#10 Kutztown set to host #2 Lock Haven

What: Lock Haven Bald Eagles @ Kutztown Golden Bears
When: Tuesday, April 22, 2008 @ 2:30 p.m. (Doubleheader)
Where: North Campus Field on the campus of Kutztown University
Radio: Golden Bear Network at 2:20 p.m. (Mike Clay, Joe Balco)

Game Info
As most of you avid readers know, I normally only write up previews for the PSAC East games. This doubleheader, however, is an exception, as it deserves loads of attention.

The 10^th-ranked Kutztown University softball team will play host to the 2^nd-ranked Lock Haven Lady Eagles on Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. The Golden Bears enter the game at 40-8 overall in 2008, while The Lady Eagles are 34-6.

The teams have not met in the regular season since 2005, with the scheduled meetings in 2006 and 2007 being cancelled due to inclement weather. They did, however, meet during the postseason of each of the last four seasons.

In 2004 (another season in which their regular season meeting was cancelled due to rain), KU eliminated the Lady Eagles from the PSAC playoffs with a 9-6 victory. In 2005, Lock Haven returned the favor with an 8-0 shellacking, which eliminated KU from the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals. In 2006, the Lady Eagles came up victorious by a score of 5-1 in a non-elimination game in the PSAC playoffs. LHU went on to win the Division II National Championship.

The teams met three times during the PSAC playoffs last season, including an epic 15 inning Lock Haven comeback win. In the first meeting, KU won 3-0, which meant a win in the teams’ second meeting would earn them the PSAC Championship. The Golden Bears led 5-2 with Lock Haven down to their last strike, but the Lady Eagles rallied and eventually won in 15 innings. The LHU win forced a grudge match for the PSAC title, which the Lady Eagles won 5-2. Lock Haven would go on to finish second in the nation.

The Golden Bears enter the game fresh off a doubleheader sweep at East Stroudsburg on Saturday. KU won game one 10-1 before taking game two by a score of 6-2. The Golden Bears have won 19 of their last 22 games and have already clinched a PSAC playoff berth. At 17-3 in the PSAC East, they lead the division by three games with four games left to play.

The Lady Eagles, meanwhile, are 15-1 in the PSAC West and have also clinched a spot in the PSAC playoffs. Their latest action was a doubleheader sweep of California (Pa.) on Saturday by scores of 4-1 and 3-0. LHU has won 22 of its last 23 games.

Probable Starting Lineups
Kutztown:
1. Kim Morrison – 2B
2. Maria Schiavo – LF
3. Steph Denlinger – 1B
4. Ashley Fitzgerald – CA/SS
5. Krista Cameron – 3B
6. Maggie Reifsnyder – RF
7. Caitlin Hague – CA/DH
8. Krista Tedjeske – SS
9. Kathy Gregg – CF
SPs: Kait Arbogast & Monica Glomb/Mary Hoch

Lock Haven:
1. Julia Popovich – LF
2. Sarah Norris – 3B
3. Kristin Erb – P/DH
4. Amanda Roosa – CA
5. Ilia Lopez – SS
6. Erica Eisenbise – RF
7. Devin Glezen – 2B
8. Amanda Gutmaker – DH
9. Nancy O’Connor – CF
SP: Kristin Erb

Scouting Report
The big matchup on Tuesday is going to be the powerful Kutztown offense against the All-American arm of Lock Haven’s Kristin Erb.

Erb, a junior from Reading, has already carried her team to a national title as a freshman and to a runner-up finish as a sophomore. This season she is 29-6 with an almost unbelievable 0.30 ERA, which is tops in division II. She has struck out 293 batters in 231.1 innings of work. Erb, the best pitcher in division II softball over the last three seasons, is the likely candidate to start both games for the Lady Eagles.

The Golden Bears will try to counter with their high-octane offense, which ranks as one of the most prolific offenses in division II. Ashley Fitzgerald (.457-14-49) has dominated in her junior season, leading KU in batting average, homers, and RBIs. Steph Denlinger (.377-12-46) has also been stellar and would likely have even better numbers if she wasn’t walked a team-high 38 times. Krista Cameron (.338-5-32) has flown under the radar a bit this season, but has quietly had another outstanding season. Kathy Gregg (.308-6-21) is another great player who doesn’t get a lot of the accolades in her role as the team’s nine hitter.

Kim Morrison (.255-3-16) and Maria Schiavo (.300-0-13) have both been inconsistent this year, but both are extremely talented and serve as excellent table setters at the top of the KU lineup. Caitlin Hague (.298-1-12) has done a good job in a part-time role as a designated player/catcher this season and will bat in the six or seven spot. Freshmen Maggie Reifsnyder (.289-4-10) and Krista Tedjeske (.237-2-16) will see plenty of work in the doubleheader. Reifsnyder will likely start both games in right field, while Tedjeske will probably start game one at shortstop.

The KU pitching staff will be overshadowed by Erb, but the young trio stacks up pretty well. Kait Arbogast (18-5 1.65) will start one of the games. A sophomore, Arbogast is the team’s ace with the other two pitchers who see significant action both in their freshman campaigns. Monica Glomb (10-3 1.69) and Mary Hoch (9-0 1.35) have very similar numbers so far in 2008 and both are likely to see some work on Tuesday.

It should also be pointed out that KU also ranks near the top 20 in the nation in both team ERA and in fielding percentage.

The Lock Haven offense will look to rattle the young KU pitching with a very formidable lineup. Sarah Norris (.392-12-34) will hit out of the two-spot and leads the team in batting average, runs (34), and homers. Amanda Roosa (.358-9-38) is second in batting average and homers and leads the team in RBIs. Erb (.348-3-24), the team’s three hitter, is not limited to just a pitching role, as she is stellar at the plate as well.

Julia Popovich (.269-0-6) is the leadoff hitter and is tied with Norris and Devin Glesen (.275-6-17) with a team-high eight steals. Erica Eisenbise (.294-5-28) and Ilia Lopez (.268-4-18) have both started all 40 of Lock Haven’s games. Amanda Gutmaker (.292-4-11) and Nancy O’Connor (.230-1-9) round out a well balanced lineup.

If Erb is not pitching, Popovich (5-0 1.34) would take the ball. She has started seven games this season and worked 41.2 effective innings.

There is no doubting that the Golden Bears have the tools to not only beat Lock Haven, but to sweep them. Kristin Erb is an unbelievable talent, but the Golden Bears proved last year that they could defeat her. If any team in the PSAC has a chance, it’s going to be KU. The Golden Bears have the offensive talent, a great batch of pitchers, and an outstanding fielding team. If they play their A-game on Tuesday, they certainly will contend for the win in both games. Come expecting a lot of excitement, but don’t expect to see too many runs on the board.