FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Bouder's Double Leads Mansfield to Split with Kutztown

MANSFIELD – Courtney Bauder drilled a three-run double and Ashley Inman turned in a clutch relief effort to preserve Chelsey Heatley's first collegiate win to lead Mansfield to a 4-1 win over Kutztown in the nightcap of a PSAC East doubleheader at Helen Lutes Field Monday afternoon.

Mansfield dropped the opener 2-0.

In the nightcap, Mansfield drew first blood when freshman Melanie Taylor punched a one-out single through the right side and went to second on a single by freshman Morgan Boyce. Laura Lawson reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases. One out later, Bauder took the first pitch she saw down the right field to clear the bases and give Mansfield a 3-0 lead.

Heatley had one of her best performances of the season retiring the first eight batters of the game and pitching out of potential jams in the fourth and fifth innings.

Asja Saito singled to lead off the top of the fourth for Kutztown but Mountaineer third baseman Kayla Hahn started a nicely turned double-play to end the threat.

In the fifth, Bridget Newman led off with a double for Kutztown but Heatley got the next three batters to pop up, line out to third and fly out to left to get out of the inning unscathed.

Kutztown threatened again in the sixth when Rachel Lawes led off with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Saito singled to put runners on first and third with one out when Ashley Inmann, who went the distance in the opener, came in relief. Danielle Amato singled in a run but Inman struck out the next batter swinging on a full-count and got the final batter to ground out.

Leading 3-1, the Mountaineers got an insurance run in the sixth when Hahn singled to lead off the inning. Rachael Sterner followed with a single before Taylor drove in the game's final run with a sac fly to left.
Kutztown threatened again in the seventh with runners on first and third with two outs before Inman got the final batter to ground out to first to preserve the win.

Bauder drove in three runs and Taylor one while Heatley scattered five hits over 5.1 innings and struck out two while walking none to pick up her first collegiate win. Inman threw shutout ball over the final 1.2 innings to earn the save.

Savannah Nierintz went the distance for Kutztown losing for just the third time in 18 decisions this season.

In the opener, Inman and Dominique Ficara were locked in a pitching duel with Kutztown taking a 1-0 lead with an unearned run in the third.

Kutztown added another run in the fourth on an RBI single by Blayse Cholish.

Mansfield had its best scoring opportunity when Sterner led off the bottom of the fifth with a double to center and Nikki Watkins, running for Sterner moved up to third on a passed ball. Watkins was thrown out at home on a ground ball by Inman and Mansfield wouldn't threaten again.

Inman had another strong outing allowing just one earned run. Ficara picked up the win for Kutztown to improve to 8-5 on the season.

Mansfield host West Chester in a doubleheader tomorrow starting at 2 p.m. at Helen Lutes Field.