Softball set for Regional Playoffs

What: NCAA Division II Mid-Atlantic Regional softball tournament
When: Wednesday, May 7, 2008 – Saturday, May 10, 2008
Where: North Campus Field on the campus of Kutztown University

Tournament Info
The KU softball team will head into the 2008 Regional Playoffs as one of the favorites to advance to Nationals. The Golden Bears finished the regular season with a 44-10 overall record and won the PSAC East crown with an impressive 21-3 mark. KU finished third in this past weekend’s PSAC playoffs and will be the third seed out of eight participating universities in the double elimination Regional tournament.

The Golden Bears opening game will be against sixth-seeded Shippensburg at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Their second game will be on Thursday at 11:30 a.m., if they lose their first game, or at 4:30 p.m., if they win.

The other teams competing for the title will include PSAC champ Lock Haven (1^st seed), Bloomsburg (2), California (4), West Chester (5), Slippery Rock (7), and CIAA champ Bowie State (8).

The Golden Bears were a combined 10-6 against the seven other playoff teams. This included 0-3 vs. Lock Haven, 2-3 vs. Bloomsburg, 4-0 vs. Shippensburg, and 4-0 against West Chester. They did not play California, Slippery Rock, or Bowie State in 2008.

Of the eight playoff teams, three are ranked nationally. Lock Haven is second, Bloomsburg is eighth, and KU is 16^th.

The Golden Bears did not fare well in the PSAC Playoffs. KU scored three runs in the first inning of its first game (a 3-0 win against ESU), but failed to score another run the rest of the tournament. Lock Haven beat them 5-0 and Bloomsburg eliminated them 2-0 in nine innings. That’s a scoreless drought of 21 innings.

Last season, KU was one strike away from winning the PSAC title before the eventual Division II Lock Haven Lady Eagles came back and stole the championship. After defeating ESU 6-1 in their first game of the tournament, the Golden Bears knocked off LHU 3-0 to position themselves one win away from the title. In their next game, KU 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.

The Golden Bears then participated in the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals, which, like the PSACs, were held at North Campus Field. KU was without an ill Katlin Arbogast for a majority of the tournament and it showed on the scoreboard. The Golden Bears lost 2-0 to Edinboro in their first game before pummeling NC Central 21-0 in their second game. They were eliminated the next day when ESU beat them 11-10.

Probable Starting Lineup
1. 2B – Kim Morrison (.292-3-16)
The junior leadoff hitter toned down on the power this season, instead embracing her new role as a table setter for the meat of the order. She slumped at points during the regular season, but has hit well as of late, bringing her average back up to .292. Her .343 on-base percentage is not where it should be for a leadoff hitter, but she has shown improvement in her first season batting high in the order. She has stolen 8 bases in 9 attempts.

2. LF – Maria Schiavo (.318-0-17)
Schiavo is one of the nation’s best in the sacrifice hit category and has been an exceptional two-hitter since her arrival at KU one season ago. Her .318 batting average is fourth best on the team, but she is relied on primarily for her ability to lay down good bunts. Her average of 0.39 sacrifice hits per game ranks her 11^th in division II.

3. 1B – Steph Denlinger (.354-16-55)
Denlinger is one of the most feared hitters in division II softball and likely will receive multiple free passes in the playoffs. The junior lefty leads the team with 16 homers and is tied with Fitzgerald for the RBI lead with 55. She is 19^th in DII in homers per game, 17^th in walks per game, and 32^nd in slugging percentage. When she gets a chance to hit, there is a good chance it will be a homer. However, don’t be surprised if she is intentionally walked on several occasions. Fortunately for her, she has excellent protection in Fitzgerald, which forces opponents to pitch to her.

4. CA/SS – Ashley Fitzgerald (.435-15-55)
The junior cleanup hitter will be the primary catcher, but could see some work at shortstop. Her .435 batting average is tops in the PSAC and 24^th best in DII. She is also 8^th in DII in doubles per game (0.43), and 10^th in slugging percentage (.863). Her team-leading 1.335 OPS is off the charts and really shows how dominant of a hitter she is. Teams will look to walk Denlinger, but it won’t be any easier with Fitzgerald at the plate.

5. 3B – Krista Cameron (.322-5-35)
Cameron might be one to watch in this tournament. The team’s six hitter had five hits in the PSAC tournament last year, homered twice, and had at least one run scored and one RBI in each of the team’s four games. Her home run total has taken quite a dip this season, but she has had yet another solid season as the team’s third baseman and five hitter.

6. DP/CA – Caitlin Hague (.283-1-12)
Hague, one of two seniors on the roster, will likely bat sixth, but has been in rotation with Tedjeske and Reifsnyder all season long. She will be the primary designated player and could catch a game or two. Her .283 batting average is just seventh among the team’s starting nine, but she is a solid hitter with invaluable playoff experience and one of only a few Golden Bears who improved their batting average during PSACs.

7. SS – Krista Tedjeske (.257-2-21)
The freshman shortstop has done a respectable job in 50 starts in her rookie season. Her .257 average is lowest among the starting nine, but she’s done a nice job providing runs with 21 RBIs, which ties her for fourth best on the team, and two homers. She will be looking to improve on making contact as she leads the team with 33 strikeouts.

8. RF – Maggie Reifsnyder (.268-4-10)
Reifsnyder missed KU’s last five games of the regular season and was not at 100 percent during PSACs due to an injury she suffered against Lock Haven last Tuesday. She started the last game of the PSAC tournament, but could split time with Angela Domenici again in Regionals. Reifsnyder is hitting a respectable .268 and has four homers, which is fifth highest on the team despite not playing full time until midway through the season.

9. CF – Kathy Gregg (.303-6-21)
Gregg, one of two seniors on the roster, is one of the team’s best hitters, but is slotted in the nine hole in order to get on base for the top of the order. Her six homers are third best on the team and is one of five Golden Bears above the .300 batting average mark. Her 21 RBIs tie her for fourth on the team and she has a team-high nine steals in nine attempts. Her 29 strikeouts (second worst on the team) are a bit troublesome, but she did not strike out in PSACs.

Key Reserves
OF Angela Domenici (.200-0-3)
While Reifsnyder was out, Domenici filled in the right field spot. The freshman is the top reserve in the outfield, but has just 30 at-bats this season.

DP Tami Wambold (.154-0-2)
Wambold could be used as the designated player, but, if anything, is more likely to see a pinch hit appearance or two. She doesn’t provide much in the contact department, but when she does get a hold of a pitch, there’s a good chance it’ll go a long way.

PR Emily Fazekas (.154-0-1)
Fazekas is the team’s top pinch runner and is likely to have opportunities to score big runs for KU in this tournament.

PR Alex Najpauer (.182-0-4)
Najpauer is another player coach Judy Lawes will go to if she needs a pinch runner.

Probable Pitching Rotation
1. Kait Arbogast (23-7 1.49)
Arbogast is one of the top pitchers in the PSAC and has already rewritten most of the KU pitching record book as a sophomore. She is 14^th in DII in strikeouts per seven innings (9.4), 24^th in wins (23), 22^nd in saves (3), and 24^th in hits allowed per seven innings (4.58). She is the team’s ace and will likely pitch a majority of the team’s innings in the tournament, much like she did in PSACs.

2. Monica Glomb (10-5 2.11)
A freshman, Glomb has started 14 games for KU this season. She pitched well most of the season, but was lit up by Lock Haven last Tuesday, which could cause concerns if she is called on against tough teams in the playoffs. Regardless of that bad outing, she has shown she is an effective pitcher and should be okay if she gets the nod.

3. Mary Hoch (9-0 1.61)
Hoch is another freshman who has done an outstanding job in the pitching department this season. She has yet to lose in 20 appearances (10 starts), but also got banged around a bit by LHU. Hoch will likely see some work in the tournament and it will be interesting to see how she holds up against the conference’s top teams.

Outlook
The Golden Bears will be one of the favorites in the tournament and they have arguably the best offense of the eight teams. Unfortunately for them, Lock Haven’s Kristin Erb seems to have their number and they will need to find a way to overcome the Lady Eagles if they have any plans of competing at the national level. Lock Haven won the national championship in 2006 and was the runner-up in 2007. If KU can get some momentum and knock them off, there is no telling how far they can go. The Golden Bears have also lost three straight to second-seeded Bloomsburg, who also has a stellar pitching option in Ashley Lynn.

If there is a point in the season to play your best, now is that time. The Golden Bears have been close to getting the chance to play at the national level for a while now and time is running out for some of the team’s top players.

What the tournament is going to come down to for KU is the offense. The Golden Bears need to find ways to plate runs against the likes of Erb and Lynn or they won’t have a chance. Arbogast is a stellar pitcher and can keep KU close, meaning 3-5 runs of support is likely all she would need. The Golden Bears are probably the most dangerous team offensively and there is no doubt that they can pound Kristin Erb if they get some momentum.

If the offense breaks out in this tournament, there is no telling what kind of damage KU can do. If not, it’s going to be another disappointing end to an outstanding season.

~Note: This preview is basically an updated version of last week’s PSAC playoffs preview~

Ladies set to compete for PSAC title

What: PSAC Softball Playoffs
When: Thursday, May 1, 2008 – Saturday, May 3, 2008
Where: Lawrence Field on the campus of Lock Haven University

Tournament Info
The KU softball team will head into the 2008 PSAC Playoffs as a favorite to bring home the conference title. The Golden Bears finished the regular season with a 44-10 overall record and won the PSAC East crown with an impressive 21-3 mark. KU will be the top seed in the East and one of six teams competing in the double elimination tournament.

The Golden Bears opening game will be at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday. They will face the winner of the tournament’s first game, a 10 a.m. contest between California (Pa.) (2^nd –West) and East Stroudsburg (3^rd – East). Their second game will be on Friday at either noon or 2:30 p.m. depending upon what happens on Thursday.

The other teams competing for the title include Bloomsburg (2^nd – East), Indiana (Pa.) (3^rd – West), and Lock Haven (1^st – West). BU and IUP will face off at noon on Thursday with the winner taking on LHU at 4:30.

The Golden Bears were a combined 7-5 against the five opposing playoff teams. This included 0-2 vs. Lock Haven, 2-2 vs. Bloomsburg, 3-1 vs. ESU, and 2-0 against IUP. They did not play California in 2008.

Of the six playoff teams, three are ranked nationally. Lock Haven is second, Bloomsburg is eighth, and KU is 16^th.

Last season, KU was one strike away from winning the PSAC title before the eventual Division II Lock Haven Lady Eagles came back and stole the championship. After defeating ESU 6-1 in their first game of the tournament, the Golden Bears knocked off LHU 3-0 to position themselves one win away from the title. In their next game, KU 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.

The Golden Bears then participated in the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals, which, like the PSACs, were held at North Campus Field. KU was without an ill Katlin Arbogast for a majority of the tournament and it showed on the scoreboard. The Golden Bears lost 2-0 to Edinboro in their first game before pummeling NC Central 21-0 in their second game. They were eliminated the next day when ESU beat them 11-10.

Probable Starting Lineup
1. 2B – Kim Morrison (.290-3-16)
The junior leadoff hitter toned down on the power this season, instead embracing her new role as a table setter for the meat of the order. She slumped at points during the regular season, but has hit well as of late, bringing her average back up to .290. Her .344 on-base percentage is not where it should be for a leadoff hitter, but she has shown improvement in her first season batting high in the order. She has stolen 7 bases in 8 attempts.

2. LF – Maria Schiavo (.320-0-17)
Schiavo is one of the nation’s best in the sacrifice hit category and has been an exceptional two-hitter since her arrival at KU one season ago. Her .320 batting average is fourth best on the team, but she is relied on primarily for her ability to lay down good bunts. Her average of 0.39 sacrifice hits per game ranks her 11^th in division II.

3. 1B – Steph Denlinger (.362-15-53)
Denlinger is one of the most feared hitters in division II softball and likely will receive multiple free passes in the playoffs. The junior lefty leads the team with 15 homers and is second with 53 RBIs. She is 19^th in DII in homers per game, 17^th in walks per game, and 32^nd in slugging percentage. When she gets a chance to hit, there is a good chance it will be a homer. However, don’t be surprised if she is intentionally walked on several occasions. Fortunately for her, she has excellent protection in Fitzgerald, which forces opponents to pitch to her.

4. CA/SS – Ashley Fitzgerald (.456-14-54)
The junior cleanup hitter will be the primary catcher, but could see some work at shortstop. Her .456 batting average is tops in the PSAC and 24^th best in DII. She is also 8^th in DII in doubles per game (0.43), and 10^th in slugging percentage (.863). Her team-leading 1.385 OPS is off the charts and really shows how dominant of a hitter she is. Teams will look to walk Denlinger, but it won’t be any easier with Fitzgerald at the plate.

5. 3B – Krista Cameron (.341-5-35)
Cameron might be one to watch in this tournament. The team’s six hitter had five hits in the PSAC tournament last year, homered twice, and had at least one run scored and one RBI in each of the team’s four games. Her home run total has taken quite a dip this season, but she has had yet another solid season as the team’s third baseman and five hitter.

6. DP/CA – Caitlin Hague (.272-1-12)
Hague, one of two seniors on the roster, will likely bat sixth, but has been in rotation with Tedjeske and Reifsnyder all season long. She will be the primary designated player and could catch a game or two. Her .272 batting average is just eighth among the team’s starting nine, but she is a solid hitter with invaluable playoff experience.

7. SS – Krista Tedjeske (.258-2-21)
The freshman shortstop has done a respectable job in 47 starts in her rookie season. Her .258 average is lowest among the starting nine, but she’s done a nice job providing runs with 21 RBIs, which ties her for fourth best on the team, and two homers. She will be looking to improve on making contact as she leads the team with 31 strikeouts.

8. RF – Maggie Reifsnyder (.278-4-10)
Reifsnyder has missed KU’s last five games due to an injury she suffered against Lock Haven last Tuesday, but is expected to be at 100 percent come Thursday. The freshman is hitting a respectable .278 and has four homers, which is fifth highest on the team despite not playing full time until midway through the season.

9. CF – Kathy Gregg (.312-6-21)
Gregg, one of two seniors on the roster, is one of the team’s best hitters, but is slotted in the nine hole in order to get on base for the top of the order. Her six homers are third best on the team and is one of five Golden Bears above the .300 batting average mark. Her 21 RBIs tie her for fourth on the team and she has a team-high nine steals in nine attempts. Her 29 strikeouts (second worst on the team) are a bit troublesome.

Key Reserves
OF Angela Domenici (.222-0-3)
While Reifsnyder was out, Domenici filled in the right field spot. The freshman is the top reserve in the outfield, but has just 27 at-bats this season.

DP Tami Wambold (.160-0-2)
Wambold could be used as the designated player, but if anything, is more likely to see a pinch hit appearance or two. She doesn’t provide much in the contact department, but when she does get a hold of a pitch, there’s a good chance it’ll go a long way.

PR Emily Fazekas (.154-0-1)
Fazekas is the team’s top pinch runner and is likely to have opportunities to score big runs for KU in this tournament.

PR Alex Najpauer (.182-0-4)
Najpauer is another player coach Judy Lawes will go to if she needs a pinch runner.

Probable Pitching Rotation
1. Kait Arbogast (22-6 1.47)
Arbogast is one of the top pitchers in the PSAC and has already rewritten most of the KU pitching record book as a sophomore. She is 14^th in DII in strikeouts per seven innings (9.4), 24^th in wins (22), 22^nd in saves (3), and 24^th in hits allowed per seven innings (4.58). She is the team’s ace and will likely pitch a majority of the team’s innings in the playoffs.

2. Monica Glomb (10-4 2.02)
A freshman, Glomb has started 14 games for KU this season. She pitched well most of the season, but was lit up by Lock Haven last Tuesday, which could cause concerns if she is called on against tough teams in the playoffs. Regardless of that bad outing, she has shown she is an effective pitcher and should be okay if she gets the nod.

3. Mary Hoch (9-0 1.61)
Hoch is another freshman who has done an outstanding job in the pitching department this season. She has yet to lose in 20 appearances (10 starts), but also got banged around a bit by LHU. Hoch will likely see some work in the tournament and it will be interesting to see how she holds up against the conference’s top teams.

Outlook
The Golden Bears will be one of the favorites in the tournament and they have arguably the best offense of the six teams. Unfortunately for them, Lock Haven seems to have their number and they will need to find a way to overcome the Lady Eagles if they have any plans of competing at the national level. Lock Haven won the national championship in 2006 and was the runner-up in 2007. If KU can get some momentum and knock them off, there is no telling how far they can go.

One thing to remember about this tournament is that it is really just a tune up for the Regional Tournament. Five teams from the PSAC will likely be invited to the tournament, which is likely to be hosted by Kutztown. Technically, it doesn’t matter how KU fares in PSACs, since they will need to win the regional tournament to get to Nationals. With that said, the PSACs are an excellent opportunity for them to get the monkey of their back and prove to themselves that they can beat Lock Haven.

If Katlin Arbogast is on her game and the offense is as good as advertised, KU will be a contender for the PSAC title right down to the finish.

Ladies eye PSAC East crown

What: Kutztown Golden Bears @ Shippensburg Red Raiders
When: Friday, April 25, 2008 @ 2:30 p.m. (Doubleheader)
Where: Robb Field on the campus of Shippensburg University
~and~
What: Kutztown Golden Bears @ West Chester Golden Rams
When: Saturday, April 26, 2008 @ 1 p.m. (Doubleheader)
Where: West Chester Softball Field on the campus of West Chester University

Game Info
The KU softball team will head into this weekend’s road trip looking to seal up the PSAC East division title. The Golden Bears have already clinched a playoff spot and lead second-place Bloomsburg by two games with just two doubleheaders left to play. KU will head to Shippensburg for two games on Friday afternoon, before heading back east to West Chester for another doubleheader on Saturday.

KU (17-3) needs to win at least two of those games to clinch at least a share of the PSAC East regular season division title. Bloomsburg (15-5) has also clinched a spot in the postseason and will be looking to dethrone KU atop the division. With two of the three playoff spots in the east accounted for, the race will be on for the final spot. Conveniently, KU will be playing two of the major contenders for that spot. West Chester (10-10) currently holds the third seed, but they are being followed closely by Shippensburg (9-11) and East Stroudsburg (9-13). Mansfield (6-14) and Millersville (6-16) have been eliminated.

The Golden Bears are 40-10 overall this season and are ranked 19^th in Division II. They are coming off Tuesday’s home doubleheader with Lock Haven in which they fell by scores of 2-1 and 16-0. KU’s latest division action was a doubleheader sweep of East Stroudsburg on Saturday by scores of 10-1 and 6-2.

Shippensburg enters this weekend’s games after dropping two straight at West Chester on Tuesday by scores of 7-6 and 2-1. The Lady Raiders are 26-22 overall this season, but have dropped four straight games and 11 of their last 16. These teams met at North Campus Field back on April 7 with KU taking both games of the doubleheader by scores of 6-5 and 2-0.

West Chester, as mentioned, knocked off Shippensburg on Saturday to overtake them in the race for the final playoff spot in the PSAC East. The Golden Rams are 31-16 overall this season and have won seven of their last 10. On April 11, KU swept the Golden Rams at North Campus Field by scores of 4-0 and 4-2.

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. Caitlin Hague – CA/DH
7. Krista Tedjeske – SS
8. Maggie Reifsnyder – RF
9. Kathy Gregg – CF
SPs: Kait Arbogast & Monica Glomb/Mary Hoch

Shippensburg:
1. Liz Good – RF
2. Sarah Stengle – LF/DH
3. Hope Cornell – SS
4. Lori Knopf – DH/1B
5. Lisamarie Ramagli – 1B/CA
6. Moira Johnson – 3B
7. Amanda Bardo – 2B
8. Jillian Mullan/Chelsea Carson – OF
9. Rachel Wedell – CA/3B
SPs: Lori Knopf & Danielle Shields

West Chester:
1. Tara Colantuono – CF
2. Stefani Kerbacher – RF
3. Jamie McComb – DH
4. Megan Harbaugh – 1B
5. Erin MacNamee – LF
6. Meghan Halberstadt – 3B
7. Alisha DiMarzio – CA
8. Kelsey Rapp/Jackie DiPaola – 2B
9. Kristin McCoy – SS
SPs: Ashley Saussaman & Shannon Padula

Scouting Report
The Golden Bears will look to the pitching trifecta of Kait Arbogast (18-6 1.66), Monica Glomb (10-4 2.02), and Mary Hoch (9-0 1.66) to keep them in games, while counting on the high-octane offense to power them to victories. Steph Denlinger (.366-12-46), Ashley Fitzgerald (.448-14-49), and Krista Cameron (.327-5-32) can all hit the ball out of the park at any given moment and they will need to provide that power this weekend. Kim Morrison (.259-3-16) struggled at the plate earlier this season, but has been better as of late and will continue to lead off. Maria Schiavo (.299-0-14) has seen her batting average dip as of late, but is an excellent sacrifice bunter and another threat to set the table with a big hit at any time. Krista Tedjeske (.237-2-16), Caitlin Hague (.292-1-12), and Maggie Reifsnyder (.278-4-10) have been taking turns hitting in the six through eight spots in the order and that trend will continue until one of the players hits on a consistent basis. Right now, the senior Hague has been the hot hitter and will likely stay in the six spot for now. Kathy Gregg (.306-6-21) could easily hit neat the top of the KU order and will provide a lot of offense out of the nine hole.

The Raiders are likely to turn to the pitching duo of Danielle Shields and Lori Knopf, who will each likely get a start on Friday. Shields (12-7 1.92) leads the pitching staff with 101 strikeouts and is allowing opposing hitters to bat just .216 against her. Knopf (8-7 2.46) has struck out 79 and opponents are batting .227 against her. Both are respectable pitchers, but neither has pitched well over the past few weeks.

Knopf (.371-4-32) also does it as the plate, leading the team in batting average and doubles (13). Hope Cornell (.345-7-36) leads the team in homers, RBIs, and runs (31). Courtney Steele (.323-6-19), Chelsea Carson (.277-0-5), Sarah Stengl (.265-0-18), Jillian Mullan (.265-0-6), and Rachelle Wedell (.262-0-11) are among the other regulars hitting above the .250 mark.

West Chester’s ace is that of Shannon Padula (23-8 1.95), who will see action in at least one of Saturday’s games. She has pitched 190 innings this season for WCU, 130 more than runner-up Ashley Saussaman (4-3 1.40). Brittany Rees (2-1 2.78) and Megan Graham (2-4 5.54) are other pitching options for the Golden Rams.

Megan Harbaugh (.417-7-37) is the team’s top hitter, leading the Rams in batting average, homers, and RBIs. Stefani Kerbacher (.340-0-9) leads the team with 41 runs scored and with 15 steals. Other top-hitting Golden Rams include Erin MacNamee (.392-1-28), Meghan Halberstad (.323-0-13), Tara Colantuono (.313-2-24), Jamie McComb (.310-0-33), and Katie Kmiencinski (.303-1-16).

Outlook
If Saturday evening rolls around and KU is not the PSAC East regular season champion, it will be a big disappointment. The Golden Bears dominated divisional play for the most part and a collapse this weekend would be heartbreaking. Normally, there would be no reason for concern, but it will be interesting to see how the ladies bounce back from losses in four of their last six games, including a 2-1 heartbreaker to Lock Haven and a 16-0 shellacking at the hands of LHU.

If the Golden Bears struggle again this weekend against two quality teams, they will have a tough time contending with anyone in the playoffs. It’s not very often that a team in any league at any level can back into the playoffs and contend. KU can take last week’s struggles and learn from them. They breezed through much of the season, but now they are getting a taste of what level they need to be at if they hope to compete at the regional, and maybe even, the national level.

We know the Golden Bears have the talent to win all four games this weekend, but with Shippensburg and West Chester battling it out for the last playoff spot, every game will count for them. They will be pulling out all the stops in order to squeeze a win out of KU. The ladies need to realize this and treat these games like a playoff tune up. A few big games this weekend in a playoff environment will do wonders come the playoffs in early May.

Softball ready for rematch with Huskies

What: Bloomsburg Huskies @ Kutztown Golden Bears
When: Friday, April 18, 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. (Clay, Johnson, Kemps)

Game Info
The 10^th-ranked KU softball team can clinch at least a share of the PSAC East title on Friday afternoon when they play host to 19^th-ranked Bloomsburg.

The Golden Bears are 38-6 overall this season and 15-1 in the PSAC East. The Huskies (9-5) have allowed KU to pull away over the last few weeks, but still remain in second. Shippensburg (9-7) currently has a relatively tight hold on the third and final playoff spot, but West Chester (6-8), ESU (6-10), Millersville (5-11) and Mansfield (4-12) are still in the mix.

The Golden Bears enter the game fresh off Wednesday’s doubleheader sweep at Mansfield. KU won 8-0 and 6-0 to complete the season sweep of the Mounties.

The Huskies, meanwhile, are coming off a split with East Stroudsburg on Wednesday afternoon. Following a game one 2-1 loss, the Huskies rebounded with an 8-0 shellacking of the Warriors. With a 34-7 overall record this season, Bloomsburg comes into the game just percentage points behind the Golden Bears.

These two teams met at Bloomsburg back on April 6 with the Golden Bears sweeping the doubleheader by scores of 5-1 and 2-1.

Last season, KU won three of the four matchups between the teams. At North Campus Field, the Golden Bears fell 9-0 before winning 7-1. Later in the season, KU won 3-2 and 5-2 on the road.

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

Bloomsburg:
1. Tara Reed – SS
2. Mandy Koch – 2B
3. Lacy Mauro – LF
4. Jenna Hampton – DH
5. Kayleen Sidisky – 3B
6. Nikki Shiko – CF
7. Casey Massimini – RF
8. Tiff Corliss – CA
9. Jess Rosin – 1B
SPs: Ashley Lynn & Sheelin Fisher

Scouting Report
The Golden Bears have already swept the Huskies once, and with the PSAC East title within their grasp, they should be as motivated as ever to sweep the Huskies out of Kutztown. The Huskies do, however, have a lot of talent, including a few top-notch offensive threats and one of the best pitching staffs around. The teams are relatively even and, like in the first meetings, both games are likely to be close right down to the finish.

The Golden Bears will look to the pitching trifecta of Kait Arbogast (17-4 1.59), Monica Glomb (9-2 1.58), and Mary Hoch (9-0 1.19) to keep them in games, while counting on the high-octane offense to power them to victories. Steph Denlinger (.381-11-41), Ashley Fitzgerald (.465-14-48), and Krista Cameron (.353-5-30) can all hit the ball out of the park at any given moment and they will need to provide that power on Friday. Kim Morrison (.254-3-16) will leadoff for KU has been playing well over the last few weeks. Maria Schiavo (.292-0-12) will be called upon to move base runners out of the two hole, but is another threat to set the table with a big hit at any time. Maggie Reifsnyder (.302-4-9) has recently been moved to the six hole to provide a threat behind the “big three” and she has not disappointed. She is quietly becoming the power hitter coach Judy Lawes was hoping for. Krista Tedjeske (.231-1-14), Caitlin Hague (.257-1-10), and Kathy Gregg (.278-6-19) are all capable hitters who will look to provide runs from the bottom of the order.

The Huskies will rely on their superstar pitcher Ashley Lynn (15-3 0.93) to carry them to the Promised Land. The senior has allowed opponents to hit just .208 and has struck out 138 in 128.1 innings of work. Sheelin Fisher (11-2 1.08) will likely start game two, while Tara Reed (7-2 0.98) rounds out a stellar pitching staff.

BU’s offensive attack is led by six regulars who are hitting above .300. Tara Reed (.420-1-21) leads the team in runs scored with 28 and steals with 10. Reed and Jenna Hampton (.324-3-21) have the most RBIs, while Hampton is tops on the team in homers. Mandy Koch (.313-2-11), Nikki Shiko (.351-2-10), Tiff Corliss (.316-1-13), and Lacy Mauro (.317-0-16) will also be counted on for run production.

In order to continue their assault of the Huskies, the Golden Bears will need the continued superb work of the pitching staff. Kait Arbogast, Monica Glomb, and Mary Hoch have been quite the trifecta this season and will be key to the team’s success the rest of the way. I’d expect both games to be close and I wouldn’t be completely surprised if Bloomsburg was able to steal one of the games. As good as KU is, the Huskies are also a top 25 team in the nation and can break out at any time.

Ladies make quick work of Mounties

Recap:
Wednesday, April 16 @ Mansfield:
Game 1: W 8-0
Kait Arbogast extended her scoreless innings streak to 20.1 straight innings as KU easily handled Mansfield in game one by a score of 8-0. Arbogast tossed the five inning complete game and allowed just two hits, while striking out eight. Steph Denlinger and Krista Cameron each had two hits and a homer. Ashley Fitzgerald continued her dominance at the plate, going 3-for-4 and driving in four runs. Maggie Reifsnyder was 2-for-3.
Game 2: W 6-0
The Golden Bears completed the day with another shutout, but this time it was Monica Glomb and Mary Hoch on the hill in the 6-0 affair. Hoch got the win, tossing five innings of three hit ball. Glomb pitched the final two innings, allowing just one hit. Fitzgerald again was 3-for-4 at the plate, drove in three runs, and scored twice. Denlinger walked in all four of her at-bats and scored three runs. Reifsnyder and Caitlin Hague had the only other KU hits in the game.

What we liked:
What else is new? Another doubleheader sweep—more great things to say. The pitching was almost perfect, as the Kait Arbogast-Monica Glomb-Mary Hoch trio allowed no runs on six hits and struck out 12 on the afternoon. Ashley Fitzgerald was a combined 6-of-8 (.750) at the dish, drove in a whopping seven runs, and scored three times. Steph Denlinger reached base in seven of her eight trips to the plate and scored five runs. Maggie Reifsnyder continues to improve, as she was 3-for-7 (.429) at the plate.

What we didn’t like:
There is nothing much to point out her, but a few players had a rough day. Leadoff hitter Kim Morrison had just one hit, but walked twice during the two games. Maria Schiavo was 0-for-7 at the plate out of the two spot in the order. Fortunately for them, Fitzgerald, Denlinger, Krista Cameron, and Maggie Reifsnyder had outstanding afternoons.

Impact:
Not only did KU sweep Mansfield, but Bloomsburg also split its doubleheader with East Stroudsburg. With eight divisional games to play, the Golden Bears (15-1) lead second place Bloomsburg (9-5) by five games. Shippensburg (9-7) currently has a relatively tight hold on the third and final playoff spot, but West Chester (6-8), ESU (6-10), Millersville (5-11) and Mansfield (4-12) can still get back in the race. The Golden Bears, ranked 10^th in the nation and 38-6 overall this season, need to win just two more games to clinch a playoff spot and are closing in on clinching the division title. It won’t be easy over the next few days, however, as they have what will likely be their hardest stretch of the season. They will host 19^th-ranked Bloomsburg at home on Friday and will then entertain 2^nd-ranked Lock Haven in a non-divisional doubleheader on Tuesday. A sweep of the Huskies on Friday would clinch KU at least a share of the PSAC East regular season title. I’ll have both of those games on the Golden Bear Network for your listening pleasure.

Ladies look to sweep Mansfield

What: Kutztown Golden Bears @ Mansfield Mountaineers
When: Wednesday April 16, 2008 @ 2 p.m. (Doubleheader)
Where: Helen Lutes Field on the campus of Mansfield University

Game Info
The KU softball team will head into Wednesday afternoon’s doubleheader at Mansfield as the top team in the PSAC East with an impressive 13-1 record. At 36-6 overall, the Golden Bears are ranked 10^th in the nation and are second in the region behind second-ranked Lock Haven. In the East, they currently lead second place Bloomsburg (8-4) by three games and are well ahead of Shippensburg (7-7), West Chester (6-8), Millersville (5-9), East Stroudsburg (5-9), and Mansfield (4-10). With 10 games to play including Wednesday, KU is still far from clinching a division title and still needs a few more wins to clinch a playoff berth.

The Golden Bears enter the game fresh off a weekend sweep of West Chester and Millersville. KU beat WCU 4-0 and 4-2 at home on Friday before beating Millersville 8-0 and 1-0 at North Campus Field on Saturday.

The Mounties enter the game at 10-13 overall this season and are last in the division at 4-10. They are coming off Monday’s doubleheader split with West Chester in which they lost game one 5-1 before taking game two 3-2.

The team’s met earlier this season in Kutztown on March 29. Both games were close, but it was the Golden Bears who managed to take 4-3 wins in both contests.

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. Maggie Reifsnyder – RF
7. Caitlin Hague – CA/DH
8. Krista Tedjeske – SS
9. Kathy Gregg – CF
SPs: Kait Arbogast & Monica Glomb/Mary Hoch

Mansfield:
1. Shana Markwis – LF
2. Janelle Antes – 2B
3. Jess Christ – SS
4. Gabriella Carrullo – DH
5. Jen Stein – CA
6. Nicole Yost – RF
7. Megan Trutt – CF
8. Amanda Lewis – 1B
9. Sarah Cullen – 3B
SPs: Whitney Brown & Lindsey Knapp

Scouting Report
As usual, the Golden Bears have a much better lineup and pitching staff. Coach Judy Lawes will likely look to Kait Arbogast to pitch one of the games and to either Mary Hoch or Monica Glomb in the other. Since Glomb started game one on Saturday and Arbogast threw three innings in game two, I’d imagine Arbogast and Hoch will be the starters.

2B Kim Morrison has picked it up as of late after a mid-season slump and will continue to set the table along with two-hitter LF Maria Schiavo. 1B Steph Denlinger, CA/SS Ashley Fitzgerald, and 3B Krista Cameron will anchor the heart of the order with RF Maggie Reifsnyder beginning to heat up in the six spot. Caitlin Hague is the favorite to bat seventh and play designated hitter in one game and catch the other. SS Krista Tedjeske has struggled as of late, which was dropped her from sixth to eight in the lineup. CF Kathy Gregg is excellent out of the nine spot.

Mansfield is expected to throw Whitney Brown and Lindsey Knapp at Kutztown. Brown leads the team in starts, while Knapp is tops in ERA and strikeouts (56).

Jess Christ leads the team in batting average and is second in RBIs. Megan Trutt and Nicole Yost are the only other regulars hitting over .300. Janelle Antes has scored a team-high 17 runs, while Shana Markwis has a team-best 13 RBIs. Antes, Markwis, and Jen Stein have each hit two homers, tops on the team.

(New rankings as well as updated player stats will be added tonight or Wednesday morning)

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.

Bloom-who? Shippen-what?

Recap:
Sunday, April 6 @ Bloomsburg:
Game 1: W 5-1
A Steph Denlinger three-run homer, coupled with a Kathy Gregg two-run blast, was enough to push KU past 8^th-ranked Bloomsburg by a score of 5-1. Kim Morrison and Gregg each had two hits in the win. Kait Arbogast was on the hill for KU and allowed just one run on five hits in a complete game effort. She also struck out eight en route to the win over BU pitcher Ashley Lynn, who along with Arbogast and Lock Haven’s Kristin Erb, is arguably one of the top three pitchers in the entire PSAC.
Game 2: W 2-1
Monica Glomb continued her hot streak, allowing one run on six hits in a complete game effort. The freshman also struck out 10 en route to her 10^th win of the season. KU had just four hits in the game, but two of them were solo homeruns off the bats of Denlinger and Ashley Fitzgerald.

Monday, April 7 vs. Shippensburg:
Game 1: W 6-5
Denlinger hit a game-tying solo homer in the seventh and then drove in the winning run with a bases-loaded single in the bottom of the eighth to carry KU to a 6-5 win. Denlinger, Fitzgerald, and Krista Cameron each had a pair of hits, while freshman Maggie Reifsnyder broke out with a three hit game. Glomb allowed five runs, but none were earned on six hits in 5.1 innings of work. Mary Hoch was the winning pitcher, striking out six hitters while tossing 2.2 perfect innings in relief.
Game 2: W 2-0
KU scores just two runs on four hits, but Hoch and Arbogast teamed up to shutout the Raiders in the 2-0 affair. Hoch tossed the first four innings and allowed just two hits before Arbogast threw three innings of one-hit ball for the save. Fitzgerald led the offense with a 2-for-3 day, while Denlinger and Cameron each added a hit a piece.

What we liked:
Just as we expected, the outstanding pitching depth and the big bats carried KU through its toughest four-game set of the season. No one could have predicted that the Golden Bears would sweep both Bloomsburg and Shippensburg, but what a statement this team made. The Kait Arbogast-Monica Glomb-Mary Hoch pitching trifecta allowed a whopping two earned runs in 29 total innings during the four game set. The three pitchers combined to go 4-0, struck out 34 batters, and their combined ERA was 0.49.

The offense was led by their own powerful trifecta: Steph Denlinger, Ashley Fitzgerald, and Krista Cameron. Denlinger hit .455, scored five times, and drove in six over the weekend. Fitzgerald hit .462 and Cameron was .385 at the plate. Freshman Maggie Reifsnyder saw limited action, but hit .429 and drove in two runs in just seven at bats.

What we didn’t like:
The only weakness was the recurring one: top of the order hitting. Following leadoff hitter Kim Morrison’s two hits against Bloomsburg in game one on Sunday, she went hitless in the next three games. She ended up 2-of-16 (.125) and scored just once. In the two slot, Maria Schiavo was not much better, as she was just 2-of-15 (.133) at the dish and scored one run. KU is going to need more production and base runners if they hope to do damage at the regional and national level.

Impact:
The wins, as you might imagine, are huge. They improve KU’s PSAC East record to 9-1, which puts them three games ahead of second-place Bloomsburg (5-3) and four games ahead of the third-place combo of West Chester and Shippensburg (4-4, tie). Kutztown entered last week ranked 18^th in division II, but this should push them to near the top 10—especially since Bloomsburg was (for some reason) ranked ahead of them in eighth. The weekend sweep solidifies KU as the best team in East, which will make April 22nd^’s showdown at North Campus Field with Lock Haven (the top team in the PSAC West, the 2006 National Champions, and the 2007 national runner-ups), one for the ages.

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.