Box Score



Kutztown 4, Bloomsburg 0 (9 innings) (HTML Box Score)
 
Video of Lynch's Go-Ahead RBI | Post-Game Press Conference
 
SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Kutztown University softball team scored four runs in the ninth inning to earn an extra-inning, 4-0 victory over Bloomsburg University on Sunday afternoon in the championship game of the NCAA Atlantic Regional Bracket 2 at Shippensburg University.
 
Kutztown (32-21) advances to its second straight appearance in the Atlantic Super Regionals and will play West Chester University beginning on Friday, May 17 in a best-of-three series at a site to be determined. The winner will advance to the NCAA National Championships in Salem, Va. beginning on Thursday, May 23.
 
In the ninth inning, junior Jackie Hetzler (Sewell, NJ/Washington Township) led off the ninth with an infield single. Morgan Booth (Stroudsburg, PA/Stroudsburg) attempted a sacrifice bunt the following at-bat, but the Bloomsburg third baseman tried to throw out Hetzler at second base but was not in time as KU had runners on first and second with no outs.
 
Senior catcher Katie Lynch (Willow Street, PA/Lampeter-Strasburg) came through with a go-ahead double to left center field to score Hetzler standing from second base and putting runners on second and third with no outs. Colleen Smith (Islip Terrace, N.Y./East Islip (Hofstra)) hit a single the other way to left field to score Booth from third to give Kutztown a 2-0 lead.
 
The Golden Bears remained aggressive at the plate as senior Maria Isgro (Galloway, NJ/Absegami) singled through the right side to score Lynch to extend the lead to 3-0. Henninger singled through the right side to load the bases as the first six batters reached base safely in the inning for Kutztown.
 
Lindsey Kelley (Stafford, VA/North Stafford) drove home a run and reached base on a ground ball as the Bloomsburg first baseman attempted to throw out Isgro at the plate but was not in time.
 
Kutztown starter Dominique Ficara (Swedesboro, N.J./Kingsway Regional (Hofstra)) got through a scoreless first inning thanks to a pair of great sliding catches in the outfield by Isgro and Booth. Ficara also struck out two batters and stranded a pair of runners in the second.
 
For the game, Ficara pitched a complete game shutout with nine innings in the circle. She struck out five batters and allowed eight hits in her 16th win of the season. In the two games against Bloomsburg in regionals, Ficara threw 16 shutout innings with 10 strikeouts and no walks.
 
Bloomsburg pitcher Mandi Black was sharp in her first start in the circle for the Huskies since Apr. 18. She was flawless through the first eight innings, but got into trouble in the ninth allowing the four Kutztown runs.
 
Senior shortstop Brianna Knipe (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty) hit the first extra-base hit of the game for either team in the fifth inning with a line-drive double over the head of the center fielder with one out. It was also Kutztown's first hit of the game, but it was unable to plate Knipe with a foul-out and a strikeout to end the inning.
 
Hetzler opened the sixth inning with a leadoff double to right center field. She was sacrificed over on a bunt by Booth, but was thrown out at the plate on a fly ball to shallow center field the following at-bat.
 
Kutztown is now 5-0 in extra-inning games in postseason play this season.