MANSFIELD, Pa. – Junior Alexis Easling was relentless on the mound, stranding 11 runners on base and junior Abbey Woodard knocked in the game-tying run in the bottom of the sixth, but Kutztown University pushed across the game-winner in the top of the seventh to cap off a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East sweep at Helen Lutes Field on Monday afternoon, April 26. The Mounties fell in game one, 10-2.

In the nightcap, after a scoreless battle through two innings, the Mounties (3-24, 3-24 PSAC East) broke through with a run in the third after junior Lacey O'Donnell singled and came all the way around to score after senior Joelle Snyder reached on an error.

The Golden Bears (29-11, 23-9 PSAC East) immediately responded with a solo home run to tie the game at one in the next half inning.

The Mountaineers regained the advantage, 2-1, in the bottom of the fifth after Breitigan and Easling belted back-to-back doubles.

The Golden Bears loaded the bases in the top of the fifth, but Easling got the strikeout she needed to end the inning and keep the Mounties on top.

The Golden Bears again loaded the bases in the sixth, this time with no outs, but Easling was able to limit the damage to two runs to keep the Mountaineer deficit to 3-2.

Breitigan worked her way on base as the tying run in the bottom of the sixth and Woodard drove a two-out, two-strikes single up the middle to knot the game at three.

However, Jenna Lipowski hit her second home run of the game in the top of the seventh and the Golden Bears retired the side in the bottom half to secure the victory.

Breitigan was 2-for-3 with a double, while Easling and Woodard drove in runs to lead the Mounties' offense. Easling threw all seven innings, allowing four runs and striking out four.

Amber Brugger struck out 10 hitters and allowed three runs (two earned) to land the victory.

In game one, the Golden Bears scored first with a solo homer in the top of the third to take a 1-0 lead.

Sophomore Danielle Goff held the recently-ranked Golden Bears to two hits through 4 and 2/3 innings, but KU rallied with two outs in the fifth to push across an additional four runs to extend the lead to 5-0.  

The Mounties responded with two runs in the bottom of the fifth, cutting the lead to 5-2, after Woodard and Goff led off with singles and Mansfield took advantage of two Kutztown errors.

However, two-out rallies doomed the Mounties again, as Kutztown scored four more runs in the sixth to build a 10-2 lead and ultimately put the game out of reach.

O'Donnell, senior Alex Hein, freshman Anastasia Berardi, Woodard and Goff all finished with hits, while Woodard and Goff scored runs.

Goff was handed the loss, tossing 5 and 2/3 innings before handing the ball to freshman Madi Jean, who threw 1 and 1/3 scoreless.

Sarah Harvey earned the complete-game victory and Brianna Hughes, Jenna Lipowski and Alyssa Donato homered to lead KU.

The Mounties return to Helen Lutes Field on Wednesday, April 28 for a PSAC East doubleheader with West Chester University.