QUAKERTOWN, Pa. – Despite a standout performance in relief from freshman Lauren Zola (Pittsburgh, Pa./Seton-La Salle), who gave up just one hit over the last 4.1 innings, IUP's season came to an end on Thursday as the Crimson Hawks fell to Kutztown 3-2 on the second day of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Softball Championships.
 
That one hit off of Zola, however, was a solo home run by Kutztown's Bridget Newman in the sixth inning. It gave the Golden Bears (30-14) a one-run lead and proved to be the game-winner.
 
Zola entered a tie game in the top of the third inning with two outs but the bases full of Golden Bears. She promptly got out of the jam with a fly out and preceded to retire the next seven batters in order before Newman's homer with one out in the sixth.
 
Zola took the loss, giving up that one hit while striking out one and walking one in over four innings of work.
 
Kutztown got on the board early with a two-run homer by Danielle Sienko in the first inning. IUP struck back in the second, with one-out double to right center by Rachel Francis (Jefferson, Ohio/Jefferson), followed by an infield single from Megan Gould (New Germany, Pa./Forest Hills). She then advanced to second on a wild pitch before Lauren Goetz (Cleveland, Ohio/Cuyahoga Heights) drove both runners in with a single through the left side, tying the game at 2-2.
 
IUP could only get two runners on between the third and sixth innings, but neither advanced past first base.
 
Francis would again try to get things going in the seventh with a leadoff walk. Two batters later Mackenna Miller (Milton, Pa. /Milton), last night's hero, singled to left to put two runners on with one out. Goetz then drew another walk to load the bases. The Crimson Hawks couldn't capitalize, however, as KU pitcher Savannah Nierintz set down the next two batters to secure the win.
 
The Crimson Hawks entered the PSAC tournament ranked 10th in the Division II Atlantic Region rankings, with the top eight schools advancing to the NCAA championships.
 
IUP ends its season with a 28-19 overall record. The college careers of Francis, Allison Viguers (West Chester, Pa./West Chester East), Brooke Darling (Springville, Pa./Elk Lake), Emily Hofmann (Dublin, Pa./Pennridge) and Amy Fairman (Creekside, Pa. /Marion Center) came to an end, as they helped the Crimson Hawks amass 105 wins with three postseason appearances over the last four seasons.
 
For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP softball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUP_Softball.