PSAC Championship Central | NCAA Regional Rankings (5/1/2019)
 
QUAKERTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown University softball team went off for seven runs in its first at-bats and finished with double-digit hits and runs in defeating Edinboro University 10-0 in five innings in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament opening game Wednesday afternoon at Veterans Park in Quakertown.
 
The Golden Bears (34-18 overall) scored seven in the first and one in the second before adding two in the fourth in winning their first PSAC postseason game since the 2016 season.
 
KU batted around in the bottom of the first, as senior leadoff hitter Sara Keeny (Warminster, Pa./William Tennent) led the charge, reaching base twice in the inning on a walk and two-run double that capped the scoring in the first. Four other Golden Bears posted hits and three others reached base safely. Hannah Auvil (Baltimore, Md./Sparrows Point) ripped a two-run single up the middle and Jenna Lipowski (Nanticoke, Pa./Greater Nanticoke Area), Taylor Knappenberger (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland) and Alyssa Oakley (Allentown, Pa./Parkland) also had singles to highlight the seven-run breakout first inning.
 
Kutztown's three other runs all came via the long ball.
 
Jennings roped a solo shot over the center field wall in the second, and Cheyenne Jones (Levittown, Pa./Harry S Truman (Northwest Florida State)) went yard for a two-run homerun in the fourth that gave KU the 10-0 advantage.
 
Inside the circle, freshman Amber Brugger (Levittown, Pa./Neshaminy) had it going from start to finish. She allowed just one hit and struck out two for her 12th victory of the season, a shutout.
 
The third and final edition of the NCAA Regional rankings was released Wednesday as well. The Golden Bears are slated seventh. The final rankings release is set for Sunday.
 
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.
 
Kutztown next takes on Bloomsburg Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. in the PSAC Tournament.