SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – Savannah Nierintz (Clifton Heights, Pa./Upper Darby) threw a three-hit shutout in game one, then entered game two in a one-run game and posted five innings of one-hit ball to lead the Kutztown University softball team to 5-0 and 6-1 wins over Shippensburg University on Sunday in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division action at Robb Field.
 
In 12 innings of work Sunday, Nierintz held a 13/1 strikeout/walk ratio and allowed four hits. She posted a three-hit shutout in game one with a season-high 10 strikeouts. A one-out double in the fourth marked Shippensburg's only runner to reach scoring position in game one.
 
In a tied game two in the third inning, Nierintz entered in relief with no outs and two on base for the Raiders. She got out of the jam, didn't allow a run and left the bases loaded to keep the game tied at 1-1 and shift the momentum into Kutztown's favor. Nierintz didn't allow a runner to reach scoring position for the rest of the game in KU's 6-1 win.
 
Sunday marked Nierintz's team-leading 11th and 12th victories of the year, and 29th and 30th of her career.
 
Danielle Amato (Henderson, Nev./Coronado) battled through an 0-for-10 streak at the plate following KU's opening game of Friday's doubleheader against Millersville; but just as the weather got colder, Amato's bat has heated up. Amato had three hits, two runs and two RBIs on Sunday and is in the midst of a 6-for-11 (.545) stint at the plate over the last three games.
 
Amato homered and was one of two Golden Bears to drive in multiple runs in game one. Senior Rachel Lawes (Reading, Pa./Governor Mifflin) hit a two-run single up the middle in the fourth, and Tamara Jennings (Philadelphia, Pa./Nazareth Academy) added an RBI in the 5-0 win.
 
Bridget Newman (Ardmore, Pa./Haverford) and Danielle Sienko (Philadelphia, Pa./William Penn Charter) each went 3-for-3 with two RBIs in game two. Newman had two, one-run hits while Sienko drove in a two-run triple in the fifth to open Kutztown's lead to 4-1 in an eventual 5-1 win.
 
Newman started in the circle in the nightcap. She threw 2+ innings and was pulled in the second inning after opening with an infield single and a hit batter in a 1-1 game. Nierintz came in relief and forced a sacrifice bunt, a groundout and a swinging strikeout to leave the bases loaded and end the threat.
 
Jacqueline Walsh (Downingtown, Pa./Coatesville) added an RBI in the sixth to close the scoring for KU.
 
Kutztown (24-10, 7-3 PSAC East), currently in second place in the PSAC East, has six days off before returning to competition on Saturday, April 16 against East Stroudsburg University at 1 p.m. It marks Senior Day for KU and Spring Sports Fest at North Campus Field with added concessions and prizes for KU students.