TOURNAMENT PAGE
KUTZTOWN, Pa. (May 5, 2012)— The Kutztown University softball team shutout fifth-seed West Virginia State University, 3-0 in Game 3 of the NCAA Atlantic Regional on Saturday at North Campus Field.
With the win, the Golden Bears (47-4 overall) will advance to the finals on Sunday, May 6 at 1 .p.m. Kutztown does not know its opponent as of yet, but the opposing team will have to defeat KU twice as it remains the only undefeated team at the Atlantic Region 1 site.
The Golden Bears are currently ranked third in the National Fastpitch Coaches' Association (NFCA) Top 25 poll.
Additionally, Kutztown recorded its 20th shutout of the season against the Yellow Jacket (46-13). West Virginia State will face the winner of the Indiana (Pa.)-Winston-Salem State game at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday in an elimination game.
Samantha Derr (Lititz, PA/Warwick) (Lititz, Pa./ Warwick) was nothing but spectacular in Saturday's game, and improved to 27-2 on the season after appearing in her first game in over a week. Her 27 victories are tied for the school record for wins in a season. Additionally, Derr recorded her 11th shutout which is second on the KU single-season pitching records. She finished with two strikeouts against the Yellow Jackets.
“It was a little frustrating at first because I couldn't find my groove,” Derr said. “But when my defense backed me up and stayed behind me, that's when I started to settle down. After we scored, it made it a little bit easier to pitch considering the last time we played them we only won 1-0.”
After a two inning pitching duel between KU and WVSU, it was Kutztown who struck first to get on the board.
In the top of the third, with one out,
Jackie Hetzler (Sewell, NJ/Washington Township) (Turnersville, N.J./ Washington Twp.) singled to right field and stole second to put the Golden Bears in scoring position.
Kelly Strittmatter (Wyckoff, NJ/Indian Hills) (Wyckoff, N.J./ Indian Hills) used a hit to center field to advance Hetzler to third. Strittmatter used her speed to take advantage of the first and third situation to steal second. After
Kelly Fitzgerald (Upper Darby, PA/Archbishop Prendergast) (Upper Darby, Pa./ Archbishop Pendergast) popped up to shallow centerfield to record the second out, Kutztown found its drive to start a two-out rally.
Heather Hannum (Horsham, PA/Hatboro-Horsham) (Horsham, Pa./Hatboro- Horsham) capitalized off an infield single to score Hetzler, giving KU the 1-0 lead. With runners at first and third,
Katie Lynch (Willow Street, PA/Lampeter-Strasburg) (Willow Street, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg) singled to left field to score Strittmatter, allowing Kutztown to take the 2-0 advantage.
After a three up, three down inning for West Virginia, Kutztown returned in the fourth inning to finish where it left off. This time it was the bottom of the lineup that contributed as
Maria Isgro (Galloway, NJ/Absegami) (Galloway, N.J./Absegami) led off with a triple. With one out,
Morgan Booth (Stroudsburg, PA/Stroudsburg) (Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg) doubled to left field, extending the lead to 3-0.
West Virginia State tried to start a rally in the bottom of the seventh after it used two hits and a KU error to load the bases. However, Kutztown's defense remained solid and closed the game after Sabrina Schouten popped up to left field.
Poppey Ramey was 2-for-3 for West Virginia State. Desiree Giffin, Mallory Hilton, and Schouten each recorded a hit.
Sara Pelegreen took the loss for the Yellow Jackets. She is now 17-7 on the season.
