KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Kutztown softball swept the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division doubleheader with Bloomsburg Friday afternoon at North Campus Field, and in doing so, head coach Judy Lawes earned her 1,199th and 1,200th victories.
 
Lawes, in her 39th season at the helm, ranks second all-time in the NCAA Division II in active coaching wins and is second all-time in PSAC history in victories, 16 shy of Jan Hutinson of Bloomsburg's (1978-2010) record of 1,215.
 
The Golden Bears (25-15 overall, 14-6 PSAC) won game one 4-3 and were victorious in game two 6-2 over the Huskies (20-14, 11-11).
 
Emily Henn (Matamoras, Pa./Delaware Valley) finished with four hits in seven at-bats and scored three runs. She also stole three bases. Morgan Kocher (Warminster, Pa./William Tennent), Alexa Stevens (Jefferson Township, Pa./North Pocono) and Samantha Paetow (Fayetteville, Pa./Chambersburg) all recorded three hits on the day, with Paetow contributing three RBIs. Caitlin Ashley (Limerick, Pa./Spring-Ford) tallied two hits combined, including the game-winning single in the bottom of the seventh inning of the opener. Morgan Slomkowski (Toms River, N.J./Toms River East), Sophia Collins (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn), Taylor Gearhart (Newtown, Pa./Council Rock North) and Ashley Schulz (Oreland, Pa./Springfield) all had one hit.
 
Haley Gravish (Hamburg, Pa./Hamburg) had a successful day inside the circle, as she was the victor in both games, coming on in relief in game one and starting game two. She's now 17-5 on the season, tied for the most wins in the conference. Gravish threw 8.1 innings Friday and allowed just an earned run, striking out two batters. Abbey Wagner (Quakertown, Pa./Quakertown) earned the save in game two, throwing the final 1.1 innings and didn't allow a hit. She came on with two runners on in the top of the sixth inning.
 
Kutztown has a quick turnaround and will remain at home when it welcomes Lock Haven to North Campus Field for a PSAC East doubleheader tomorrow beginning at 1 p.m. It is senior day as KU will recognize five members prior to game one.
 
Kutztown 4, Bloomsburg 3
 
Kutztown wasted little time in jumping out ahead of Bloomsburg as it scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning. After a leadoff single by Henn, KU connected on back-to-back RBI doubles, first with Kocher ripping a double the other way to left center, scoring Henn, then she touched home plate after Stevens' double.
 
After three scoreless innings with starter Amanda Slabicki (Langhorne, Pa./Neshaminy) throwing well, the Huskies got to her as they loaded the bases with one out with two hit by pitches and a walk. BU then doubled and singled off Gravish to take a 3-2 lead in the fifth.
 
The Maroon and Gold responded in the bottom-half of the frame and tied up the score on a Paetow run-scoring single to left.
 
In the bottom of the seventh inning, with the score still tied 3-3, Henn got it started with a leadoff single and then stole second on the next pitch. Two batters later Stevens reached on an infield singles to put runners on first and third with one out. Slomkowski walked to load the bases and then the Huskies got Henn out at home on a ground ball to second base. But with two outs, Ashley came up clutch and delivered a single up the middle that brought home Stevens and KU was able to walk it off.
 
Kutztown 6, Bloomsburg 2
 
Just as it did in the opener, Kutztown scored multiple runs in its first at-bats, recording three runs in the bottom of the first. KU actually had to respond to a 1-0 deficit after Bloomsburg got on the scoreboard first with a run in the top-half.
 
Once again, it all started with Henn, who hit a leadoff single to left field and then stole second. Kocher followed suit with a single through the right side to bring in Henn. Stevens then singled and her and Kocher advanced to second and third, respectively, after a sacrifice bunt from Slomkowski. Paetow delivered the big bit, a two-run single up the middle to give the hosts a 3-1 advantage after one.
 
After scoreless second and third innings for both teams, the Golden Bears put up another three-run inning in the fourth, highlighted by an RBI single from Gearhart and a two-run throwing error by the Huskies' shortstop.
 
Bloomsburg got one back in the top of the sixth inning on a solo home run, but the combination of Gravish and Wagner held them in check most of the game.

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