Box Score 1 | Box Score 2



HTML Game One Box Score | HTML Game Two Box Score
 
KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown University softball team rattled off 23 hits and scored 17 combined runs in a sweep over Holy Family University on Wednesday afternoon at North Campus Field. Kutztown won game one 9-4, and game two 8-2.
 
The Golden Bears (16-14) had a team-high four hits from senior shortstop Brianna Knipe (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty) in the doubleheader. She went 3-for-3 in the opener against the Tigers (15-15).
 
GAME ONE
 
Kutztown got out to an early lead for sophomore pitcher Dominique Ficara (Swedesboro, N.J./Kingsway Regional (Hofstra)). In the first inning, Kutztown worked two walks, used a sacrifice bunt by Katie Lynch (Willow Street, PA/Lampeter-Strasburg), and a wild pitch to score its first run of the game.
 
Ficara held Holy Family scoreless through the first four innings of action. In the fourth inning, Kutztown stretched its lead to six with a five-run inning. It opened the inning with five straight singles. With the bases loaded and no outs, Krista Schauder (Gilbertsville, Pa./Boyertown Area) drove a two-run single and was followed by an RBI bunt single by Jessica Kurtz (Pottstown, PA/Pottsgrove).
 
Later that inning with one out, Lynch hit a groundball that went under the shortstops glove to score two runs to give Kutztown a 6-0 lead though four.
 
The Tigers tacked on two runs in the fifth and sixth innings, all coming with two outs. In the fifth, a two-run double cut the Golden Bears lead to 6-2. However, Kutztown responded with two runs in its following at-bat to keep a six-run lead (8-2). Knipe and Morgan Booth (Stroudsburg, PA/Stroudsburg) had RBI hits in the inning.
 
Holy Family capitalized off a mental error by Kutztown's right fielder in the sixth. With two outs and a runner on first, a fly ball in the gap landed in between two Kutztown outfielders to plate the runner from first.
 
Kutztown closed out the scoring in game one with some style. With runners on the corners, Knipe attempted to steal second base but stopped midway trying to attract a throw. Following a throw to second, junior Colleen Smith (Islip Terrace, N.Y./East Islip (Hofstra)) darted home from second base to score Kutztown's ninth run. Knipe ended up safely at second base on the play.
 
Ficara pitched her fifth consecutive complete game with seven innings of work. Her streak of scoreless innings came to an end at 24 spanning over five games. She allowed eight hits in game one as all four runs were earned.
 
Holy Family's Samantha Borrelli went 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBI in the setback. Pitcher Rachel Alligood lasted four innings and finished with three strikeouts as seven of her eight runs were earned.
 
GAME TWO
 
Ficara started in game two as well but pitched just two innings. She allowed three hits and no runs in her brief stint.
 
Lynch gave KU a 1-0 lead in the third with an RBI single to center field. Holy Family took its first lead of the day with two runs in the fourth.
 
In the fourth inning, lightning struck in the area and delayed the game 30 minutes as players cleared the field.
 
After resuming the game shortly after 6:00, Kutztown scored seven unanswered runs to assure itself a victory. Jackie Hetzler (Sewell, NJ/Washington Township) tied the game at 2-2 with a two-out single up the middle to score Kurtz from second base.
 
Kutztown pitcher Schauder retired the Tigers in order in the fifth, leading to a big bottom half of the inning for the Golden Bears. With the bases loaded and no outs, Smith drove an RBI single to left field that got past the left fielder and cleared the bases to give KU a 5-2 lead. Maria Isgro (Galloway, NJ/Absegami) knocked in Smith the following at-bat with an RBI double down the left field line.
 
Schauder also retired Holy Family in order in the sixth as Kutztown scored two more runs in its final at-bat of the day. Danielle Miller (Waynesboro, PA/Waynesboro) tallied an RBI in the inning.
 
Miller was 3-for-4 in the nightcap, as Smith went 2-for-3 with three RBI.
 
The Golden Bears return to action and remain at home this weekend beginning on Friday, April 12 to take on West Chester at North Campus Field beginning at 2:30 p.m.