EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. – The Kutztown University softball team secured its spot in next week's Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament when it won game one of a two-game set 13-7 on the road at East Stroudsburg University Saturday afternoon. KU fell by one run, 5-4, in game two.
 
The Golden Bears (33-18 overall, 9-7 PSAC) wrapped up their regular season slate with the most overall wins in the conference. They clinched the three seed from the East Division and will open up postseason play against the West Division three seed on day one Wednesday, May 1. That opponent will most likely be either Edinboro or California (Pa.).
 
Kutztown did not want to be left out of the dance for a second straight season, so it took care of its business right away, jumping all over the Warriors (24-22, 6-8) in the opener. The PSAC's number one offense in several categories combined for 17 runs Saturday, including 13 in game one.
 
Freshman Katelyn Ostaszewski (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) had herself a day at the plate, tying a season-high total for hits in a twin bill with six, including four in the night cap. She also scored four runs and added two RBI. Tamara Jennings (Philadelphia, Pa./Nazareth Academy) totaled five hits, two runs and five RBI, and Sara Keeny (Warminster, Pa./William Tennent) and Jenna Lipowski (Nanticoke, Pa./Greater Nanticoke Area) both posted four hits and two RBI on the day, as Keeny also scored three runs. Taylor Knappenberger (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland) contributed three hits, an RBI and scored a run.
 
Freshman pitcher Bridget Bailey (Norwood, Pa./Interboro) earned the victory in the circle in game one, striking out five batters and allowing just three hits in 3.1 innings. She is 16-6 on the year, tied for the most wins in the PSAC.
 
Kutztown will return to action Wednesday in the PSAC Tournament in Quakertown with a noon game.
 
Kutztown 13, East Stroudsburg 7
 
The Maroon and Gold offense scored their most runs in league action and also tallied a season-high 19 hits off East Stroudsburg pitching.
 
After being shutout in its first at-bats, Kutztown had runners touch home plate in each of the next six innings, including scoring a combined seven runs in the top of the third and fourth innings where it retook a lead and held onto it.
 
Nine players in the lineup recorded at least one hit, including Bailey who had her first career base hit. Jennings and Lipowski each hit safely three times, while Keeny, Ostaszewski, Knappenberger, Hannah Auvil (Baltimore, Md./Sparrows Point), Dani Nordyk (Orange, Conn./Amity) and Cheyenne Jones (Levittown, Pa./Harry S Truman (Northwest Florida State)) all recorded two hits.
 
There were seven extra-base hits, all doubles, as Nordyk (two), Keeny, Ostaszewski, Jennings, Lipowski and Jones all posted two-baggers.
 
East Stroudsburg 5, Kutztown 4
 
Kutztown had its chance in the top of the seventh. After a two-out, two-run double by Jennings cut its deficit to 5-4 and moved her into scoring position as the tying run. But KU was unable to bring her home.
 
The teams were held scoreless through the course of the first two innings, then the Warriors broke through in the next two with a run each inning to go out ahead 2-0.
 
The Golden Bears responded with two in the fifth, highlighted by an RBI double by Ostaszewski and a run-scoring single from Jennings to tie the score.
 
East Stroudsburg put the pressure back on Kutztown with a three-run sixth inning.