Schedule | Roster
 
KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Last year was one of the best seasons in recent memory for the Kutztown University softball team. KU, however, can still accomplish more and has the expectations to do so during the 2022 campaign.
 
Coming off a 33 win season and a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East Division first place finish in 2021, the Kutztown University softball team once again is viewed highly around the conference. KU was voted second in the East Division Preseason Poll.
 
The Golden Bears finished last season 33-15 overall and 23-9 in the PSAC and came within one win of the conference championship series. The 23 PSAC wins is the most in program history in a season. They also made their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2017 and 19th appearance overall in program history, going 1-2 while hosting the Division II Atlantic Region Championships. KU will return its entire starting lineup from the 2021 team and is a favorite, along with defending conference champion West Chester, to win the PSAC this season.
 
The Maroon and Gold are also flirting with the national spotlight. Last month they were tabbed just outside of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) preseason top-25 national poll. KU is receiving votes in the preseason rankings.
 
"Last year we had a lot of success, but we still fell short of a championship," said PSAC East coach of the year and KU head coach Judy Lawes in her 35th season at the helm. "We are going to have a very similar roster to last year with a majority of our team back. So, we want to get back to PSACs and NCAAs and win them."
 
Kutztown has a large group of upperclassmen who have three-four years in the program. All-PSAC East members in graduate students Hannah Auvil (Baltimore, Md./Sparrows Point) and Jenna Lipowski (Nanticoke, Pa./Greater Nanticoke Area) and senior Bridget Bailey (Norwood, Pa./Interboro) highlight a strong core of leadership that also includes graduate students Zoe Texidor (Reading, Pa./Exeter Township), Paola Texidor (Reading, Pa./Exeter Township) and Alyssa Donato (Cedarville, N.J./Cumberland Regional) and seniors Kate Ostaszewski (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan), Amber Brugger (Levittown, Pa./Neshaminy) and Jenna Martinez (Oracle, Ariz./Canyon del Oro). Junior All-PSAC player Sarah Harvey (Swanton, Vt./Missisquoi Valley Union), All-Region and All-PSAC member Brianna Hughes (Hatboro, Pa./Upper Moreland) and Hannah Reimel (Warminster, Pa./William Tennent) all started at least 35 games in 2021.
 
"This is a strong team with the amount of experience and leadership we have at the top," Lawes said. "We don't have to say much to motivate them. They are motivated from last year and want to improve on what we did last year."
 
Lawes also has 13 freshmen ready to impress and will look to break into the lineup and help contribute.
 
After an initial uncertainty surround games this weekend, Kutztown is set to open its 2022 regular season for two days in Pembroke, N.C. KU takes on host UNC Pembroke on Sunday, Feb. 6, at 10 a.m., before playing West Virginia State at 1:30 p.m. KU takes on both teams in the same format the following day.