Softball team eliminated

The 2008 softball season has come to an end for the Golden Bears after they were defeated by Bloomsburg 3-0 in the Mid-Atlantic Regional Tournament on Sunday. The loss brings the careers of Caitlin Hague and Kathy Gregg to a close. Check back later this week for a full season recap and a look ahead to 2009.

Bloomsburg now advances to the regional championship against Lock Haven later today.

Complete Schedule/Results

The Erb Report

Over the last few years, I’ve had a lot of people ask me about Lock Haven’s all-American pitcher Kristin Erb. The junior pitcher has been one of Division II’s best pitchers over the last three seasons and the Golden Bears will need to beat her if they have plans of competing on the national level this season. I did some research and this is the statistics of the current KU roster against Erb since her arrival at LHU in 2006. This is a combination of statistics from seven meetings between the two teams, including three this season. In 2006, the teams met once during the PSAC playoffs. In 2007, they met three times, all of which were PSAC playoff games. This season, they’ve met three times, which includes two regular season contests and one PSAC playoff game.

Provided is KU’s players and each athletes numbers against Erb.

Probable Batting Order:
[Hits At-bats (Avg.) Runs RBIs Strikeouts (On-base%)]
1. 2B – Kim Morrison 7-for-24 (.292) 1 0 1 (.292)
2. LF – Maria Schiavo 3-for-20 (.150) 2 2 1 (.150)
3. 1B – Steph Denlinger 6-for-22 (.273) 4 2 5 (.360)
4. CA – Ashley Fitzgerald 5-for-23 (.217) 0 0 1 (.217)
5. 3B – Krista Cameron 3-for-24 (.125) 3 4 3 (.125)
6. DP – Caitlin Hague 2-for-14 (.143) 0 0 5 (.143)
7. SS – Krista Tedjeske 1-for-6 (.167) 0 0 3 (.167)
8. RF – Maggie Reifsnyder 0-for 4 (.000) 1 0 2 (.000)
9. CF – Kathy Gregg 5-for-19 (.263) 1 2 4 (.263)

Bench:
OF – Angela Domenici 0-for-2 (.000) 0 0 2 (.000)

Pitching (vs. LHU):
Kait Arbogast (1-3 3.28 ERA), 4 games, 35.2 IP, 33 H, 13 ER, 8 BB, 30 K, 1.15 WHIP
Monica Glomb (0-1 16.88 ERA), 1 game, 2.2 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 3.00 WHIP
Mary Hoch (0-0 81.00 ERA), 1 game, 0.1 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 15.00 WHIP
Lauren Doering (0-0 0.00 ERA), 1 game, 2 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 4 BB, 0 K, 4.00 WHIP

As you can see, Erb has done quite a number on KU, falling to the Golden Bears only once in seven tries. Kim Morrison, Steph Denlinger, and Kathy Gregg have had some success against her and it might be smart for some of the other players to talk to them about how they handle at-bats against Erb.

One thing I’ve noticed is Morrison’s approach, which I believe Gregg utilizes as well. Morrison stays back and tries to drive Erb’s pitches to the opposite field. With a tough pitcher like Erb, who throws a very fast heater and also has a devastating change up in her arsenal, being patient and looking to go the other way with the pitch is likely your best chance to succeed. Denlinger can hit for power to all fields against anyone and it’s no surprise that she has a team-best .360 on-base percentage against the LHU ace.

Hopefully this will be helpful for the fans (and maybe even the players). This is statistical evidence that KU can hit Erb and just needs to approach her the right way. If the Golden Bears get their chance against the Lady Eagles, it will be interesting to see if they can turn the tide. Stay Tuned.

Rough week for KU softball

Ladies swept by Bloomsburg and Lock Haven, drop to 19th in Division II

Recap:
Tuesday, April 22 vs. #2 Lock Haven:
Game 1: L 1-2
They say history tends to repeat itself and game one certainly proved “them” right. Just like a season ago with a PSAC playoff game on the line, the Lady Eagles were down to their last strike before managing a comeback win over KU. This time it was LHU’s Britt Muthard blasting a two-out, two-strike Kait Arbogast pitch over the left center field fence to put the Lady Eagles ahead 2-1 in the top of the seventh. KU could not answer in the bottom of the inning and LHU held on for the 2-1 win in game one.

Loss aside, Arbogast had a stellar outing, allowing just two earned runs on six hits in a complete game effort. KU managed six hits against Kristin Erb, Division II’s top pitcher. Kim Morrison, Maria Schiavo, Ashley Fitzgerald, Caitlin Hague, Krista Tedjeske, and Kathy Gregg each had one hit. Schiavo had an RBI single that scored Maggie Reifsnyder.

Game 2: L 0-16
Three freshman pitchers combined to allow 16 runs, eight earned, on 16 hits in game two, as Lock Haven rocked KU 16-0 in five innings. Monica Glomb started the game, was replaced by Mary Hoch, re-entered the game, and then retired for the day in favor of Lauren Doering. The KU defense was not very helpful, committing five errors in the loss. KU had just one hit against Kristin Erb, a single in the fourth inning by Kim Morrison, which ended Erb’s bid for a perfect game.

What we liked:
If you’ve been following this rivalry since last May, this might make you laugh out loud, but I’m going to say it anyways: At least we know it’s possible for the Golden Bears to beat Lock Haven.

Last season, not only did KU beat Kristin Erb once, they also were one strike away from beating her twice. On Tuesday, the Golden Bears were, again, one strike away from beating her, before another last ditch effort resulted in a miracle win for the Lady Eagles. That couldn’t possibly happen a third time…could it?

The offense looked decent in game one, building scoring opportunities in almost every inning. Unfortunately, Erb got herself out of every jam except one—and that was partially due to an error by her right fielder. These teams are likely to meet again come playoff time and regardless of yesterday’s sweep, KU is more than capable of beating Erb and the Lady Eagles. They just need to catch a few breaks.

What we didn’t like:
I was extremely disappointed with the effort in game two. The Golden Bears came into the first game with a lot of enthusiasm and confidence, but after the late LHU win, KU came out sloppy in game two and never seemed to have a chance. Lock Haven jumped all over the young KU pitching staff for 16 runs including two grand slams.

Come the playoffs, not only will the freshmen pitchers need to be a lot better, the offense is going to have to find ways to manufacture runs against Erb. The offense was nowhere to be found and the defense was as flat as ever. Five errors in five innings is not going to cut it for a team that has hopes to compete on the national level.

If the sweep by Bloomsburg was your average, everyday wake up call, this sweep by Lock Haven should serve as a bucket of freezing cold water, a slap in the face, an 80 pound dog on the bed, or a trio of infants jumping on the bed screaming on Christmas morning. As the playoffs draw near, it’s time to wake up and smell the coffee.

Impact:
The new NFCA Division II rankings were released Wednesday morning, but did not include the results of the doubleheader with Lock Haven. Last week’s losses to Bloomsburg did cost KU, however, as they fell from 10^th to 19^th in the poll. Meanwhile, Lock Haven dropped one spot to third and Bloomsburg jumped back up to tenth.

The Golden Bears (17-3) have already clinched a playoff spot and are still in line to win the PSAC East, as they hold a two-game lead over Bloomsburg (15-5). KU has four games still to play—a set of doubleheaders at Shippensburg and West Chester this Friday and Saturday, respectively. The Golden Bears, now 40-10 overall this season, will then head to a PSAC West team’s campus (site yet to be determined) for the PSAC Tournament before competing in the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals, which will likely be hosted by KU during the second weekend in May.

KU swept by #2 Lady Eagles

Down to it's last strike in game one, Lock Haven's Britt Muthard hit a 2-run homer in the top of the seventh inning to beat KU 2-1. The letdown carried over to game two as the Lady Eagles, ranked second in the nation, pounded the 10th-ranked Golden Bears 16-0 in five innings.

Check back for a full recap tomorrow.

#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.