to enjoy Louisville while we're here but when it comes down to it, we're here for business. We can't get wrapped up in other things. We have to play our game and give it all we got.”
