Regional Rankings (4-17-19)
 
KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Currently sporting the best overall record (29-14) in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC), the Kutztown University softball team found its name ranked with the top teams in the region, as KU was ranked sixth in the Atlantic Region on Wednesday as the first official NCAA regional rankings were released for the 2019 season.
 
Eight teams will be selected for the NCAA Tournament from the Atlantic Region. Two, four-team sites will be determined as opening weekend play is slated for May 9-12. The two teams to come out of the two sites will compete in the Atlantic Super Regionals on May 16-17 in a best-of-3 series, with the winner – the Atlantic Region Champion – punching their ticket to Denver, Colo. to the NCAA National Championships beginning on May 23.
 
The Golden Bears have appeared in the NCAA Tournament 18 times in the last 24 years. Kutztown (29-14 overall, 6-4 PSAC) has the most wins in the conference and sits a game behind Atlantic Regional top-ranked West Chester (26-15, 7-3) for first-place in the PSAC East.
 
Kutztown's April 23 opponent, Shepherd, is second, followed by West Virginia State, West Liberty and Bloomsburg to round out the top-five. KU's next opponent, Shippensburg, appears at seven, with Concord, Winston-Salem and Claflin in the last three spots.
 
The Maroon and Gold have had arguably the best offense in the league this season. They lead the PSAC in batting average (.353), hits (422), runs scored (282), RBI (241), total bases (608), slugging percentage (.508) and on-base percentage (.407). Seniors Sara Keeny (Warminster, Pa./William Tennent), Tamara Jennings (Philadelphia, Pa./Nazareth Academy) and Cheyenne Jones (Levittown, Pa./Harry S Truman (Northwest Florida State)), sophomores Jenna Lipowski (Nanticoke, Pa./Greater Nanticoke Area) and Hannah Auvil (Baltimore, Md./Sparrows Point), and freshman Katelyn Ostaszewski (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) all rank inside the top-10 in the PSAC in at least one offensive category.
 
In the circle, the freshmen duo of Bridget Bailey (Norwood, Pa./Interboro) and Amber Brugger (Levittown, Pa./Neshaminy) have led the way for KU. Bailey, the reigning PSAC East Pitcher of the Week, ranks second in the conference with 13 wins and 125.1 innings pitched. Brugger is tied for sixth with 10 victories.
 
Kutztown plays at Shippensburg (19-17, 4-4) tomorrow, Thursday, in an important regional matchup, with game one beginning at 2:30 p.m.
 
NCAA Atlantic Region Rankings - April 17, 2019
ATLANTIC
RANK    SCHOOL               OVERALL              IN-REGION                                        
1              West Chester    26-15                     25-9
2              Shepherd            30-6                       26-5
3              W. Va St.              23-10                     21-8
4              West Liberty      23-14                     23-10
5              Bloomsburg        22-13                     22-9
6              Kutztown            29-14                     28-12
7              Shippensburg    19-17                     19-17
8              Concord               25-16                     24-16
9              Winston-Salem 24-8                       24-8
10           Claflin                    30-15                     30-15