KUTZTOWN, Pa. – After sweeping Kutztown on Friday afternoon at Creekview Park, the East Stroudsburg University softball team could not keep its momentum going, falling to the Golden Bears in both games of a doubleheader by scores of 6-4 and 3-0.

The Warriors are now 21-10 on the season and 12-10 in PSAC East play, while the Golden Bears improve to 22-9 and 18-8 in conference.

Katherine Donaghue (1-4), who entered the game as a pinch hitter in game one, provided a pair of RBIs on a single. Ashley Spencer (3-6) posted three hits in game one and also plated a run. Kaitlin Houser also recorded an RBI on the day for ESU. Sofia Cecchin (3-6) reached base four times in the twin bill via three hits and a walk.

Marah Range (L, 11-4) suffered just her fourth loss of the season in game one. In 4.2 innings of work, she allowed five hits and six earned runs. In game two, Morgan Chapman (L, 2-2) was charged with the loss, giving up one run in 1.2 innings of action.

GAME ONE

The Golden Bears opened the scoring with a two-run home run off the bat of Jenna Lipowski in the first inning.­­­

Trailing 2-0, ESU was able to cut the deficit in half in the top of the 2nd. A leadoff double from Spencer followed by a single from Houser cut the defcit to 2-1.

KU would get the run back in the home half of the second frame on a solo home run from Sarah Harvey, holding a a 3-1 lead.

ESU had opportunities in the third, fourth and fifth innings to cut into the deficit by putting runners in scoring position, but could not take advantage.

After two scoreless frames, KU lengthened its lead to 6-1 in the bottom of the 5th on a 3-run home run from Hannah Auvil. Mikayla Grow would enter the game in relief of Range and earned the final out of the inning on a ground out.

The Warriors could not cut into the five-run deficit in the sixth, going down in order. Grow retired three consecutive Golden Bears to keep it a five-run contest.

The Warriors, who entered the contest with 11 comeback victories to their name in 21 wins this season, began a seventh inning rally with a single and a pair of walks to load the bases for Spencer. Spencer sent a single to score a run, while Donaghue followed with two-run single to right center field to cut the deficit to just two at 6-4. ESU would put the tying run on base with two outs, but ulltimately, the last inning magic would end as a strike out would end the game at 6-4.

GAME TWO

After scoring seven runs and handing a loss to KU's Amber Brugger in game two yesterday, Brugger was able to scatter four Warrior hits in a complete game shutout. The shutout loss for ESU marked the first time that ESU was held off the scoreboard since March 10, 2020 against Augusta.

KU was able to take the lead in game two with a one-out RBI double from Brugger in the bottom of the 2nd. Grow entered the ball game and helped ESU avoid further damage by stranding the bases loaded in the frame.

KU added its second tally of the ball game in its next at bats, as an infield single and throwing error allowed a Golden Bear to score.

After not recording a hit during the first three innings, ESU threatened with a pair of singles in top of the 4th. Nies and Cecchin both earned base knocks and advanced into scoring position with two outs, but a line out to first base would end the chance of scoring.

Kutztown scored the third and final run of the game in the bottom of the 5th, as an RBI single from Harvey extended KU's lead to 3-0.  

ESU left four runners on base in game two, as KU earned the season-series split with a 3-0 victory in the latter half of Saturday's doubleheader.

The Warriors are back on the road on Tuesday, April 20 in a make-up doubleheader with West Chester that was previously postponed. The opening pitch of the road doubleheader is slated for 1:00 p.m.