KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Kutztown and East Stroudsburg both brought their bats to Tuesday's Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division doubleheader at North Campus Field. The teams combined to score 24 runs and amass 44 hits as they split the two games with KU winning game one 7-6 and ESU taking game two 6-5.
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After the opening game victory, the Golden Bears' (28-16 overall, 17-7 PSAC East) season-long win streak went to six, but the Warriors (26-16, 14-10) halted that following the nightcap. The teams also combined to hit six home runs.
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Kutztown finished with 19 hits Tuesday, led by four from
Morgan Kocher (Warminster, Pa./William Tennent).
Morgan Slomkowski (Toms River, N.J./Toms River East) and
Alexa Stevens (Jefferson Township, Pa./North Pocono) both recorded three hits, each hitting a HR, and combined for six RBIs.
Samantha Paetow (Fayetteville, Pa./Chambersburg) and
Jamie Madara (Levittown, Pa./Academy of the New Church) tallied two hits and
Emily Henn (Matamoras, Pa./Delaware Valley),
Sophia Collins (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn),
Jenna Piatkiewicz (Fogelsville, Pa./Parkland),
Ashley Schulz (Oreland, Pa./Springfield) and
Daria Cross (West Chester, Pa./West Chester East) all had one hit, with Henn's being a solo home run in game one.
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Abbey Wagner (Quakertown, Pa./Quakertown) earned her fifth win of the season, throwing one inning of relief and
Haley Gravish (Hamburg, Pa./Hamburg) recorded the save, her first of the season.
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Kutztown will hit the road after four straight home doubleheaders and will play two at Shepherd in PSAC East action this Friday, April 24, with game one beginning at 1 p.m.
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Kutztown 7, East Stroudsburg 6
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In a wild, back-and-forth game that featured a combined 13 runs and 21 hits, Kutztown was able to outlast East Stroudsburg in the end. KU was outhit 13-8, but took advantage of three home runs and hit ESU starter, Sarah Davenport, hard all game. Davenport entered the game ranked second in the PSAC in ERA (1.38) and third in wins (16).
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Each of Stevens, Henn and Slomkowski connected on two-run long balls. Slomkowski's in the bottom of the fifth proved to be the game-winner.
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The Golden Bears used three different pitchers. Wagner was credited with the win, entering in the top of the fifth inning and throwing an inning, to improve to 5-2 on the season. Gravish then came on in the bottom of the sixth and closed the door to earn her first save of the season.
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Kocher and Slomkowski both finished with two hits, with Slomkowski adding three RBIs. Henn and Stevens each had a hit and two RBIs. Paetow and Piatkiewicz both recorded a hit and scored a run.
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East Stroudsburg 6, Kutztown 5
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The roles were reversed in game two as it was ESU that took a lead early, gave it up, then rallied late to secure the victory.
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The Warriors put up a three-spot in the top of the second inning, with two home runs, a solo shot and a two-run dinger. But Kutztown responded in the bottom of the third, via the small ball, as Slomkowski, Madara and Collins all ripped RBI singles to tie the score at 3-3. Madara continued her surge with another run-scoring single in the fourth to put her team ahead 4-3, and then stole second, allowing
Parker Kraus (Doylestown, Pa./Archbishop Wood) to race home for the 5-3 advantage.
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East Stroudsburg got one back in the fifth on an RBI double and then took back the lead for good with a two-run single in the top of the sixth.
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Davenport entered in the sixth and threw the final two innings, allowing zero hits while striking out four.
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Gravish started, was relieved by
Amanda Slabicki (Langhorne, Pa./Neshaminy), then re-entered in the top of the fifth, but took the loss.
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