KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown University softball team saw itself down by two runs in its last at-bats of both games of a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) doubleheader against West Chester University Saturday afternoon. But each time, the Golden Rams were able to hold on for the final three outs, winning both games at North Campus Field by two runs, with a game one final of 5-3 and game two ending at 9-7.
The Golden Bears (12-17 overall, 1-9 PSAC East) improved their play Saturday from the last two games between these two teams back on April 5, when KU amassed just two runs and six hits combined over the course of the two-game set. KU totaled 10 runs and 14 hits in the doubleheader Saturday.
Bridget Newman (Ardmore, Pa./Haverford) and
Sara Keeny (Warminster, Pa./William Tennent) continued their hot-hitting with three hits each on the day. Both of Newman's hits in game two were for extra bases, including a two-run home run and a three-run double, totaling a career-high five RBI. Keeny went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and her PSAC-leading 20th steal in game two. The junior is now fourth in the conference in hits (41), eighth in runs scored (23) and first in stolen bases (23).
Tamara Jennings (Philadelphia, Pa./Nazareth Academy) and
Paola Texidor (Reading, Pa./Exeter Township) also had multi-hit days for Kutztown. Jennings finished 2-for-5 with an RBI and three runs scored, while Texidor had a career-high game two going 2-for-3 with two runs scored, giving her three total runs on the day.
Freshman
Alyssa Donato (Cedarville, N.J./Cumberland Regional) connected on her first career home run, a two-run shot in the sixth inning of game one.
Gabby Tareila (Limerick, Pa./Spring-Ford) added an extra base-hit, a double in the fifth inning of game two.
Alyssa Oakley (Allentown, Pa./Parkland) and
Jenna Lipowski (Nanticoke, Pa./Greater Nanticoke Area) each tallied a hit for KU.
After falling behind 1-0 in the first inning of the nightcap, Kutztown responded with three runs in the bottom half. Keeny led off with a single and then swiped second. After the Golden Rams secured an out, Jennings ripped an RBI triple to the right-centerfield fence, bringing around Keeny. The next batter, Newman laced a two-run homer, her second long ball in as many days, and third this season.
The two teams would go back-and-forth the next 1.5 innings trading runs.
West Chester added four in the second to take back the lead, but KU responded with three more runs in its next at-bats, highlighted by a two-out, three-run double by Newman, to take back a 6-5 advantage. In the top of the third, however, the Golden Rams tacked on two runs to go ahead 7-6.
That would remain to be the score, as
Erin Fortney (Bedford, Nova Scotia/Bishop Macdonell (Rollins)) settled down and produced outs in the circle.
In the bottom of the sixth, Texidor and Keeny started the inning with singles. After an error put runners on first and third, Keeny stole second, and when the throw from the catcher came to the second baseman, her throw home sailed wide and allowed Texidor to slide in safely to tie the score 7-7.
The Golden Rams' bats would not remain silent anymore the next inning, as a two-run home run sent them to a game two win and sweep of the Golden Bears.
West Chester ace Amanda Houck, who leads the league with 18 wins and is second with a 1.04 ERA, allowed just five KU hits and zero earned runs in game one.
West Chester (26-9, 9-1) sits atop the league standings, three games ahead of second place Shippensburg.
Kutztown hits the road to take on Millersville University for a PSAC doubleheader next Friday, April 20. Game one is set for 2:30 p.m.
