Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Junior shortstop Brianna Knipe (Liberty H.S./Bethlehem, Pa.) had three hits and drove in four runs as No. 6 Kutztown University (26-1) extended its win streak to 18 straight games by sweeping a non-conference doubleheader against Goldey-Beacom College (11-10) at the Bears' North Campus Field on Wednesday afternoon.  

After posting an 8-0 victory in five innings in the opener, the Bears broke open a close game in the nightcap to earn a 6-1 verdict.

Led by Knipe, the Bears exploded for five runs in the third inning in the first game. After sophomore Jackie Hetzler (Washington Township H.S./Turnersville, N.J.) scored on a Goldey-Beacom error with no outs, senior first baseman Heather Hannum (Hatboro-Horsham H.S./Horsham, Pa.) upped the Kutztown lead to 2-0 on a sacrifice bunt.

With one out in the inning, Knipe extended the Bears' advantage to 5-0 when she hit her third home run of the season, a three-run shot off senior Sadie Jones (Sussex Technical H.S./Milford, Del.).

The Bears added three more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. After Hetzler hit her second home run of the season with one out, freshman Kelly Strittmatter (Indian Hills H.S./Wyckoff, N.J.) scored on a bases-loaded walk to give Kutztown a 7-0 advantage. Junior catcher Katie Lynch (Lampeter-Strasburg H.S./Willow Street, Pa.) followed by scoring on a passed ball.

In the nightcap, the Bears took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when Hannum singled to score Strittmatter from third base. With two outs in the inning, Hannum scored on a Lightning error.

The Lightning broke through for a run in the top of the fifth inning when sophomore Michelle Foster (Overbrook H.S./West Berlin, N.J.) singled to score junior Ashley Antosh (Twin Valley H.S./Honey Brook, Pa.), narrowing the gap to 2-1.

But, Kutztown answered by scoring two more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. After sophomore Samantha Derr (Warwick H.S./Lititz, Pa.) drove in a run on a Goldey-Beacom error, Hannum scored on a passed ball to extend the cushion to 4-1.

Kutztown added two more runs in the sixth inning on an error and a single by Knipe to left field.

While Knipe led the Bears to the doubleheader sweep, Hetzler added four hits with three runs and a run batted in. Derr scattered four hits in the first game while posting her sixth shutout of the season. She also pitched two innings in the nightcap and did not allow a hit.

Foster led the Lightning in a losing effort by going two-for-four with a run batted in.

The Lightning, which started an eight-game road trip on Wednesday, will continue its Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference schedule on Friday afternoon with a doubleheader at the University of the Sciences beginning at 3 p.m.

Lightning Strikes: After winning 10 straight games, Goldey-Beacom has now lost six straight games … The Lightning suffered its second shutout of the season in the first game … Goldey-Beacom entered the doubleheader as the highest-scoring team in the CACC with a 6.42 average … Foster now has a hit in three straight games … Over her last 13 games, she has collected 18 hits and is hitting .450 … She also has a hit in 10 of those 13 games … Senior catcher Danie Rice (Kingsway Regional H.S./Mullica Hill, N.J.) had one hit in the doubleheader, giving her 125 career base hits … With her next hit, she will move into a tie for fourth place on the school's all-time list, matching the 126 hits by Holly Kimble (2003-05).