Kutztown senior Steph Denlinger broke the NCAA Division II career home run record in softball March 14 with a three-run blast in the fourth inning of a 10-0 win over West Virginia State. That homer was the 63rd of Denlinger’s career, eclipsing the 62 hit by Wisconsin-Parkside’s Jackie Aiken from 1994-97.

It took Denlinger only 186 games to break the record, compared to the 264 it took Aiken. Denlinger had 40 homers after her sophomore year, already a school record. The 24 she hit as a sophomore set the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference record for single-season home runs.

Denlinger tacked on another 16 home runs as a junior to give her 56 entering her senior season. She hit her sixth homer of the season and 62nd of her career March 7 to tie Aiken.

Denlinger, who plays first base, has earned several awards in her three years at Kutztown, including the 2006 PSAC East Rookie of the Year and the 2007 PSAC East Player of the Year.

She entered the 2009 season batting .400, with 185 hits in 462 at-bats. She had 43 doubles, a triple and 170 RBIs. She also had 163 runs scored, while being issued 123 walks.