KUTZTOWN - Kristin Erb pitched a five-hit shutout to lead Lock Haven to a 5-0 win over East Stroudsburg University in the first game of winners bracket action in the NCAA Division II Softball Mid-Atlantic Regional on Friday afternoon at Kutztown.

ESU won its opening game 4-0 as Kristen Halvorsen shut out Shippensburg, while the top-seeded Lady Eagles won their first round game against Bowie State 8-0 in five innings behind a perfect game from Erb. The same two hurlers went to the circle on Friday and were locked in a pitchers duel into the fifth inning, until Devin Glezen hit a two-out, two-run home run to give Lock Haven a 3-0 lead.

Lock Haven took a 1-0 lead in the first inning as Amanda Roosa singled to score leadoff hitter Julia Popovich. Halvorsen held the Lady Eagles at bay at that point until the fifth, while ESU's best scoring chance came in the top of the first. Jen Veronesi led off the game with an infield single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jess Schmoyer and later stole third (her 43rd stolen base of the season), but was stranded there when Erb finally retired the side.

Lock Haven added two more runs in the sixth on a solo homer by Erica Eisenbise and back-to-back doubles by Amanda Gutmaker and Nancy O'Connor.

The Warriors managed five hits off Erb (34-2), including a 2-for-3 day by Kara Darcey. Halvorsen (13-16) went the distance for ESU for the second straight day and allowed four earned runs on eight hits.

ESU will play No. 2 seed Kutztown on Saturday at 9 a.m. in an elimination game for both teams. The winner will advance to the 4:30 p.m. game.