PSAC Championships |
Thursday's Live Stats
QUAKERTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown University softball team fell 4-3 to Lock Haven University in its opening round Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championship game on a cold and cloudy Wednesday afternoon at Veterans Park.
The Golden Bears found themselves down 4-2 heading into their final at-bats in the top of the seventh. Kutztown got runners on first and second, but was down to its last out when
Tamara Jennings (Philadelphia, Pa./Nazareth Academy) singled to left center to make it a one-run game. The final KU batter popped out to end it and give LHU its 4-3 win.
Kutztown (29-14, 10-6 PSAC) did receive some good news on the day, as the team remains sixth in the Atlantic Region standings. Eight teams from the region earn a berth to the NCAA Tournament. The selection show airs this Monday, May 2 on NCAA.com.
KU got on the board first. Facing an 0-2 count in the top of the second inning,
Danielle Sienko (Philadelphia, Pa./William Penn Charter) hit a two-run shot to deep center field to give the Golden Bears a 2-0 lead.
Lock Haven (34-15, 14-6 PSAC) answered in the bottom of the second with an RBI-single by Becca Caputo to cut KU's lead in half. LHU's McKenna Garlock tied the game in the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run to center.
The Bald Eagles jumped ahead with a two-run, bottom of the sixth and would hang on for good as the KU comeback fell a run short.
Gabby Tareila (Limerick, Pa./Spring-Ford) led the Golden Bears offense on the afternoon, finishing 2-for-2 with a run scored. Sienko's home run was her second of the season.
Savannah Nierintz (Clifton Heights, Pa./Upper Darby) threw a complete-game in the losing effort, allowing eight hits and three earned runs with three strikeouts.
The Golden Bears will have to wait until tonight to find out their opponent. KU will face the winner of Indian University of Pennsylvania/Slippery Rock on Thursday, April 28 at 10 a.m. The game, along with the entire double-elimination PSAC Championship, will be held at Veterans Park.
