KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The newly minted No. 24 ranked Kutztown University softball team recognized its 2021 senior class in style, winning both of its games Saturday against Mansfield University, 8-4 in game one and 11-3 (six innings) in game two in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East Division action at North Campus Field.
 
The Golden Bears (18-4 overall, 15-3 PSAC) were able to get back on a win streak after their 13-game win streak was snapped in their last game before the Mounties series, a 10-2 defeat at the hands of Shepherd University on March 27.
 
KU's eight seniors include Ava Bottiglia (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin), Hannah Auvil (Baltimore, Md./Sparrows Point), Alyssa Donato (Cedarville, N.J./Cumberland Regional), Jenna Lipowski (Nanticoke, Pa./Greater Nanticoke Area), Alyssa Oakley (Allentown, Pa./Parkland), Paola Texidor (Reading, Pa./Exeter Township), Zoe Texidor (Reading, Pa./Exeter Township) and Kiera Brown (Nanticoke, Pa./Greater Nanticoke Area).
 
Hannah Reimel (Warminster, Pa./William Tennent) had a four-hit day, including a season-high 4-for-4 game two, adding four RBI and three runs scored. Gillian Walsh (Easton, Pa./Easton) and Auvil finished with three hits Saturday. Amber Brugger (Levittown, Pa./Neshaminy) and Sarah Harvey (Swanton, Vt./Missisquoi Valley Union) started games one and two respectively and each finished with a victory.
 
Kutztown will host Shippensburg University for two games on Friday, April 9, beginning at 2:30 p.m.
 
Kutztown 8, Mansfield 4
 
Mansfield took a lead in its first at-bats with a run-scoring single.
 
Following a scoreless bottom of the first inning, Kutztown brought four runners home, highlighted by three runs plating thanks to a Mounties error.
 
The teams went scoreless over the course of the next three innings and then KU added another four-run frame in the bottom of the sixth that padded its lead. Lipowski and Donato each had RBI singles that highlighted the inning.
 
Mansfield threatened in its final at-bats in the seventh, plating three runs. But Harvey came on in relief and shut the door on the comeback effort.
 
Brugger allowed just two earned runs and struck out three, earning her fourth win of the season.
 
Kutztown 11, Mansfield 3 (6)
 
The Kutztown bats jumped out in front early, scoring a run in each of the first two innings. Lipowski and Oakley recorded run-scoring singles.
 
In the fourth, Reimel tripled in Mya Zettlemoyer (Allentown, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic) and then crossed home plate herself following an RBI single by Walsh to put KU ahead 4-0.
 
Mansfield would get two back in the top of the fifth, but the Maroon and Gold broke the game open in the bottom-half on RBIs by Brianna Hughes (Hatboro, Pa./Upper Moreland), Reimel, Walsh and Oakley.
 
Following a Mounties run in the sixth, Reimel sent the teams home early with a two-run double to left center to put the run rule into effect.
 
Harvey threw six innings and allowed just one earned run to record her fifth win this season.