PEMBROKE, NC (February 6, 2010) - The Kutztown University softball team laced up the spikes and took the field for the first time this season at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke Tournament.

The Golden Bears won the opener over host UNCP by a 2-1 margin before dropping a 4-3 nailbiter to Pfeiffer University in the bottom of the seventh.

In the win over the the Braves, KU received a strong pitching performance from staff ace Katlin Arbogast. The senior picked up where she left off last season, tossing a complete game and allowing only one run on five hits. Arbogast also notched four strikeouts.

Michelle McGinty powered the offense with an RBI triple that scored Nicole Colineri and proved to be the winning run. Colineri made the most in her at-bats, finishing 3-for-4 with both runs scored.

Katie Lynch made a fine college debut with a 3-for-3 day at the plate, including a double.

The first run came in the opening inning, when an illegal pitch with bases loaded sent Colineri across the plate.

In the loss to Pfeiffer, the Golden Bears battled back to tie the game at three apiece in the top of the seventh. Maria Isgro got the inning started off with a single and beat the throw to second on Colineri's fielder's choice. The two moved up on a passed ball and McGinty knocked Isgro in with a sacrifice fly.

The Falcons bounced back with a single, a fielder's choice and a double in the bottom of the seventh to earn the win.

The Golden Bears received a solid output from sophomore Nicole Henninger. The designated player smacked a two-run homerun in the fourth to cut the deficit to 3-2. The Falcon pitchers worked carefully in Henninger's other at-bats, in which she drew three base-on-balls.

Arbogast had another solid effort in the pitching circle, but suffered the loss. In 4 1/3 innings of relieve, Arbogast allowed only one earned run and had three strikeouts. Junior Mary Hoch started the first 1 2/3 innings, allowing only one hit and one run.

The Golden Bears will play three on Sunday, starting with an 8:30 a.m. contest with St. Andrews. KU will follow that at 10:30 against West Virginia State and a rematch with UNCP at 2:30 p.m.