KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Shepherd University (18-18, 8-10 PSAC East) split a doubleheader with Kutztown (21-14, 9-7 PSAC East) in PSAC East softball action at Kutztown on Tuesday. Shepherd gained a 10-5 win in game one and Kutztown gained the split with an 8-0 win in five innings in the nightcap.

Shepherd took a 3-0 lead in the first inning in game one as junior third baseman Lauren Moore (Frederick, Md./Tuscarora/Trevecca Nazarene) and senior outfielder Olivia Reese (Ellicott City, Md./Centennial) each smacked run-scoring singles.

Kutztown answered back in the bottom of the first on a solo homer by Alexa Stevens.

Stevens added a three-run blast in the third to give the Golden Bears a 4-3 advantage.

Graduate student catcher Alex Mantz (Edinburg, Va./Central) smacked a run-scoring single to key a two-run fifth inning and give the Rams a 5-4 lead.

The Rams got a two-run single by Moore and a three-run homer by Mantz in the sixth to take a 10-4 advantage.

Stevens added a solo blast in the seventh for the Golden Bears.

Senior outfielder Isabella Forte (Hedgesville, W.Va./Hedgesville) and Reese each had three hits to lead a 15-hit attack for the Rams.

Freshman pitcher Madelayne Ruffner (Charles Town, W.Va./Washington) (5.0 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 10 K, 2 BB) (13-2) gained the win. Natalee Harvey (0.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 K, 2 BB) (9-7) took the loss.

Kutztown took a 3-0 lead in the third inning in the nightcap on a three-run homer by Kristin Geesey.

Emily Henn added a solo homer in the fifth to up the lead to 4-0.

Haley Gravish hit a grand slam in the fifth to give the Golden Bears a win via the eight-run rule.

Henn went 3-for-3 to lead Kutztown.

Freshman pitcher Trynda Mantz (Edinburg, Va./Central) (4.0 IP, 7 H, 6 ER, 1 K, 2 BB) (1-3) took the loss. Gravish (5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 4 K, 2 BB) (11-7) gained the win.

The Rams return to action on Friday when they host East Stroudsburg for a 2 p.m. doubleheader.