KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The top-seeded Kutztown University softball team had the tying run at the plate in the bottom of the seventh inning but was unable to score, falling to fifth-seeded West Liberty University 5-2 in KU's opening game of the NCAA Atlantic Region Tournament Thursday morning at North Campus Field.
 
The Golden Bears (32-14 overall) did not have to play during day one on Wednesday, while the Hilltoppers (37-15) defeated fourth-seeded East Stroudsburg University, 7-0, no-hitting the Warriors in the tournament's opening game.
 
Kutztown did not have the same issue with West Liberty pitching, finishing with five hits, but was unable to better WLU on the scoreboard where it mattered most.
 
After a scoreless opening two innings of action, the Hilltoppers scored three runs in the top of the third inning, highlighted by two RBI singles. Their first three batters reached base safely, two on walks and one on a single. After KU recorded its first out on a line out, West Liberty dropped down a bunt with the bases loaded that starting pitcher, Amber Brugger (Levittown, Pa./Neshaminy), could not field and throw home to in time as WLU manufactured its first run. Two batters later, a second infield single brought home two runs and a 3-0 Hilltoppers lead.
 
Kutztown answered in the bottom-half of the third inning thanks to a pinch-hit, solo homerun from Gillian Walsh (Easton, Pa./Easton), her second career home run and first this season to cut her team's deficit to 3-1. The Maroon and Gold struck again in their next at-bats. Hannah Auvil (Baltimore, Md./Sparrows Point) led off with a single up the middle. She advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Brianna Hughes (Hatboro, Pa./Upper Moreland) and then to third on a flyout to center field by Jenna Lipowski (Nanticoke, Pa./Greater Nanticoke Area). Auvil then came around to home on a run-scoring single by Alyssa Donato (Cedarville, N.J./Cumberland Regional).
 
The score would remain 3-2 in favor of West Liberty until the seventh inning when the Hilltoppers tacked on two more insurance runs to stake to a 5-2 advantage. Down to its final chance, Kutztown put together a rallying effort. With one out, Hannah Reimel (Warminster, Pa./William Tennent) doubled to right field. Pinch hitter Maddie Fraley (Northampton, Pa./Northampton) then worked a walk that put runners on at first and second with one out. Hilltoppers head coach Herb Minch made a change inside the circle and brought in his ace, Makenzie Amend. Amend, who threw six innings of no-hit ball Wednesday, came on to get the final two outs.
 
Reimel paced the offense with two hits in three at-bats. Brugger took the loss inside the circle for KU, falling to 12-6 this season. She allowed six hits and three runs, walking three and striking out two. Sarah Harvey (Swanton, Vt./Missisquoi Valley Union) came on in relief and threw the final four innings, allowing four hits and two runs, striking out three.
 
Kutztown will take on the loser of the 12:30 p.m., game between No. 3 West Chester and No. 2 Shepherd at approximately 3 p.m. West Liberty advances to Friday to take on the winner of the Golden Rams-Rams game.