Box Score



KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Brianna Stocklin (Deptford, N.J./Deptford Township) was a home run shy of the cycle and Kutztown softball got off to a fast start, scoring three runs in the first inning and rode the arm of starting pitcher Amber Brugger (Levittown, Pa./Neshaminy) to a 6-2 victory over Fairmont State in the opening game of the NCAA Atlantic Regional Thursday afternoon at North Campus Field.
 
The top-seeded Golden Bears (38-13) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first and never looked back. Back-to-back doubles by the top-two hitters, Brianna Stocklin (Deptford, N.J./Deptford Township) and Hannah Auvil (Baltimore, Md./Sparrows Point) to lead off the frame got things going for the Maroon and Gold. Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference tournament MVP, Kate Ostaszewski (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan), kept it going with a single up a middle, advancing to second on a throwing error from the Falcons (22-25) outfielder to put runners at second and third with nobody out. Jenna Lipowski (Nanticoke, Pa./Greater Nanticoke Area) brought Auvil home on a sacrifice fly and then two batters later, Brianna Hughes (Hatboro, Pa./Upper Moreland) ripped a run-scoring single to center to push the KU lead to 3-0.
 
Fairmont State got on the scoreboard with a run in its ensuing at-bats. The Falcons had two straight hits to open the inning, followed by a walk. They scored on an RBI groundout to shortstop.
 
Kutztown scored one right back in the bottom-half of the second. Stocklin did most of the hard work as she singled with two outs, stole second and then came around to score on an RBI single to left field by Auvil as KU went back ahead by three runs, 4-1.
 
Following two scoreless innings out of both teams, Stocklin once again helped produce a KU run. The freshman ripped a triple over the center fielder's head and then came home after the throw got away from the third baseman.
 
The Maroon and Gold capped their scoring later in the fifth when Ostaszewski was hit by a pitch and then crossed home plate following a double from Lipowski.
 
The Falcons attempted a comeback in the top of the seventh with two hits, including an RBI double, and two hit-by-pitches that loaded the bases and put the tying run at the plate with two outs. But Brugger shut the door by striking out the final batter for the third and deciding out. Brugger gave up six hits and two earned runs, earning her 10th victory on the season.
 
Stocklin finished a home run shy of the cycle, going 3-for-4 with three runs scored. Auvil was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored. Lipowski went 1-for-2 with two RBIs and Ostaszewski was 1-for-2 with two runs.
 
Kutztown will now advance to the winner's bracket, second round game tomorrow, Friday, May 13, at 10 a.m. KU will take on the winner of No. 4 Mercyhurst and No. 5 West Virginia Wesleyan.