Box Score 1 | Box Score 2



PEMBROKE, N.C. – Kutztown, ranked third in Division II, split a pair of games on the second day of the UNCP Invitational at UNC Pembroke.   The Golden Bears took a morning game from Fayetteville State, 9-1 in five innings, before dropping an afternoon contest to the host Braves, 8-3.
 
In the opener, KU scored five times in the third and four more runs in the fourth to break the game open. 
 
Lindsey Kelley (Stafford, VA/North Stafford) walked to lead off the bottom of the third for the Golden Bears and Rachel Lawes (Reading, Pa./Governor Mifflin) pinch ran.  The next batter, Stephanie Curry (Winchester, VA/Millbrook) ripped a 2-2 pitch to center for an RBI double and the game's first run.  After moving to third on a sacrifice by Morgan Booth (Stroudsburg, PA/Stroudsburg), Curry scored on a single through the left side by Danielle Miller (Waynesboro, PA/Waynesboro).
 
Jackie Hetzler (Sewell, NJ/Washington Township) followed with a walk and Nicole Henninger (Reading, PA./Muhlenberg) singled to load the bases for Colleen Smith (Islip Terrace, N.Y./East Islip (Hofstra)).  A wild pitch allowed Miller to score and put Hetzler and pinch runner Jessica Kurtz (Pottstown, PA/Pottsgrove) in scoring position.  Smith worked a full count and ripped a single up the middle to drive in both runners for a 5-0 lead.
 
Fayetteville got a run back in the fourth when Ashley Wlezen drove in Haley Wood with a double down the leftfield line.
 
Kutztown put the game out of reach in the bottom half of the inning, however.  Booth led off the inning with a single and stole second.  She then took off for third and the throw got away, allowing the speedster to come home.  Miller walked and moved up to second on a bunt single by Hetzler.  Another error, this one in the outfield, loaded the bases with no outs. 
 
Smith proceeded to single to third, driving in Miller and keeping the bases loaded.  With two outs, Brianna Knipe (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty) reached on FSU's third miscue of the inning, allowing Hetzler to score.  Katie Lynch (Willow Street, PA/Lampeter-Strasburg) wrapped up the scoring with a two out base hit through the left side of the infield, knocking in Smith to make it 9-1.
 
Smith led the Golden Bears with two hits and three runs batted in.  Hetzler had a hit and walked twice. 
 
Mary Kociencki (Columbia, N.J./Sparta ) tossed three no-hit innings to pick up the win.  She struck out four and walked four to improve to 2-0 on the year.  Krista Schauder (Gilbertsville, Pa./Boyertown Area) picked up her first work inside the circle for Kutztown and allowed one hit and an unearned run in two innings.  She walked one and struck out a pair.
 
Marley Stubblefield took the loss.  She lasted just 2.1 innings and gave up four runs, all earned, on two hits and three walks.  Kristen Bell allowed the final five runs, two earned, in 1.2 innings of relief.  She surrendered seven hits and walked one.  Both pitchers struck out one.
 
The Golden Bears were not as fortunate against UNCP as the Braves scored in each of the game's first three innings and went on for the 8-3 victory.
 
An RBI double by Shelby Holland in the first and a two-run triple in the second by Taylor Cloninger put KU in an early 3-0 hole.  In the third, Hartley's three-run homer capped a four-run inning.
 
The Golden Bears battled back with two runs in the bottom of the third.  Hetzler sent a 2-2 pitch into left center for an RBI double, scoring Miller.  Miller had led off the inning with a bunt single and moved to second on a passed ball. 
 
Hetzler moved to third on a ground out and scored on a Braves' error to cut the deficit to 7-2.
 
Miller continued her hot hitting in the fourth, ripping a double down the line in left to drive in Knipe and put runners on second and third with one out.  Pembroke made a pitching change and escaped the inning without further damage.
 
The Braves tacked on another run in the top of the seventh on a Kutztown error.
 
Miller had two more hits in the game and finished the day 4-for-7 with four RBIs.  Knipe singled and walked in the contest and Hetzler reached via a base hit and a hit by pitch.
 
Dominique Ficara (Swedesboro, N.J./Kingsway Regional (Hofstra)) took the loss to fall to 1-1.  In two innings, she was charged with five runs.  Kociencki allowed three runs, two earned, in five innings of relief, striking out two.
 
Holland and Cloninger each had two hits for UNCP. 
 
Natalie Kleman picked up the win in relief, pitching the final 3.2 innings.  She allowed just one base runner on a walk and fanned three.
 
Kutztown will look to rebound when the Golden Bears wrap up play at the UNCP Invitational on Sunday, Feb. 10 against Francis Marion.