PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Less than 24 hours after suffering just its first loss in 10 games, the Kutztown University softball team wasted little time in beginning another win streak. KU defeated Jefferson University 3-0 and 7-1 in two non-conference games in Philadelphia Sunday to cap a 9-1 week.
 
The Golden Bears (29-14 overall) saw their 10-game win streak snapped at West Chester Saturday, but did not have much time to let that feeling sit.
 
Since March 30, Kutztown is 16-2.
 
In both games Sunday, head coach Judy Lawes' lineup featured eight-of-the-nine in the batting order record hits, as KU totaled 25 hits through the two games, including a season-high 16 in the nightcap. Kutztown's bats continue to rake, leading the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) in hits with 422 this season.
 
Sara Keeny (Warminster, Pa./William Tennent) finished with four hits, two runs and two RBI, with three of the hits, along with the runs and RBI coming in game two. The senior continues to reach base as she leads the league with a .527 batting average and 78 hits.
 
Cheyenne Jones (Levittown, Pa./Harry S Truman (Northwest Florida State)), Taylor Knappenberger (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland), Jenna Lipowski (Nanticoke, Pa./Greater Nanticoke Area) and Katelyn Ostaszewski (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) all posted three hits. Tamara Jennings (Philadelphia, Pa./Nazareth Academy), Zoe Texidor (Reading, Pa./Exeter Township), Kiera Brown (Nanticoke, Pa./Greater Nanticoke Area) and Amber Brugger (Levittown, Pa./Neshaminy) each contributed two hits. Hannah Auvil (Baltimore, Md./Sparrows Point) also added a base hit for KU.
 
Bridget Bailey (Norwood, Pa./Interboro) picked up the victory in the circle in game two, and also pitched three innings of relief in the opener to earn the save for the starter Brugger, who threw the first four innings. The freshmen duo are ranked in the top-five in the conference in wins as Bailey is second with 13 and Brugger tied for fifth with 10.
 
Kutztown has four days off before hitting the road to take on Shippensburg for two PSAC games on Friday, April 19. The double header begins at 2:30 p.m.
 
Kutztown 3, Jefferson 0
 
The KU bats may have still been feeling the effects of the 2-0 loss to the Golden Rams the day prior, and even though it scored just three runs, the lowest since March 29, it still had nine hits. And the three runs proved to be enough for Brugger and Bailey to work with with the defense behind them.
 
In the top of the second inning, Brown, receiving the nod to start in center field, doubled. Then, with two outs, Jones brought her home with a double of her own and gave Kutztown the first run of the game.
 
The next frame, two more doubles brought home two more runs. With two outs, Jennings and Lipowski ripped back-to-back run-scoring two-baggers to give KU a 3-0 lead that it would hold onto.
 
Kutztown 7, Jefferson 1
 
A two-run inning in Kutztown's first at-bats, highlighted by RBI from Lipowski and Brown, was all the offense had going for the first five innings.
 
Riding the arm of Bailey has proved to be enough of late.
 
The Rams scored for the first time of the day on an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth, and trailed just 2-1.
 
But in the sixth, the Maroon and Gold got the cushion they needed. The first five batters reached base, including four hits. Jones and Knappenberger singled, followed by a walk to Texidor to load the bases with nobody out. Keeny then doubled as pinch-runner Emily Ostaszewski (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan (C.C. of Philadelphia)) and Knappenberger crossed home plate. K. Ostaszewski then had a two-run single in the following at-bat to cap the scoring.
 
Kutztown tacked on another run in the seventh via an RBI base hit by Knappenberger.