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Box Score 2 Shippensburg 1, Kutztown 0 (9 inn.) (HTML Box Score) Shippensburg 4, Kutztown 3 (HTML Box Score) SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Kutztown University softball team made a valiant effort in the final inning of Monday's nightcap in windy conditions against Shippensburg University in an attempt to salvage the doubleheader split, but could not hold on in the bottom of the seventh as the Raiders earned 1-0 and 4-3 victories from Robb Field in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East action.
Down 3-1 heading into the seventh inning of the nightcap, Kutztown found itself in trouble early with two outs. With
Stephanie Curry (Winchester, VA/Millbrook) on first,
Rachel Lawes (Reading, Pa./Governor Mifflin) faced a full count and the game on the line. The sophomore hit a liner up the middle to reach first and advance Curry, bringing
Jackie Hetzler (Sewell, NJ/Washington Township) up to the plate. Hetzler smashed a double out to left center to bring the runners around from first and second to score. Heading into the bottom of the seventh with the score tied at three, Shippensburg only needed three batters to score the game-winning run and complete the doubleheader sweep.
Savannah Nierintz (Clifton Heights, Pa./Upper Darby) pitched a complete game in the opener for the Golden Bears (14-21, 6-10 PSAC East), allowing eight hits and striking out one. Shippensburg (24-8, 10-6 PSAC East) had star-senior Emily Estep in the circle for all seven innings, who currently leads the PSAC with a 0.89 ERA throughout 14 wins. Estep recorded six strikeouts, but KU did manage six hits and scored three earned runs, which ties the most she has given up in a game this season.
The opening game was a scoreless marathon that needed nine innings to be decided. After lining out on the first at-bat in the bottom of the ninth, the Raiders put up three straight singles to load the bases. With Taylor Llewllyn in to pinch run at third, Hilary Lyons struck an RBI single up the middle to bring the winning run across the plate.
Dominique Ficara (Swedesboro, N.J./Kingsway Regional (Hofstra)) threw a hefty 126 pitches in the complete-game loss. The junior walked one and struck out one before the winning run crossed the plate. She moves to an even 10-10 record on the season. Shippensburg pitcher Liz Parkins moves to 4-1 after also pitching a complete game with eight strikeouts.
It was still a big day for Hetzler, who became the 10th Golden Bear in school history to accumulate 200 career-hits, currently standing in 10th place with 201. The senior led the Maroon and Gold today with two RBI and four hits, including the game-tying double in the nightcap
Colleen Smith (Islip Terrace, NY/East Islip (Hofstra)) had the first RBI in the second game and finished with a double on two hits. Sienko finished the day with a double off of three hits.
In the opener, the Raiders outhit Kutztown 13-5 and KU suffered the only error. Both teams committed an error a piece in the second game, with Shippensburg recording eight hits and KU tallying six.
Tomorrow's doubleheader at Millersville University has already been postponed due to expected weather. KU will next hit the field at Bloomsburg University on Wednesday, April 16 for a 2:30 p.m. PSAC doubleheader. The Millersville contests at home have been switched to Thursday, April 17.
