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 clinch playoff berth

Recap:
Friday, April 18 vs. Bloomsburg:
Game 1: L 2-5
Monica Glomb was lit up for five runs, four earned, on 10 hits in a complete game effort as KU fell 5-2 in game one. Steph Denlinger hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth to cut the KU deficit to one run, but the Huskies answered with a two spot in the top of the seventh to put the game out of reach. Kathy Gregg was 2-for-3 at the plate.
Game 2: L 1-4
The Golden Bears left 10 runners stranded in a 4-1 game two loss, allowing the Huskies to complete the daily sweep. Maria Schiavo and Gregg each had two hits in the loss. Maggie Reifsnyder was 0-for-3 and stranded seven runs. Kait Arbogast took the loss for KU, allowing four runs on nine hits in seven innings.

Saturday, April 19 @ East Stroudsburg:
Game 1: W 10-1
The Golden Bears bounced back on Sunday with a 10-1 smoking of ESU in game one. KU put up 17 hits in the win, led by three-hit days by Maria Schiavo and Caitlin Hague. Steph Denlinger, Ashley Fitzgerald, Krista Cameron, and Maggie Reifsnyder each had two hits. Arbogast was the winning pitcher, tossing a complete game, four-hitter. She allowed just one unearned run and struck out nine.
Game 2: W 6-2
The Golden Bears put 10 more hits on the board in game two en route to a 6-2 win. Hague, Kathy Gregg, and Krista Tedjeske carried the offensive load with two hits a piece. Tedjeske scored twice and drove in two runs. Mary Hoch was the starting pitcher for KU but was replaced by Monica Glomb after 2.2 innings of work. Glomb was the winning pitcher, tossing a scoreless 4.1 innings, while allowing just two hits.

What we liked:
The Golden Bears bounced back nicely on Saturday after a big letdown on Friday afternoon. Besides the two losses to Bloomsburg on Friday, ESU was the only other PSAC East team that had beaten KU this season. Instead of coming out in a funk against a team that knew they had it in them to knock off a good team like KU, the Golden Bears came out swinging and dominated the Warriors. Caitlin Hague was 6-of-10 (.600) and Kathy Gregg was 7-of-12 (.583) over the weekend. Both drove in two runs and scored twice. Maria Schiavo had a decent weekend, going 5-for-13 (.385) at the dish. Ashley Fitzgerald was 4-for-11 (.364), while Steph Denlinger was 4-for-12 (.333) and drove in five runs. Kim Morrison scored five runs in the four games. Krista Tedjeske seems to have broken from her slump. She was 3-for-10 (.300) at the plate, scored twice, and drove in two.

What we didn’t like:
You won’t see these names in this section very often, but the pitching wasn’t on the top of its game this weekend. Ace Kait Arbogast was 1-1 with a 2.15 ERA in 13 innings of work. She allowed 13 hits in that span, but did strike out 15 hitters. Monica Glomb was also 1-1, but with a bit higher of an ERA at 2.52 in 11.1 innings. Mary Hoch threw just 2.2 innings in game two against ESU and allowed four earned runs on five hits. At the plate, Krista Cameron hit a speed bump, managing just a 3-for-15 (.200) weekend. Maggie Reifsnyder seems to have cooled off, as she was 3-of-13 at the plate, including 0-for-6 against BU. Overall, the offensive output looks good for the weekend, but KU left a lot of runners on base. This was most notable in game two against Bloomsburg on Friday, as KU certainly had several opportunities to take the lead and even run away with that game. The Golden Bears did not bring their A-game on Friday and one can only hope that their performance will serve as a wake up call for the rest of the season.

Impact:
The Golden Bears sweep of ESU on Saturday clinched them a spot in the PSAC playoffs. KU (17-3) also had a chance to clinch the PSAC East title this weekend and, although they still maintain a three-game lead in the division, Bloomsburg (13-5) is certainly not out of the running. The Huskies will likely hold on for one of the two remaining playoff spots, but the third is certainly up for grabs. Shippensburg (9-9) holds the spot right now, but West Chester (8-10), ESU (8-12), Mansfield (6-12), and Millersville (5-15) are not far behind. KU’s biggest doubleheader of the season will come on Tuesday when they play host to PSAC West contender Lock Haven. The Lady Eagles are ranked second in the nation and are 34-6 overall in 2008, including 15-1 in the West. The Golden Bears, meanwhile, enter the game 40-8 this season and are 10^th in the nation. Check back this afternoon for a full doubleheader preview.

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.

#18 Kutztown set to take on #8 Bloomsburg

What: Kutztown Golden Bears @ Bloomsburg Huskies
When: Sunday, April 6, 2008 @ 1:00 p.m. (Doubleheader)
Where: North Campus Field on the campus of Kutztown University

Game Info
In what will likely prove to be their most telling games of the season to this point, the Golden Bears will head to Bloomsburg on Sunday afternoon to take on the PSAC East-leading Huskies. The doubleheader, set to begin at 1 p.m., will match the top two teams in the Eastern division. The Huskies, ranked eighth in division II, lead the East with a 5-1 record, while the 18^th-ranked Golden Bears are right there with them at 5-1. The doubleheader was originally scheduled for Friday night, but was moved to Sunday due to inclement weather.

KU enters the game off a split with East Stroudsburg on Wednesday, as they were upset 6-2 in game one, before bouncing back with a 7-1 victory in game two. They sport a 28-6 overall record in 2008.

Meanwhile, the Huskies enter the game off a doubleheader with West Chester on Saturday. BU won game one 2-1 before falling 5-4 in game two. On Wednesday, they swept a talented Shippensburg squad by scores of 3-2 and 6-4. Entering the weekend at 25-2, the Huskies have the least amount of losses among the top 25 teams in the nation (according to the NFCA Division II Top 25 Poll).

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/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

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
In what has been a rare occurrence this season, KU is not the favorite to sweep the series. The Golden Bears played some of the top team’s in the nation earlier this year when they played in tournaments down south, but those games were mostly tune-ups for each team’s respective conference games. The Huskies have some top-notch offensive threats and one of the best pitching staffs around. The teams are relatively even and, since there hasn’t been too much roster turnover since last season for either team, both games are likely to be close right down to the finish.

The Golden Bears will look to the pitching trifecta of Kait Arbogast (14-4 1.93), Monica Glomb (7-2 1.97), and Mary Hoch (5-0 1.37) to keep them in games, while counting on the high-octane offense to power them to victories. Steph Denlinger (.387-7-32), Ashley Fitzgerald (.424-10-32), and Krista Cameron (.363-4-26) 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 (.262-3-14) will leadoff for KU and despite her recent struggles, she’s a proven hitter who can break out for 3-4 hits on any given day. Maria Schiavo (.340-0-12) 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. Krista Tedjeske (.231-1-14), Caitlin Hague (.250-1-9), Maggie Reifsnyder (.231-2-5), and Kathy Gregg (.298-5-14) 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 (11-1 0.67) to carry them to the Promised Land. The senior has allowed opponents to hit just .212 and has struck out 81 in 83 innings of work. Sheelin Fisher (8-1 1.10) will likely start game two, while Tara Reed (6-0 0.78) rounds out a stellar pitching staff.

BU’s offensive attack is led by seven regulars who are hitting above .300. Nikki Shiko (.406-2-9) and Tara Reed (.333-1-12) lead the team in runs scored, while Jenna Hampton (.327-2-16) has the most RBIs. Shiko, Hampton, and Mandy Koch (.347-2-8) each have a team-high two homers. Tiff Corliss (.396-0-6), Lacy Mauro (.359-0-11), and Lori Neyhard (.320-0-8) will also be counted on for run production.

In order to compete with the Huskies, the Golden Bears will need a bounce back game from Kait Arbogast, as well as, more production from the offense than they’ve been delivering. If I had to bet, I’d put money on the doubleheader ending up a split, but both games will likely be close, so they could easily go either way. The Golden Bears have more pop than the Huskies, so don’t be shocked if KU wins at least one of the games thanks to a clutch homerun.

Softball splits with ESU

Recap:
Wednesday, April 2 vs. East Stroudsburg:
Game 1: L 2-6
The Warriors exploded to five combined runs in the fourth and fifth innings en route to a 6-2 victory in game one. ESU jumped all over Kait Arbogast in the fourth inning, forcing her to leave the game after allowing three runs on four hits in three innings of work. Mary Hoch entered the game and allowed two more earned runs on six hits in the final four innings. The Golden Bears, who began a rally in the bottom of the seventh but could only manage one run, had just six hits in the game.

Game 2: W 7-1
The Golden Bears jumped ahead 3-0 in the third inning before adding four insurance runs in the fifth frame to seal the 7-1 game two victory. Ashley Fitzgerald carried the offense, registering a 2-for-3 day at the plate, which included a solo homer in the second inning and a three-run shot in the fifth. Monica Glomb earned the winning, tossing a complete game five hitter. She allowed just one earned run and struck out nine.

What we liked:
Game two saw outstanding performances from both Monica Glomb and Ashley Fitzgerald. Glomb had one of her best outings as a Golden Bear, allowing just one run and striking out nine. She will be counted on to come up big in key situations as the season goes on, and, if Wednesday was any indication of things to come, coach Judy Lawes should feel good about Glomb. Fitzgerald had three hits on five at bats in the doubleheader and all but single-handedly carried KU to a game two victory. She has been the biggest threat at the plate for the Golden Bears in 2008 and there is no reason to believe that she won’t continue to perform at this level. Maria Schiavo was 2-of-4 at the plate, while Kathy Gregg was 2-of-5 and scored three runs.

What we didn’t like:
Kait Arbogast has allowed three earned runs in each of her last two games, which could be worrisome. The sophomore ace pitched most of KU’s innings last season, and, although she has help from Mary Hoch and Glomb this season, she is still needs to be at the top of her game if KU has a chance against the likes of Lock Haven and Bloomsburg. The Golden Bears’ offensive struggles on Wednesday were the product of poor outputs from big bats Steph Denlinger [pictured] (1-for-5) and Krista Cameron (1-of-7), leadoff hitter Kim Morrison (1-of-7), and freshman Krista Tedjeske (0-for-6), who is counted on to provide protection for Cameron in the six spot.

Impact:
The split, coupled with Bloomsburg’s sweep of Shippensburg, drops KU from the top spot in the PSAC East. The Huskies (4-0) lead KU (5-1) and SU (4-2) with plenty of games still to be played. ESU has proved to be one of the worst teams in the East so far this season, so the loss could prove costly with the competition for the top seed in the division sure to be a dogfight. The players who have been struggling/struggled on Wednesday are proven veterans in most cases and there is no doubt in my mind that they will be back to form this weekend when KU continues it’s divisional schedule with two of the biggest doubleheaders of the season. The Golden Bears will head to Bloomsburg on Friday and return home to face Shippensburg on Saturday.

KU looks to dispose of struggling Warriors

What: East Stroudsburg Warriors @ Kutztown Golden Bears
When: Wednesday, April 2, 2008 @ 2:30 p.m. (Doubleheader)
Where: North Campus Field on the campus of Kutztown University

Game Info
The Golden Bears (27-5) will head into Wednesday’s doubleheader with East Stroudsburg as the top team in the PSAC East. The 18^th ranked team in the nation swept Millersville and Mansfield this past weekend, which tied them at 4-0 with Shippensburg atop the division. KU has won 18 of it’s last 19 games and six straight, including a pair of 9-0 wins at Millersville on Friday and a pair of 4-3 wins at home against Mansfield on Saturday.

East Stroudsburg enters the game at 6-17 overall, the worst record in the PSAC East. The Warriors have lost six straight games, including 3-0 and 5-1 losses at Bloomsburg on Saturday and 7-1 and 6-2 losses at Shippensburg on Sunday. At 0-4 in the PSAC East, ESU is tied with Mansfield and Millersville in the basement of the division.

Last year, KU won five of the team’s six meetings, but ESU was the team who ended the Golden Bears’ season when they eliminated them from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Tournament.

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

ESU:
1. Jamie Mingis – LF
2. Brittany Racek – 2B
3. Briana Malachowski – SS
4. Ali Hale – 1B
5. Amanda Feist – CA
6. Candice Pastor – 3B
7. Kara Darcey – RF
8. Laura Snyder – CF
9. Sam Bastian – DH
SPs: Kristen Halvorsen & Jackie Battaglino

Scouting Report
The Golden Bears are the far superior team here and should be able to easily dispose of the rival Warriors. KU is far better offensively and now, with the additions of Mary Hoch and Monica Glomb, have the pitching depth necessary to win even if Kait Arbogast does not have the ball.

Ashley Fitzgerald (.415-8-28) has flown under the radar over the past few seasons due to the almost surreal number put up by Steph Denlinger (.398-7-31), but she has led the offense in 2008. Krista Cameron (.379-3-25) has been stellar in protecting Fitzgerald, while Krista Tedjeske (.247-1-14), Caitlin Hague (.250-1-9), Maggie Reifsnyder (.250-2-5), and Kathy Gregg (.291-5-13) [pictured] round out what is possibly the toughest lineup in the PSAC. Not to be forgotten are the tablesetters: Kim Morrison (.270-3-14) and Maria Schiavo (.333-0-12), who will called upon to get on base for the meat of the Kutztown order.

Arbogast (14-3 1.77) has certainly not been a victim of a sophomore slump as she’s proved she can be the ace of the KU pitching staff. Hoch (5-0 1.17) has been lights out as a rookie, while Glomb (6-2 2.10) has joined with Hoch to form a deadly freshmen tandem.

As a team, KU is hitting .308 and has belted 32 homers. The team ERA is a whopping 1.84 and opponents are batting just .212 against the KU pitching staff.

The Warriors will look to counter the KU offense with the pitching duo of Kristen Halvorsen (3-8 2.77) and Jackie Battaglino (2-5 2.67). KU saw a lot of Halvorsen last season, while Battaglino made just four appearances in 2007.

The ESU offensive load will be carried by Briana Malachowski (.345-1-2), who leads the team in batting average. Brittany Racek (.294-1-11) has driven in a team-high 11 runs and scored a team-best 10 runs. She will be counted on to provide a majority of the pop from the front end of the ESU lineup. Leadoff hitter Jamie Mingis (.263-1-4) is hitting just .263, but has walked a team-high eight times. Other than those three, the ESU lineup has been rather unimpressive in 2008. Other than Sam Bastian (.300-0-1), who has just 10 at-bats this season, none of the remaining probable starters have a batting average higher than .222.

The Golden Bears are one of the top teams in the nation and should have no trouble with the Warriors. A loss in either game would be a big shocker, as ESU will be lucky to get out of the fifth inning if KU comes in focused. There is no reason to believe this will be a trap game for the Golden Bears, since most players are back from last year’s team—the team whose season was ended by the Warriors.

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.