Tournament Central
 
BUCKHANNON, W. Va. – The Kutztown University softball team capped its 2017 campaign and second-straight NCAA Tournament appearance Saturday, falling 10-2 in five innings to the University of Charleston (WV) in KU's third game of the tournament at West Virginia Wesleyan College's Culpepper Field.
 
The Golden Bears conclude with a 31-17 record, their 29th winning season in 30 years, and their second-straight season competing in and winning a game at the NCAA Tournament.
 
Kutztown led the Golden Eagles 2-0 through the second inning. Asja Saito (Pickering, Ontario/Pickering) pulled off a two-strike squeeze play to score a sliding Amanda Portoff (Milford, Conn./Joseph A. Foran) for the first run (VIDEO), and KU walked in its second run with the bases loaded for the 2-0 lead.
 
Charleston followed with a three-run homer to center field in the third for a 3-2 lead. It utilized its speed and bunting ability to chase two KU pitchers in a six-run fourth inning, and capped off Saturday's elimination game with a final run in the fifth.
 
Senior pitcher Savannah Nierintz (Clifton Heights, Pa./Upper Darby) closes out a decorated career in the Maroon and Gold. The 2017 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division Pitcher of the Year ends with a 2.10 career ERA, and ranks second in school history with 118 appearances, 63 complete games, 59 wins, 617.2 innings pitched, six saves and 441 strikeouts.
 
Senior Marissa Linquist (West Deptford, N.J./West Deptford) started in 85-of-129 career games. She increased her batting average every season, eclipsing at .308 this year in an injury-shortened campaign. She had three career homers with 22 RBI off 40 hits.
 
Kutztown's third graduating senior is Justine Rossi (Hazleton, Pa./Hazleton Area). She played in 52 career games with 22 starts. She hit a career-best .429 as a sophomore and finished her career with seven hits and 11 runs scored.