Playoff Update

Both KU basketball teams competed in the first round of the PSAC Playoffs on Tuesday night.

The 3rd-ranked ladies were in Millersville to take on the 2nd-ranked Marauders. Despite keeping the game close throughout the night, the Golden Bears were eliminated by a score of 75-64. With the loss, Kutztown concludes the 2008-09 season with an overall record of 20-8.

In men's action, the top-seeded Golden Bears took care of business against 4th-ranked Mansfield by a score of 97-86. Kutztown will now head to Gannon University for the Final Four. The Golden Bears will take on Slippery Rock on Friday night with the PSAC title game set for Saturday.

Game Scores: Last 3 Games

As I mentioned last week, I'm having trouble getting recaps on here for each and every game due to time constraints. As a consolation prize for you, here is each player's average Game Score for the last three games:

Games included: Mansfield, Millersville, West Chester

Women:
1. Wisemiller 13.9
2. Schroeder 10.3
3. McQuade 8.4
4. Starr 6.2
5. Melvin 3.9
6. Dellegrotti 1.5
7. Dovey 1.5
8. Greaves 1.3
9. Mertz 1.3
10. LeVan -2.4

Men:
1. Ben 16.1
2. Dennis 14.2
3. Woodlin 12.5
4. Washington 10.5
5. Bower 2.5
6. Coombs 2.2
7. Coffey 1.1
8. Vrabel 0.0
8. Ford-Bey 0.0
8. Wenner 0.0
11. Gray -0.4
12. White -0.4

Saturday Update

The KU basketball teams are in action at Millersville today with the PSAC East playoff situation beginning to shape up.

The ladies began the action with a tough 73-69 loss to the Marauders, falling for the third time in four games. The Golden Bears drop to 16-7 overall this season and 6-4 in the PSAC East. Fortunately for KU, Shippensburg was upset by East Stroudsburg, West Chester was upset by Bloomsburg, and Cheyney suffered a surprise loss to Mansfield. This means that the Golden Bears remain tied with Cheyney for the three seed in the East, trailing 2nd place Millersville by just one game. They lead 5th seeded Shippensburg by 1 game.

The men's team managed their 9th straight win with a 77-61 win against the Marauders. With the win, the Golden Bears improve to 20-3 overall and maintain their hold of first place in the PSAC East at 9-1.

1/17: KU 88, Millersville 65

It wasn't the tough Millersville squad we're used to seeing, but it always feels good to see Ryan Washington and company get a win over the rival Marauders.

Hollinger Game Score:

1. Washington 18.5 - You could make a case that Washington has been this teams most consistent/all around best player this season...and he's only a sophomore! On Saturday, he was 6-of-8 for 16 points, 9 boards, 3 assists, 3 blocks, 2 steals.
2. Woodlin 17.7 - What a shooting day! Woodlin was 8-of-11 for 18 points and also chipped in 4 assists, 4 boards, and 2 steals.
3. Dennis 16.9 - You know your team is playing well when it's leading scorer comes in third in this list. Dennis paved the way in the scoring department with 27 points on 11-of-19 shooting.
4. Ben 12.2 - Similar to my point about Dennis, it's really amazing to see the only player on the team who recored a double-double fourth on this list. Ben had 19 points on 5-of-14 shooting and also contributed 12 rebounds and 4 assists.
5. Bower 6.4 - Failed to hit a field goal, but had 4 rebounds, 3 points, 1 assist, and a whopping 5 steals.
6. Gray 2.3 - Only played 11 minutes in this one, hitting 1-of-3 shots for 3 points
7. Coombs 0.2 - Missed a shot and 2 free throws, but did grab 3 rebounds in 7 minutes
8. Coffey 0.0 - Nothing in the boxscore in 5 minutes
9. Vrabel 0.0 - Nothing doing in 4 minutes
10. Ford-Bey 0.0 - Only 1 minute of work for the freshman
11. Wenner -0.1 - 2 boards and a missed shot in 2 minutes
12. White -0.1 - Hit his only shot in the game, but had 2 fouls and a turnover in 5 minutes

Boxscore
YTD Hollinger Game Score

1/17: KU 60, Millersville 56

With Katie Dovey and Lara Dellegrotti on the shelf with injuries, Vivian Melvin [Pictured] was called on to step into the starting lineup and boy did she respond. An offensive sparkplug in the win, Melvin ended with 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists. The victory ended a 15 game losing streak to Millersville and vaults KU to a 2-0 divisional record.

Hollinger Game Score:

1. Schroeder 11.8 - Only 3-of-10 from the field, but hit all 10 of her free throws en route to a 16 point, 7 rebound evening.
2. Wisemiller 9.1 - Shot 50 percent in this one, nailing 6-of-12 shots for 16 points and 6 boards
3. Melvin 9.0 - Melvin was inserted into the starting lineup with Dellegrotti and Dovey inactive and boy did she respond. 5-of-9 from the field for 12 points to go with 5 boards and 4 assists
4. McQuade 3.7 - Hasn't shot the ball well as of late, struggling to a 3-of-11 day from the floor for just 7 points. As always, she did damage anyways, hauling in 10 boards and assisting on 4 buckets.
5. Mertz 1.6 - Did a nice job, scoring once and grabbing 3 rebounds in 9 minutes
6. Starr 1.2 - Hit 2-of-9 shots for 7 points in 36 minutes of work, while grabbing 5 boards and assisting on only 2.
7. Greaves -1.0 - Only a turnover in 5 minutes
8. LeVan -1.7 - Only a missed shot and a turnover in 8 minutes

Inactives:
Dovey - Injured (Knee)
Dellegrotti - Injured (Head)

Boxscore
YTD Hollinger Game Score

Saturday Update

The KU women's basketball team pulled off a shocker on Saturday evening, outlasting Millersville for a 60-56 victory. The win ends a 15 game drought to Millersville and drops the Marauders, who went undefeated in PSAC East play last season, to 0-2 in the division in 2008-09. The Golden Bears, who played without the injured Katie Dovey and Lara Dellegrotti, improve to 2-0 in the PSAC East.

The men's team also game up victorious, knocking off the Marauders in convincing fashion, 88-65. The Golden Bears improve to 1-1 in the PSAC East with the win.

Huge test on tap for ladies

I don't have time to write up a full preview for Saturday's games, but in preparing for my broadcast of the ladies games, I wrote up an outline of the transcript I will use on the air. The following is tidbits of that transcript, which will serve as the preview for the women's game. Enjoy.

P.S.A.C East Women’s Basketball 1/17/2009
Millersville Marauders (11-3, 0-1) @ Kutztown Golden Bears (11-3, 1-0)
Keystone Hall
Golden Bear Network on www.kubears.com - Mike Clay/Tyler Schueck

Both the women’s and men’s teams will play host to the rival Millersville Marauders here tonight in what will mark the first home P.S.A.C. East contest of the 2008-09 season for both teams.

The Golden Bears come into this game at 11-3 overall this season, which includes a 1-0 record against P.S.A.C. East opponents. That lone win against an eastern division foe game came in Kutztown’s most recent action, which was on Wednesday at East Stroudsburg. In that game, the Golden Bears led for most of the way and despite letting a 29-15 halftime lead slip away, they held on for a big 54-49 road victory.

Meanwhile, the Millersville Marauders also enter this game with an 11-3 record, but are 0-1 in the PSAC East after falling by a score of 64-54 to West Chester in overtime in their divisional opener on Wednesday evening. Despite the loss, Millersville has proved that it will be a contender yet again this season, with one of its 11 victories coming against nationally-ranked Indiana.

Last season, the Marauders were the class of the PSAC East, notching a perfect 12-0 divisional record, which was part of an impressive 24-6 overall regular season record. Millersville advanced as far as the first round of the NCAA Division II East Regional, where they were eliminated by California University of Pennsylvania. Kutztown, on the other hand, was 11-16 a year ago, which included a 4-8 record in the PSAC East.

Last season, Millersville won the first meeting between the teams by a score of 65-40 right here at Keystone Hall. The Golden Bears kept it closer on the road in the second meeting, falling 56-43. The only returning Golden Bear to have scored in double figures in either one of those games was Chauntelle Schroeder, who scored 13 points in only 8 minutes of work in the team’ second meeting.

Probable Starters:
Millersville:
Jr - F- # 3 – Jenna Craig
Sr - F- # 22 – Gladine St. Julien
Sr - G- # 32 – Jenna Philo
Jr - G- # 34 – Aiesha Bellamy
Jr - G- # 35 – Ashley Moyer

Millersville is coached by Mary Fleig and assisted by Darlene Newman and Branden Lippy

Kutztown:
Jr - C- # 33 – Chauntelle Schroeder
So - F- # 23 – Melissa McQuade
Jr - F- # 32 – Katie Dovey
Jr - G- # 11 – Rachel Wisemiller
So - G- # 13 – Meredith Starr

KU is coached by Janet Malouf and the assistant coach is Steve Hahn.

Other Game Notes:
Coach Mary Fleig sports a 28-11 record versus Kutztown. The Marauders have beaten Kutztown in 15 straight games dating back to the 2001-02 season.

Millersville was picked to finish 2nd in the East, behind only Shippensburg. Kutztown was picked to finish fourth.

Bats remain quiet against Marauders

Recap:
Friday, April 11 @ Millersville:
Game 1: L 1-5
Phil Rummel allowed just one earned run, but five KU errors allowed the Marauders to muster up five runs en route to the 5-1 win. Rummel threw the entire six innings for the Golden Bears and allowed just four hits, while striking out six. KU managed just three hits with Jeff Kistle accounting for two of them and Chap Lightcap recording the other.
Game 2: L 0-6
The offense was even worse in game two as it managed just two hits in a 6-0 loss. James Quigley and Garrison Rausch each had a single in the second inning. Justin Jachowicz started for KU and took the loss. He allowed just one run on three hits in four innings of work. Mike Bucklin got rocked for five runs on six hits in 1.2 innings of relief.

Saturday, April 12 vs. Millersville:
Game 1: W 3-2
Seven different Golden Bears recorded at least one hit as KU won game one on Saturday 3-2. Jeff Kistle was the only Golden Bears with multiple hits, going 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI. Matt Kulbacki was 1-of-2 and had the other two RBIs. Darin Gorksi continued his stellar play on the hill, allowing just two runs, one earned, on five hits in a complete game effort. He struck out 10 Marauders.
Game 2: L 1-3
KU managed eight more hits in game two, but could get just one run across and fell 3-1. Scott Kacelowicz was 3-for-3 at the plate and drove in the only KU run. Garrison Rausch showed he is beginning to heat up by scoring the team’s lone run in a 2-for-3 effort at the dish. Derek Reis took the loss for KU, allowing three runs on 12 hits in just over six innings of work.

What we liked:
Although it only resulted in wins in one of the four games, the starting pitching was stellar as usual. Darin Gorski continues to dominate and is now 6-2 with a 2.61 ERA this season. Derick Reis had a rough outing, but is still 1-2 with a 2.43 ERA in 2008. Phil Rummel had a nice outing if you ignore the five KU errors and is 4-3 with a 3.40 ERA this season. If the Golden Bears have a chance to come back and make the playoffs, it’s going to be the continued efforts of the pitching staff. Garrison Rausch has struggled on the hill and at the plate this season, but that wasn’t the case against Millersville. He wasn’t called on to pitch, but he was 3-of-6 (.500) at the plate and scored a run. Jeff Kistle was one of the top hitters as well, going 4-for-8 (.500) at the plate while driving in a run.

What we didn’t like:
The young offense has not been able to produce against the PSAC East pitching and it is costing them in the standings. Against Millersville, seven regulars (at least six total at-bats over the four games) batted .200 or worse. Mike Kacelowicz was 1-for-11 (.091), Chad Lightcap was 2-for-12 (.167), Jared Frey was 1-for-13 (.077), James Quigley was 2-for-10 (.200), Corey Buletza was 1-for-10 (.100), Mark Renda was 1-for-7 (.143), and Mike Dugan was 0-for-6 (.000). KU scored just five runs on 21 hits in the four games.

Impact:
The Golden Bears needed a split with the Marauders just to remain tied with them for the third and final playoff spot in the East. Instead, they fall to 5-7 and are tied with East Stroudsburg for fourth. West Chester leads the way at 8-4 and Mansfield and Millersville are both 7-5. KU has yet to play the nationally-ranked Golden Rams of West Chester, but still has a four game set with them after this weekend’s four spot with ESU. The Golden Bears will need continued strong efforts from the pitching staff and will need a few more runs a game from the offense if they hope to return to the playoffs. A weekend sweep against ESU would be huge. Stay tuned.

Ladies extend win streak to nine

Recap:
Friday, April 11 vs. West Chester:
Game 1: W 4-0
KU scored two unearned runs in the first inning and never looked back, knocking off the Golden Rams 4-0 in game one. Kait Arbogast was stellar, tossing a complete game five-hit shutout, while striking out nine. Kim Morrison and Maggie Reifsnyder each had a pair of hits to lead the offense.
Game 2: W 4-2
Mary Hoch allowed two runs in the first inning, but her offense responded with three in the bottom of the second and an insurance run in the third as KU completed the season sweep of WCU. Hoch tossed a complete game, allowing just those two runs on four hits. Ashley Fitzgerald was 2-for-3 and hit a solo homer, while Krista Cameron and Caitlin Hague each added two hits.

Saturday, April 12 vs. Millersville:
Game 1: W 8-0
The Golden Bears scored at least one run in every inning and applied the mercy rule for the third consecutive meeting with the Marauders this season. KU led 5-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning when Fitzgerald hit a walkoff three-run homer to end the 8-0 affair. Maria Schiavo and Steph Denlinger each recorded two hits and scored twice for KU. Monica Glomb was on the hill for KU and allowed just four hits in five innings of work.
Game 2: W 1-0
Morrison scored the only run of the game in the bottom of the first inning as KU shutout the Marauders for the third consecutive time this season, this time 1-0. The Golden Bears outscored the Marauders 27-0 in four 2008 meetings. Lauren Doering pitched well in a rare start, allowing just three hits in four innings of work for the win. Arbogast came on in relief and earned the save, throwing three perfect innings.

What we liked:
The pitching was stellar as usual with the three-headed monster of Kait Arbogast, Mary Hoch, and Monica Glomb joined up with Lauren Doering to allow just two total runs in four games. Arbogast really stands out, as she struck out 13 in 10 innings and allowed no runs, while earning a win and a save. Ashley Fitzgerald just keeps getting better and better, which is amazing since she is already a top hitter in the nation. This weekend she was 6-of-9 (.667) at the plate, homered twice, and drove in five. It was great to see Kim Morrison finally bust out of her slump. She was 5-of-13 (.385) at the plate over the weekend and scored three runs. Freshman Maggie Reifsnyder is starting to come into her own and was outstanding in her role as the six hitter behind the Denlinger-Fitzgerald-Cameron trio. She was 4-of-10 (.400) at the plate and homered. Caite Hague also hit well, going 3-for-7 (.429) at the plate.

What we didn’t like:
As usual, there isn’t much bad you can pull out of four straight wins. Steph Denlinger certainly did struggle, however, managing a hit in just one of the four weekend games. She was 2-of-11 (.182) at the plate, scored twice, and drove in just one run. Kathy Gregg also had her problems, managing just one hit in nine at bats (.111). She did, however, drive in three runs, second best on the team. Game two against Millersville could be viewed as slightly worrisome, since KU managed just one run on three hits against a respectable, but not great left-handed pitcher. Since the Golden Bears sport a bunch of lefties in their regular lineup, it could be tough to score against a top-notch lefty should they see one at the regional or national level. That’s something to keep an eye on.

Impact:
The weekend sweep moved the 10^th-ranked Golden Bears to 13-1 in the PSAC East and to an impressive 36-6 overall. They lead Bloomsburg (8-4) by three games and Shippensburg (7-7) by four, which means they are getting close to clinching the division title and even closer to clinching a playoff berth. Following a doubleheader at Mansfield on Wednesday, KU will play a very telling batch of games. Following a home doubleheader with Bloomsburg on Friday, KU will visit ESU on Saturday before a return home on Tuesday the 22^nd for the matchup of the year. That is when Kristin Erb and the Lock Haven Lady Eagles will be in town to prove they are the top team in the Region. The Golden Bears will look to stay hot heading into a doubleheader that everyone will be watching closely.

Softball looks for season sweep of Marauders

What: Millersville Marauders @ Kutztown Golden Bears
When: Saturday April 12, 2008 @ 1 p.m. (Doubleheader)
Where: North Campus Field on the campus of Kutztown University
Radio: Golden Bear Network at 12:50 p.m. (Jason Ogle and Mike Clay)

Game Info
The KU softball team will begin the second wave of PSAC East play on Saturday when they welcome the Millersville Marauders to town for a doubleheader. The Golden Bears (34-6 overall) enter the game ranked 10^th in division II after jumping eight spots in the most recent poll. The reason for the big jump is because they are coming off back-to-back sweeps of Bloomsburg and Shippensburg, arguably the second and third best teams in the division behind KU. Last Sunday, the ladies took two at Bloomsburg, who was ranked eight in the nation at the time, by scores of 5-1 and 2-1. On Monday, they completed a home sweep against SU by scores of 6-5 and 2-0. The Golden Bears latest action was a home doubleheader against West Chester on Friday in which KU swept the Golden Rams by scores of 4-0 and 4-2.

The Golden Bears (11-1) lead the PSAC East with Bloomsburg (7-3), Shippensburg (5-5), West Chester (5-7), East Stroudsburg (5-7), Millersville (4-6), and Mansfield (1-9) rounding out the division.

This will be the second doubleheader between Millersville and KU this season as the Golden Bears have already taken a pair earlier this year. On March 28, KU traveled to Pucillo field and breezed to two 9-0 wins.

The Marauders, 16-15 overall this season, are coming off a doubleheader split at Bloomsburg on Friday by scores of 0-4 and 3-0. Prior to that, MU split with ESU on Tuesday. The Warriors won game one 1-0 before the Marauders fought back in game two for a 4-1 victory.

Last season, KU came out victorious in three of the four meetings between each other. The Golden Bears won 2-1 and 12-6 on the road, before returning home for a 6-2 win and a 3-4 regular-season finale loss.

Similar to 2007, KU is one of the top teams in the region this year, while the Marauders will be fighting just to qualify for the PSAC playoffs.

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

Millersville:
1. Shaina Briel – 2B
2. Lindsay Hosier – SS
3. Erin Hepner – 1B
4. Alexa Ashwell – CF
5. Casey Coker – 3B
6. Janell Mrakovich – DH/P
7. Trisha Johnson – CA
8. Maria Polyak – RF
9. Jillian Golomboski – LF
SPs: Emily Flieger & Janell Mrakovich

Scouting Report
The Golden Bears will be expected to handle the Marauders with ease, but divisional games always tend to be a challenge.

KU will rely on their outstanding offensive attack, which sports a deadly middle of the order. Steph Denlinger (.394-10-38), Ashley Fitzgerald (.429-11-39), and Krista Cameron (.365-4-27) should each approach 20 homers this season and will cause fits for the Marauder pitching staff. Kim Morrison (.244-3-14) will lead off for KU, but needs to find more ways to get on base. Maria Schiavo (.314-0-12), who teams with Morrison to set the table, is among the NCAA leaders in sacrifice hits in 2008.

Fellow freshmen Krista Tedjeske (.235-1-14) and Maggie Reifsnyder (.261-3-7) will likely hit in the six and eight slots, respectively. Caitlin Hague (.238-1-9) will see time at DH and catcher and bat seventh, while Kathy Gregg (.295-6-16) will hit ninth.

After allowing Kait Arbogast (15-4 1.81) to carry almost the entire pitching load as a freshman in 2007, Coach Judy Lawes has fellow freshmen Mary Hoch (7-0 1.20) and Monica Glomb (8-2 1.73) helping with the workload this year. Arbogast will start a game on Saturday with Glomb or Hoch likely to start the other.

Millersville’s offense is led by the bat of Janell Mrakovich (.314-5-28), who leads the team’s regulars in homers and RBIs and is fourth in batting average. Shaina Briel (.376-3-24) leads the team in batting average, while Briel and Erin Hepner (.344-0-8) leads the team in runs scored with 30 a piece.

Emily Flieger (5-5 4.45) and Janell Mrakovich (7-6 4.28) are likely to start for the Marauders, but Courtney Eckman (4-4 4.68) will be in the mix as well.

Following an emotional weekend sweep of BU and SU, the Golden Bears will hope to avoid a letdown on Saturday. KU simply need to come out and do their thing. They have the better offense and the better pitching, which should mean an easy sweep.

Softball opens East play 4-0

Note: My plan for softball and baseball season is to provide in depth previews as often as possible. I will also do full recaps for each doubleheader (or in some cases, like this one, each group of weekend games). Enjoy.

Recap:
Friday, March 28 @ Millersville:

Game 1: W 9-0
Katlin Arbogast tossed a six inning, one-hit shutout, while striking out 12 Marauders as KU cruised to a 9-0 win in six innings. The Golden Bears registered 11 hits, led by two a piece from Maria Schiavo, Ashley Fitzgerald, and Maggie Reifsnyder. Steph Denlinger, Krista Cameron, Reifsnyder, and Kathy Gregg each homered.

Game 2: W 9-0
KU completed the sweep of Millersville with another 9-0 blowout in just five innings. Mary Hoch tossed a complete game, three-hit shutout and struck out five Marauders. KU had 10 hits, including three from Caitlin Hague and two a piece from Denlinger and Cameron. Denlinger had 6 RBIs in the game, thanks to a grand slam and double.

Saturday, March 29 vs. Mansfield

Game 1: W 4-3
Arbogast took a 4-0 lead and no hitter into the sixth inning, before Mansfield rallied to three sixth-inning runs, cutting its deficit to one. Monica Glomb would then enter the game for KU and, despite allowing a bases loaded situation in the seventh, closed the door for her second save of the season. Fitzgerald registered two of KU’s four hits in the game. Cameron and Hague were responsible for the others.

Game 2: W 4-3
Schiavo hit a bases loaded, walkoff single in the bottom of the 7^th inning to propel KU to the sweep of the Mounties. KU left 14 players on base in the game, but managed 12 hits, including two a piece from Kim Morrison [pictured], Denlinger, Krista Tedjeske, and Hague. Glomb earned the win, tossing four total innings. She allowed one unearned run on four hits and struck out three.

What we liked:
To be honest, just about everything. The Golden Bears absolutely destroyed Millersville, as they allowed just four hits and outscored them 18-0 during the two game sweep. Steph Denlinger is back in her 2007 form and set the KU career RBI mark during her 8 RBI day on Friday. Caitlin Hague was a bit under the radar, but she was the teams top hitter over the weekend, going 7-for-11 at the plate, while scoring twice and knocking in two runs. Denlinger was 5-of-10 at the plate, knocked in 10 runs, and scored three times. Krista Cameron hit .417 on the weekend, contributed three RBIs, and scored twice.

The pitching was superb with Kait Arbogast carrying the load as usual. The sophomore ace went 2-0 with a 1.89 ERA in her two appearances and struck out 20 batters in 11.1 innings of work. Fellow freshman Monica Glomb and Mary Hoch each earned a win and neither allowed an earned run in 13.2 combined innings.

What we didn’t like:
Kait Arbogast’s poor sixth inning in game 1 against Mansfield surely turned some stomachs, but I’m not concerned in the least. Everyone has a poor outing from time to time and it’s no secret that she’s a superstar on the mound.

My bigger concern was the production from the top of the KU lineup. Kim Morrison and Maria Schiavo are both excellent hitters and they need to produce better than they did this weekend. Morrison was just 2-of-12 (.167), while Schiavo was a bit better, going 4-of-15 (.267). Each of them drove in two runs and Schiavo did score five times. Again, they are good hitters, so I’m really not too concerned.

Impact:
The four wins move the Golden Bears (27-5), the 17^th ranked team in the division II nation, to first place in the PSAC East. Millersville and Mansfield are two of the easier teams on KU’s divisional schedule, so it’s likely to only get harder from here on in. Shippensburg is also 4-0 in the division, while Bloomsburg and West Chester are both 2-0. The Golden Bears blew out the Marauders and did what they had to do against Mansfield. They will need to keep up their solid play from top to bottom if they hope to continue tearing through a tough crop of PSAC East opponents.

Following a home doubleheader against East Stroudsburg on Wednesday, the Golden Bears will get their first true test on Friday when they head to Bloomsburg.

Softball team set to open East play

What: Kutztown Golden Bears @ Millersville Marauders
When: Friday, March 28, 2008 @ 3 p.m. (Doubleheader)
Where: Pucillo Field on the campus of Millersville University

Game Info
The KU softball team will open up PSAC East play on Friday when they travel to Millersville for a doubleheader. The Golden Bears enter the game ranked 17^th in division II and sport a 23-5 overall record. KU enters the game fresh off a home sweep of Indiana (Pa.) on Tuesday by scores of 3-0 and 5-1.

Millersville is 12-9 on the season and heads into the game following a home sweep of Columbia Union in doubleheader action on Wednesday. The Marauders were victorious by scores of 10-2 and 7-1.

Each team hosted a doubleheader last season with KU taking 3 of the 4 victories. The Golden Bears won 2-1 and 12-6 on the road, before returning home for a 6-2 win and a 3-4 regular-season finale loss.

Similar to 2007, KU is one of the top teams in the region this year, while the Marauders will be fighting just to qualify for the PSAC playoffs. The Golden Bears went 43-18 a season ago, but fell in the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals to bring their season to a disappointing close. Millersville was 20-26 in 2007 and failed to qualify for the PSAC playoffs.

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

SPs: Kait Arbogast & Monica Glomb/Mary Hoch

Millersville:
1. Shaina Briel – 2B
2. Lindsay Hosier – SS
3. Erin Hepner – 1B
4. Alexa Ashwell – CF
5. Janell Mrakovich – DH
6. Casey Coker – 3B
7. Trisha Johnson – CA
8. Jillian Golomboski – LF
9. Maria Polyak – RF

SPs: Emily Flieger & Janell Mrakovich

Scouting Report
The Golden Bears will be expected to handle the Marauders with ease, but divisional games always tend to be a challenge.

KU will rely on their outstanding offensive attack, which sports a deadly middle of the order. Steph Denlinger (.385-5-21), Ashley Fitzgerald (.420-8-26) [Pictured Above], and Krista Cameron (.373-2-22) should each approach 20 homers this season and will cause fits for the Marauder pitching staff. Kim Morrison (.284-3-12) has done a respectable job leading off, but needs to get on base more. Maria Schiavo (.345-0-10), who teams with Morrison to set the table, is currently fourth in the nation in sacrifice hits.

Fellow freshmen Krista Tedjeske (.247-1-14) and Maggie Reifsnyder (.233-1-3) will likely hit in the six and seven slots, respectively. Reifsnyder will likely be the full time rightfielder now that Sam Flowers has left the team. A designated player will likely fill out the eight spot, while Kathy Gregg (.282-4-10) will hit ninth.

After allowing Kait Arbogast (12-3 1.76) to carry almost the entire pitching load as a freshman in 2007, Coach Judy Lawes will have fellow freshmen Mary Hoch (4-0 1.44) and Monica Glomb (5-2 2.35) to help with the workload this year. Arbogast will start a game on Friday with Glomb or Hoch likely to start the other.

Millersville’s offense is led by the bat of Janell Mrakovich (.373-2-17), who leads the team’s regulars in homers, is second in batting average, and third in RBIs. Shaina Briel (.435-1-18) leads the team in batting average, while Alexa Ashwell (.309-0-20) and Casey Coker (.309-1-20) lead the team in RBIs. Erin Hepner (.362-0-8) and Lindsay Hosier (.361-0-12) will also contribute from top of the Marauder order. It should be noted that the Marauder stats are extremely inflated thanks to Tuesday’s two-game sweep of Lincoln by scores of 44-1 and 35-0.

Emily Flieger (4-3 1.77) and Janell Mrakovich (4-4 4.67) are likely to start for the Marauders, but Courtney Eckman (2-2 7.52) will be in the mix as well.

The Golden Bears simply need to come out and do their thing. They’ve played more games than any other PSAC team thus far in 2008 so rust will not be a factor. KU has the better offense and the better pitching, which should mean an easy Friday sweep.

Marauders end Golden Bears' season

Millersville Marauders 99

Kutztown Golden Bears 88

Recap:
Coming off a regular season in which they won a share of the PSAC East with a 10-2 divisional record, the Golden Bears expectations were much higher than to simply make the playoffs. Unfortunately for them, the defending PSAC champion Marauders were on top of their game in Tuesday night’s playoff contest at Keystone Hall, upending the Golden Bears by a score of 99-88. The loss drops KU’s overall record to 19-9 and brings their season to a close. Of the eight playoff games played yesterday (men’s and women’s), the MU win over KU was the only upset.

Key Stat:
If you witnessed the game, this one will be obvious. The Golden Bears shot just 3-of-16 from beyond the arc, while the Marauders were an impressive 11-of-16. MU also outrebounded KU 47-34, including 18-10 on the offensive glass. Both teams shot over 43 percent in the game, but the Marauders simply made their shots when they counted the most.

Key Moment:
Three pointers from Andre Woodlin and Nate Edwards followed by a pair of free throws from Woodlin got KU to within four points with 1:24 to play. The Golden Bears needed a defensive stop to stay in the contest, but RayQuan Miles tipped in a Charlie Parker miss to put MU back up by six. Woodlin would then miss a three pointer before Bernard Brown dunked to put the Marauders up eight and all but end the game. KU would answer with a quick two point bucket, but Millersville hit five straight free throws to close out the scoring.

What we liked:
The Golden Bears offense certainly came to play, but unfortunately the MU offense was slightly better. KU shot 44 percent from the floor and hit an impressive 29-of-32 free throws. Stephen Dennis was outstanding for KU, scoring a team-high 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting. Ryan Washington had a double-double, scoring 12 and hauling in a dozen boards.

What we didn’t like:
KU had an extremely tough time on the defensive glass, allowing 18 offensive boards. The 3-of-16 from beyond the arc also proved costly. Dave Ben and Edwards combined to shoot just 6-of-25 from the field, but each managed to score double figures.

Impact:
As mentioned, the loss ends KU’s season and allows Millersville to move on to Friday’s final four in Cheyney. The Marauders will face Edinboro, while Cheyney will take on California (Pa.).

The Golden Bears certainly were disappointed with the way this season came to a close, but they should not keep their heads down for long. The truth is that Millersville simply played their best basketball when they needed to the most. I’d still argue that KU is the more talented team, but this year, the Marauders got the best of the Golden Bears. Next season, KU returns all 5 starters and loses only one player to graduation, Kevin Hafera. This team will likely be favored to win the PSAC in 2008-09.

Golden Bears fall to Marauders

The KU men's basketball team fell to Millersville 99-88 tonight at Keystone Hall, bringing their season to a close. The Golden Bears were the East's number-two seed in the PSAC Playoffs, but the loss to the Marauders brings their season to a close. KU finishes the season with a 19-9 overall record. Check back for a full recap tomorrow.

THIS ONE COUNTS

What: Millersville Marauders @ Kutztown Golden Bears
When: Tuesday, March 4, 2008 @ 7 p.m.
Where: Keystone Hall on the campus of Kutztown University

One year later, they get another chance.

The Golden Bears will certainly be thinking about last year’s disappointing first-round exit when they play host to the Millersville Marauders in the PSAC East Quarterfinals at Keystone Hall on Tuesday. Like one season ago, KU heads into the postseason as the number-two seed and will play at least one playoff game at home. Last year, the Cheyney Wolves came into town and knocked the Golden Bears out of the playoffs by a score of 79-63. This year, KU will hope to escape a first round collapse and will be looking for a PSAC Championship. The challenge will not be any easier, however, with a talented Marauder team looking to pull off the upset.

The teams enter the game with identical 19-8 overall records—the top record in the division. The Golden Bears went 10-2 in the East, which tied them with top-seeded Cheyney for a share of the PSAC East regular season title. Millersville held onto the three seed with an 8-4 divisional record.

The teams have already met twice this season, with each winning on their home court. On Jan. 23, KU came away with the 78-60 victory at Keystone Hall. Led by Andre Woodlin’s 17 points, KU shot just under 50-percent en route to the win. Only four different Marauders scored in the game. The game was extremely competitive and MU head coach Fred Thompson was ejected late in the second half.

The Marauders got their revenge on Feb. 20 when they knocked off KU 80-67 at Pucillo Gymnasium. Dave Ben scored 29 points, but the Golden Bears committed what would prove to be a costly 26 turnovers.

The Golden Bears enter this contest fresh off Saturday’s 82-74 home win against East Stroudsburg. Woodlin notched a career-high 28 points to carry KU to the victory. ESU, who will face Cheyney in the first round of the playoffs, actually outshot the Golden Bears, but hit 15 less free throws and committed 26 turnovers.

After dropping back-to-back games to ESU and Cheyney, Millersville enters this game coming off a regular-season finale shellacking of West Chester on Saturday. The MU defense held the Golden Rams to 18.6-percent from the field en route to the 67-37 win.

Probable Starters:
Millersville:
G - #3 - Charlie Parker – 16.1 PPG
G - #20 - Cory Bray – 6.1 PPG
G - #22 - Reggie Bates – 19.3 PPG
F - #42 - RayQuan Miles – 6.0 PPG
F - #44 - Bernard Brown – 10.1 PPG

Kutztown:
G - # 14 – Stephen Dennis – 17.1 PPG
G - # 32 - Andre Woodlin – 13.5 PPG
F - # 34 - Dave Ben – 17.0 PPG
F - # 52 - Ryan Washington – 8.9 PPG
C - # 55 - Jeremy Coombs – 6.1 PPG

Scouting Report:
The Golden Bears and Marauders enter this game as two of the top scoring—and possibly the top two most exciting offenses—in the league. You can bet that this will be an intense and fast-paced game. Both teams enjoy pushing the ball and letting their skill players make things happen. The Golden Bears sport a much deeper team than the Marauders and a bad day by one of KU’s top scorers generally does not mean certain loss. Meanwhile, MU relies on Bates and Parker to carry a significant workload and a poor outing from one of them is usually fatal. On the other hand, if those two have a big day, it is almost certain that the Marauders will come out on top. They are two of the most talented players in the league, but they will need to be at the top of their individual games if MU has a chance in the PSAC.

As has been the case all season, KU will continue to rely on top-off-the-line scoring threats Ben, Dennis, and Woodlin. Each has had their moments as the team leader in scoring this season, but all three will need to play stellar basketball in the postseason. Washington and Coombs have done a respectable job in the front court, but need to find ways to avoid foul trouble. Washington, only a redshirt freshman, has proved he can contribute at this level and his services in the paint will be requirement towards KU’s title run. Guard Nate Edwards and center Kevin Hafera will a significant workload off the bench. Edwards has a knack for making big plays and will be counted on to do the same in the playoffs. Hafera, the team’s lone senior, will look to man the front court in relief of Washington and Coombs. Center Mark Bower and guards Mike Connolly and Steve Coffey will each see a few minutes off the bench.

Millersville will, as mentioned, rely on Bates and Parker to make the big plays in this game. Combined, they have scored almost 1,000 points this season, recorded 117 steals, dished out 193 assists, and grabbed 10.3 rebounds per game.

Brown leads the team’s rebounding effort, hauling in seven boards a game. He also chips in just over 10 points a game, making him a serious double-double threat. Bray and Miles will both play near 30 minutes, assuming they stay out of foul trouble. Bray is a threat from beyond the arc, while Miles averages near seven boards a game and will keep the KU forwards busy.

In conclusion, KU head coach Bernie Driscoll will no doubt be focusing on stopping Parker and Bates in this game. The Golden Bears struggled the last time this team’s met, but it is a very rare occurrence for the entire team to struggle. With that said, there is no reason to doubt the Golden Bear offense will show up. That means stopping the Parker-Bates duo is the key to the game. Can they do it? We’ll see.

Prediction:
What fun is a preview without a prediction? I feel like this game will either be a dogfight until the finish or a complete blowout. Millersville tends to be Jekyll and Hyde and a poor day from a top scorer will make their chances to win almost impossible. KU sports and great defense and will give the Marauders their share of problems. There is also no reason to believe that the big time players in this game will come to play on Tuesday. With all that said, I think Bates and Parker will have decent days for Millersville, but they won’t get quite enough help to upset the much deeper Golden Bears. It will be close until the late stages, but KU will take care of business.

Millersville 70
Kutztown 79

Men's playoff picture update

Current Standings (playoff teams only):
1. Cheyney 10-2***
2. Kutztown 9-2**
3. Millersville 7-4
4. East Stroudsburg 6-5
***Clinched top seed
**Clinched first round home game

Remaining schedule:
March 1:
Bloomsburg at Mansfield
E. Stroudsburg at Kutztown
Millersville at West Chester

If KU beats ESU, Mill beats WCU
ESU (6-6) @ CU (10-2)
Mill (8-4) @ KU (10-2)

If KU beats ESU, WCU beats Mill
ESU (6-6) @ CU (10-2)
Mill (7-5) @ KU (10-2)

If ESU beats KU, Mill beats WCU
ESU (7-5) @ CU (10-2)
Mill (8-4) @ KU (9-3)

If ESU beats KU, WCU beats Mill
Mill (7-5)* @ CU (10-2)
ESU (7-5)* @ KU (9-3)
*ESU wins tiebreaker over Mill by virtue of win against Cheyney

OFFICIAL Men's Playoff Scenarios

Special thanks to KU Sports Information Director Josh Leiboff for preparing these (which saved me a lot of time and energy).

Current Standings
1. Cheyney 9-2*
2. Kutztown 9-2*
3. Millersville 7-3*
4. East Stroudsburg 5-5
5. Mansfield 4-6
6. West Chester 2-8
7. Bloomsburg 0-10

*Clinched playoff berth

Remaining schedule:

February 27

*West Chester at Bloomsburg
*Cheyney at Millersville
* Mansfield at E. Stroudsburg

March 1

*Bloomsburg at Mansfield
*E. Stroudsburg at Kutztown
*Millersville at West Chester

If KU beats ESU, Chey beats Mill, Mill beats WCU
Cheyney (10-2) is #1 (tiebreaker 2-sweep of MU)
KU (10-2) is #2
Millersville (9-3) #3

If KU beats ESU, Mill beats Cheyney and WCU
KU (10-2) is #1
Mill (9-3) is #2, with 11 wins vs. DII at or above .500 (tiebreaker 3)
Chey (9-3) is #3, with 8 wins vs. DII at or above .500

If KU loses to ESU, and Cheyney beats Millersville
Cheyney (10-2) is #1
KU (9-3) is #2

If KU loses to ESU and Millersville beats Cheyney and WCU
All three teams would be 9-3, MILL wins tiebreaker 3 with 11^ wins vs. DII at or +500, KU and CHEY remain tied with 8^. Cheyney wins tiebreaker 4 with 1.00 winning percentage vs. DII teams below .500.(^all three include 1 win over IUP, which might not be included, include wins assumed in this scenario)
Mill (11 wins DII at or +.500) is #1
Chey (8-0, 1.00% vs. DII below .500) is #2
Kutz (8-2, .800 vs. DII below .500) is #3

If KU loses to ESU, Millersville beats Cheyney and WCU beats Mill.
KU and Cheyney would be 9-3, Cheyney wins tiebreaker 4 with 1.00 winning percentage vs. DI teams below .500
Chey (8-0, 1.00% vs. DII below .500) is #1
Kutz (8-2, .800 vs. DII below .500) is #2 (does not included 2/27 game vs. CUC)

Sloppy play plagues Golden Bears

Kutztown Golden Bears 67
Millersville Marauders 80

Recap: The Golden Bears took a lead late in the first half and led by 1 at the break, but a turnover-filled night ended with a 13 point Millersville victory. The Golden Bears relinquished their brief hold on the game with 17:39 left to play and would never recover. The loss drops KU to 16-8 overall this season and could prove costly as the Marauders are now just one-half game behind them in the division.

Telling Stat: KU shot a respectable 41 percent in the game and out-shot the Marauders from the three point arc (despite making just 3 of their 13 attempts) and the free throw line. They out-blocked the Marauders by 5, out-assisted them by 1, and out-rebounded them by 1. So, what was the problem? Mistakes. The Golden Bears committed 8 more turnovers and 7 more personal fouls. That proved to the difference in the game.

Key moment: Still not convinced fouls were a big problem? KU was down by just 5 points following a Ryan Washington layup with 5:05 to play. The Marauders would answer by outscoring KU 20-12 the rest of the way with 12 of those 20 points, including 9 straight, coming from the charity stripe.

Most Valuable Golden Bear: This should come as no surprise, but Dave Ben carried the scoring load against last night. Aside of his 8 turnovers, Ben had a decent game. He was 10-of-18 from the floor and 7-of-8 from the free throw line. He scored a game-high 29 points and filled out his boxscore with two assists, a pair of offensive rebounds, a block, and a steal.

Least Valuable Golden Bear: Ever since missing time with an injury a few weeks back, Stephen Dennis has not been the same superstar scoring threat for the Golden Bears. While not the worst player on the court last night, Dennis is not matching the expectations he brought on himself by scoring in the 30s several times this season. Last evening, Dennis was just 3-of-7 from the floor for 7 points, committed 4 fouls, and turned the ball over twice. He had just 1 board, 1 assist and 1 steal. KU is going to need more from him down the stretch.

Impact: The loss drops KU to 8-2 in the PSAC East and jeopardizes their chances of hosting a playoff game for the second consecutive season. Millersville now sits just one-half game behind the Golden Bears with both teams still needing to play 9-1 Cheyney. The results of those games could decide home court. Look for a deeper look at the playoff race later today.

Slow start spoils upset bid

Kutztown Golden Bears 43
Millersville Marauders 56

Recap: Millersville opened the game by taking a 15-0 lead and led by as many as 22 in the first half en route a PSAC East victory over KU on Wednesday. The Golden Bears climbed to within 9 points in the early stages of the second half, but the Marauders, now 9-0 in the PSAC East, held on for the 13 point victory. KU is now 11-14 overall this season.

Telling Stat: The game was fairly even once the Golden Bears gave the Marauders a 15 point handicap. Had the first 8 minutes of the game not counted, KU certainly could have pulled off the upset. With that said, the most telling stat of the evening was the Golden Bears shooting percentage of just 14% (3-of-21) in the first half. Not to be discounted is KU’s 27 turnovers, 20 of which were forced by MU steals.

Key moment: The quick 15-0 MU run might seem like the obvious key series of the game, but the truth is that KU had a chance to come back. With 17:56 left in the second half, Mercedes Van Wagner dropped in a layup to cut the KU deficit to 9. That was as close as the Golden Bears would get, however, as the Marauders answered with a 7-2 run to all but put the game away. KU wouldn’t get any closer than 12 the rest of the way.

Most Valuable Golden Bear: Chauntelle Schroeder has been anything but a regular in the KU lineup this season, but she has to be earning Coach Malouf’s confidence as of late. Last evening, Schroeder scored a career-high 13 points, hauled in 5 boards, and recorded 2 blocks. She was 3-of-4 from the field and 7-of-8 from the charity stripe. She has had some foul troubles in her career, but committed just one last night. The most impressive stat you ask? She played just 8 minutes! Do the math. If she played 24 minutes (near the average for a KU center), she was on pace to score 39 points and haul in 15 boards. Sure, she would’ve dropped off from her pace in all likelihood, but damn, I hope you were watching Malouf. Schroeder has proved she has the size and athleticism to cause problems for opposing defenses.

Least Valuable Golden Bear: There are a few players who played poorly last night, but the one that stands out the most in the boxscore is Vivian Melvin. The sophomore was 0-for-5 from the floor and scored just 2 points in 22 minutes of work. She had two steals, but failed to chip in with an assist, a must for guards in this offense.

Impact: The loss, coupled with East Stroudsburg’s win over Bloomsburg last night, drops KU back out of the top 4 in the PSAC East. KU is now 4-6 in the division, one-half game behind the 4-5 Warriors. Left on the schedule is Cheyney and ESU. KU may need to beat Cheyney, but definitely must beat ESU if they hope to be playoff bound. Look for a more in depth outlook on the playoffs later.

Ladies look to upset East-leading Marauders

What: Kutztown Golden Bears @ Millersville Marauders
When: Wednesday, February 20, 2008 @ 6 p.m.
Where: Puscillo Gymnasium on the campus of Millersville University

The Golden Bears have quite the challenge on their plates as they prepare to head to Millersville on Wednesday evening. Kutztown (11-13, 4-5) is coming off back-to-back wins for the first time since December, but will be going up against the PSAC East-leading Millersville (19-4, 8-0).

The Golden Bears currently hold the fourth and final playoff spot in the PSAC East. They trail Cheyney (6-3) by two full games for the three seed and lead East Stroudsburg (3-5) by one-half game for that final playoff spot.

The Marauders have already clinched a PSAC East playoff berth and are winners of nine straight games including a 65-40 beatdown of KU on Jan. 23 at Keystone Hall.

Both teams struggled out of the gate offensively in that game, with MU taking just a 24-19 advantage at the half. The Marauders exploded in the second half, however, outscoring KU 41-21. Jenna Craig and Gladine St. Julien dominated KU’s frontcourt, accounting for a combined 28 points and 19 rebounds. The Golden Bears actually outshot the Marauders from the field, but turned the ball over 25 times, were outrebounded by 11, and made a telling 19 less free throws.

Probable Starters:
Millersville:
F- # 3 – Jenna Craig
F- # 22 – Gladine St. Julien
G- # 30 – Kari Cover
G- # 32 – Jenna Philo
G- # 34 – Aiesha Bellamy

Kutztown:
C- # 53 – Mercedes Van Wagner
F- # 23 – Melissa McQuade
F- # 15 – Rachel Weidensaul
G- # 13 – Meredith Starr
G- # 5 – Lara Dellegrotti

Scouting Report:
The most glaring deficiency for KU in the teams’ first meeting was the lack of a front court presence. The Golden Bears played solid defense in the first half, but fell flat on their faces in the second half, allowing Millersville’s big scorers to dictate the game. As if it wasn’t bad enough that Craig and St. Julien were winning on their offensive end, they also shut down KU’s offensive attack, holding them to a season low 40 points.

The Golden Bears will need a stellar defensive showing from front court leaders Mercedes Van Wagner and Melissa McQuade. If the Golden Bears can slow down Craig and St. Julien and find a way to score the basketball, they can contend with this team.

With that all being said, MU is far from a 2-lady team, as they’ve had five different players lead them in scoring over their last six games. Ashley Moyer, Jenna Philo, and Kari Cover are also excellent scorers who can easily pave the way to victory for the Marauders.

It won’t be easy, but KU needs to play disciplined basketball and do several things better than they have if they want to keep this close. It will start by slowing down the Marauder scoring attack and will end with protecting the basketball and finding ways to get clean looks at the net. The Golden Bears gameplan should be similar to what has been working over the last few weeks. They need to pass the ball all over the floor until someone gets a clean look. KU has worked the ball around so well that they’ve been left open for wide open three pointers on multiple occasions. A big day from beyond the arc would keep them in the game and, if they play solid defense, would be a recipe for an upset.

Prediction:
KU has some confidence following back-to-back wins, but Millersville is a powerhouse in the PSAC and will not allow a KU upset on their court. The Golden Bears have the tools to pull off the shocker, but they need to do way too many things perfect to actually win the game. For a veteran team, I’d give them more of a shot here, but coach Malouf loves playing the underclassmen and that won’t change on Wednesday. The ladies will fall behind early and won’t be able to overcome the tough Puscillo Gymnasium environment.

Kutztown 53
Millersville 68