KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The 19th-ranked Kutztown bats had a tough time getting going in game one of the NCAA Atlantic Super Regional on Thursday afternoon against Shippensburg and starting pitcher Alicia Ball. It was more of the same in Saturday morning's game two as KU was shutout and lost to Ship 4-0, ending the 2025 season and sending the Raiders to the NCAA Championships.
 
The Golden Bears finished their year 43-19 overall, the most wins in a single season since 2012 when they had 52. Head coach Judy Lawes and KU were playing in Super Regionals for the second year in-a-row and third time in the last four. The Maroon and Gold earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the fifth consecutive season and 23rd time in program history. They fell just short of playing in their third NCAA Championships, first since 2013.
 
Kutztown never held a lead in either of the two games against the Raiders (36-20), who are making their third trip to NCAA Championships. In game one, KU recorded its first hit in the bottom of the seventh inning and scored a late run in a 7-2 defeat. In game two Saturday, Shippensburg, just as it did Thursday, scored two runs in its first at-bats, as a leadoff single, followed by a walk two batters later put runners at first and second with one out. Brie Wilmot stepped up and doubled to left center, bringing both runners home for the 2-0 lead.
 
After two scoreless innings, the Raiders doubled up their advantage in the bottom of the fourth. Gianna Cimino led off with a solo home run over the left field fence, and then four batters later, Katelyn Minney recorded an RBI sacrifice fly to put her team in front 4-0.
 
The Golden Bears threatened in the top of the seventh inning, getting their first two batters on safely as Geesey was hit by a pitch to get things started and pinch-hitter Caitlin Ashley (Limerick, Pa./Spring-Ford) walked to put runners at first and second with nobody out. But Ball buckled down and got the next three outs, two fielder's choices and a strikeout, to end the game and series.
 
Kutztown finished with four hits and seven total between the two games. Shippensburg had nine Saturday. Senior Naya Darnowski (Manchester, N.J./Manchester Township) finished 2-for-4, and both senior Kristin Geesey (Bainbridge, Pa./Elizabethtown) and sophomore Emily Henn (Matamoras, Pa./Delaware Valley) recorded a hit.
 
Kutztown will graduate seven seniors, including Darnowski, Geesey, Brianna Stocklin (Deptford, N.J./Deptford Township), Sarah Harvat (Bangor, Pa./Bangor), Haley Gravish (Hamburg, Pa./Hamburg), Jessica Iavarone (Miller Place, N.Y./Miller Place) and Natalee Harvey (Swanton, Vt./Missisquoi Valley Union).

  Read Full Article