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QUAKERTOWN, PA - Sammi Starr (Berwick, Pa./21st Century Cyber Charter) went 1-for-2 with an RBI, but a nine-run third inning would vault Kutztown to a 14-1 victory over the Bloomsburg University softball team in the first round of the 2019 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament Wednesday. The Huskies are still alive in the double elimination tournament, and will look to bounce back Thursday morning against Seton Hill.

The Golden Bears wasted little time before drawing first blood Wednesday, notching a run on a Jenna Lipowski RBI single in the top of the first. Kutztown would extend its lead to two in the top half of the second thanks to an RBI single from Alyssa Oakley, and a nine-run third inning would give the Golden Bears a commanding 11-0 lead through three. Three more Kutztown runs in the fourth would give the Golden Bears a 14-0 lead.
 
The Huskies finally broke through in the fourth when Erin DelPierre (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) roped a single up the middle and Starr followed with Bloomsburg's lone RBI on the afternoon to trim the deficit to 13. The Huskies threatened in the bottom of the fifth as well, as Emily Getz (Hagerstown, Md./North Hagerstown) worked a walk and Briannah Dobson (York, Pa./Central York) smacked a single to put two runners on with just one out, but Kutztown pitcher Bridget Bailey worked out of the jam to preserve the five-inning win for the Golden Bears. 

Bailey surrendered just one unearned run on four hits in the complete game win. Cheyenne Jones went 1-for-4 with a game-high three RBI at the plate for Kutztown, while Sara Keeny and Katelyn Ostaszewski had three hits apiece. Ostaszewski laced three doubles and had three runs scored.

Abby Wild (Collegeville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley) got the start in the circle for Bloomsburg and allowed five earned on eight hits in just 2.1 innings. Balee Leeser (Sunbury, Pa./Shikellamy) was strong in relief, surrendering just one earned run on four hits in 2.0 innings of work.

Bloomsburg will look to get back on track and stave off elimination Thursday morning against Seton Hill, who lost 5-2 to West Chester Wednesday. Thursday's game was originally slated for a 12:00 p.m. start, but will now begin at 9:00 a.m. due to impending weather concerns. For more information regarding the 2019 PSAC Tournament, please CLICK HERE.