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WEST CHESTER, Pa. – The Kutztown University softball team opened its Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division slate on Friday afternoon with a split on the road against West Chester University. KU dropped the opener 8-5, but scored eight runs in the final three innings of game two on its way to a 9-3 victory.
 
The Golden Bears (11-11, 1-1 PSAC East) were led in their game two victory by Colleen Smith (Islip Terrace, N.Y./East Islip (Hofstra))'s two home runs and four RBI. She went 3-for-4 at the plate with three runs scored and four RBI.
 
Leadoff hitter Jackie Hetzler (Sewell, NJ/Washington Township) had a game-high four hits with three RBI and a stolen base.
 
Smith gave KU the lead with a solo shot in the second inning, but West Chester responded with two runs in the fourth to retake the lead.
 
Four runs in the fifth and seventh innings broke the game open for the Golden Bears. With one out, Kutztown rattled off four base hits including a two-run double by Smith to take a 5-2 lead in the fifth. Maria Isgro (Galloway, NJ/Absegami) and Nicole Henninger (Reading, PA./Muhlenberg) also had RBI in the inning.
 
Smith led off the seventh with her second home run of the game. Later that inning and with two outs, Brianna Knipe (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty), Danielle Sienko (Philadelphia, Pa./William Penn Charter), and Rachel Lawes (Reading, Pa./Governor Mifflin) reached base to give Hetzler an opportunity to put the game out of reach. She took advantage and doubled to left center field to clear the bases and give KU a 9-2 lead.
 
Dominique Ficara (Swedesboro, N.J./Kingsway Regional (Hofstra)) picked up the win for Kutztown with a complete game. She struck out six batters and allowed two earned runs.
 
In game one, West Chester held a 2-0 lead heading into the fifth inning. Led by Katie Lynch (Willow Street, PA/Lampeter-Strasburg)'s two-run double to give KU the lead, Kutztown scored four runs in the inning to take a 4-2 lead, its first of the game. However, West Chester responded with six runs in the bottom half of the inning.
 
KU plated one in the sixth, but was unable to get within three runs of the Golden Rams.
 
Lynch and Hetzler each had three hits in the opening game for Kutztown.
 
Kutztown returns to action on Saturday, March 30 to face Shippensburg University on the road beginning at 1 p.m.