SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Kutztown University softball team split a pair of one-run games at Shippensburg University on Friday. KU dropped the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) opener 3-2, but rebounded with three runs in the first inning of a 7-6 win in game two at Robb Field.
 
The Golden Bears (30-14, 16-10 PSAC East) secured a 30-win season on Friday for the 10th time in the last 12 years. They have already clinched a spot in the PSAC Tournament, beginning on Thursday, April 30, and currently stand in third place in the Eastern Division.
 
Bridget Newman hit her first career home run to highlight a three-run first inning of game two against Shippensburg (15-18, 10-16). The home team did not back down, however, and retook the lead with four runs in the bottom half of the inning, capped with a three-run homer for a 4-3 lead.
 
Freshman Blayse Cholish tied the game at 5-5 in the fourth with a RBI single, and was followed by the go-ahead RBI by Asja Saito for a 6-5 lead through four.  Sam Fraser extended the lead to 7-5 in the fifth to cap Kutztown's scoring in the 13-run nightcap.
 
Kutztown pitcher Dominique Ficara came on in relief of game two in the fourth inning. She allowed one run on five hits.  
 
Shippensburg struck first in game one with two runs in the second inning, including a leadoff homer, but Kutztown answered with two runs in the fourth off RBI singles by Newman and Gabby Tareila.
 
Ficara kept Shippensburg off the board until the sixth inning, when pinch-runner Taylor Dorman scored on a wild pitch with two outs for the 3-2 Raider win.
 
Kutztown closes its regular season on the road tomorrow, Saturday, April 25 at West Chester University beginning at 1 p.m.