Box Score 1 | Box Score 2



WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Kutztown University softball team had double-digit hits and scored eight runs in both games, defeating Palm Beach Atlantic University 8-0 in five innings in game one and 8-4 in game two Monday evening in West Palm Beach, Fla.
 
Brianna Hughes (Hatboro, Pa./Upper Moreland) led the Golden Bear (7-4 overall) offense with four hits on the day, including a homerun, her third of the season and second in as many days. She also had two RBIs and three runs scored. Hannah Auvil (Baltimore, Md./Sparrows Point), Jenna Lipowski (Nanticoke, Pa./Greater Nanticoke Area) and Kristin Geesey (Bainbridge, Pa./Elizabethtown) each finished with three hits in the doubleheader, with the freshman Geesey recording five RBIs, including a season-high three in the opener.
 
The Kutztown hitters combined for 22 hits and outhit the Sailfish 22-13 overall.
 
Senior pitcher Amber Brugger (Levittown, Pa./Neshaminy) earned her first win of the season inside the circle, throwing game one and recording the shutout. Bridget Bailey (Norwood, Pa./Interboro) won game two, her fifth win of the year, pitching the complete game.
 
Kutztown faces two different opponents tomorrow, Tuesday, March 15. First it takes on Molloy at 1 p.m., followed by a game with the host, Florida Tech at 6 p.m.
 
Kutztown 8, Palm Beach Atlantic 0 (5 innings)
 
Kutztown used two innings to capture the opener as all eight runs were scored in the second and third frames.
 
Back-to-back one-out doubles by Hannah Reimel (Warminster, Pa./William Tennent) and Geesey, following a leadoff single by Hughes gave KU a 2-0 lead after two.
 
In the ensuing inning, the Golden Bears recorded seven of their 10 hits in the game, including five straight batters. With runners on second and third and two outs, Alyssa Donato (Cedarville, N.J./Cumberland Regional) came through and singled the opposite way to right field, plating both Auvil and Lipowski. Reimel then ripped her second double in as many innings to center field, and Geesey followed with a two-run single and a 6-0 advantage. After a bunt for a single by Zoe Texidor (Reading, Pa./Exeter Township) to put runners at first and second, Brianna Stocklin (Deptford, N.J./Deptford Township) singled up the middle, bringing Geesey home. And then Texidor scored on a wild pitch two pitches later as Kutztown extended its edge to 8-0.
 
Brugger made sure to let the lead stand so she could experience victory for the first time this season. The senior right-hander went the distance and allowed just four hits for the shutout.
 
Kutztown 8, Palm Beach Atlantic 4
 
The duo of Auvil and Lipowski in the three and four holes of the lineup, helped stake Kutztown to an early 3-0 through the first three innings. With two outs in the first, Auvil singled up the middle, stole second and then came home thanks to an RBI single by Lipowski. In the top of the third, Kate Ostaszewski (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) led off with a double to left center and advanced to third on a single by Auvil. Following a wild pitch that allowed Ostaszewski to touch home plate, Lipowski brought around Auvil with a groundout to second.
 
Palm Beach Atlantic had a two-out rally in the bottom-half of the fourth inning, scoring three runs with three hits and a walk to tie the score at 3-3. But KU went right back on top in its next at-bats, as Hughes drove a 1-1 pitch with two outs over the left field wall for a two-run longball and a 5-3 KU advantage.
 
The Sailfish got one back in the bottom of the fifth, but a double steal in the sixth by Brianna Stocklin (Deptford, N.J./Deptford Township) and Texidor gave Kutztown the run back. The Maroon and Gold added some more insurance runs in the seventh. Lipowski led off with a single, and both Hughes and Reimel walked, bringing Geesey to the plate with the bases loaded and nobody out. The freshman singled in two with a hit up the middle and KU was able to hold off the Sailfish.