Box Scores
Game 1 - L 5-4
Game 2 - W 4-3

KUTZTOWN – Senior catcher Rebecca Smith hit a key two-run double and sophomore Allison Mende got the final four outs for her first career save as East Stroudsburg University beat Kutztown, 4-3, in the second half of a PSAC East softball doubleheader on Saturday.

Kutztown (11-16, 5-5) won the opener, 5-4, scoring four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning with Marka Ballard hitting the game-winning double with two outs.

Junior OF Kasey Meckes was 5-for-8 with a double, two RBI and two runs and junior 2B Jamie Smith was 4-for-8 with two runs to lead the ESU offense at the top of the order. Both had multiple hits in both games.

ESU (9-14, 4-4) hosts PSAC East leader West Chester (20-11, 9-3) in a doubleheader on Sunday.

Game 1 – L 5-4

ESU scored three runs in the top of the sixth to break a 1-1 tie, but the Golden Bears scored four in the bottom of the seventh inning to win the opener.

Rebecca Smith had a two-out single to score Meckes with the day's first run in the top of the fifth inning, then Kutztown answered with a squeeze bunt to tie it at 1-1 in the bottom of the frame.

The Warriors scored three unearned runs on two hits, a walk and two Kutztown errors in the sixth, including a two-out RBI single by Meckes to make it 4-1.

Kutztown threatened off ESU freshman Rachael Liguori (6.0 IP, 8 hits, 5 runs, 6 strikeouts, 2 walks) in the sixth, then loaded the bases in the seventh on two singles and a hit batter. Savannah Nierintz had a two-run single to get KU within 4-3, bringing ESU senior pitcher Laura Suits into the game, but the Golden Bears tied it on a sacrifice fly and Ballard's double scored the winning run from second.

Meckes (3-for-4, RBI, run) and Jamie Smith (2-for-4) had five of ESU's eight hits.

Game 2 – W 4-3

Smith's two-run double gave ESU a 4-1 cushion in the fifth inning as the Warriors held on for a 4-3 victory in the nightcap.

Suits (5.2 IP, 5 hits, 3 runs, 4 strikeouts, 1 walk), coming off a 2-0, two-hit shutout of Lock Haven, blanked Kutztown for the first four innings.

ESU built a 4-0 lead, getting an unearned run in the fourth and then three runs in the fifth. Freshman SS Rae Holden hit a leadoff double and scored on an RBI single by Meckes, then Jamie Smith singled before Rebecca Smith's double down the right field line scored both runners.

Kutztown got one run back in the fifth and scored two in the sixth, with three ESU pitchers (Suits, sophomore Amanda Carlin and Mende) spending time in the circle before Mende got a groundout to leave the bases loaded.

Mende retired the side in order in the seventh, including striking out the leadoff batter, for her first career save.

Meckes and Jamie Smith both had two hits for the Warriors.