Box Score 1 | Box Score 2



Tusculum 2, Kutztown 0 (HTML Box Score)
 
Virginia College at Wise 8, Kutztown 0 (5 inn.) (HTML Box Score)
 
GREENEVILLE, Tenn – The 23rd-ranked Kutztown University softball team dropped its pair of games on the second day of the Pioneer Classic, hosted by Tusculum College.
 
Kutztown battled the tournament host Tusculum College to a 2-0 defeat for Saturday's opener, unable to bring a run across the plate. KU had a tougher contest in Saturday's afternoon matchup, falling to Virginia College at Wise in five innings, 8-0.
 
In the first game, the Golden Bears (2-6) had an early opportunity in the top of the second with two on after singles by Marka Ballard (Redwood City, CA/Mercy Burlingame) and Lindsey Kelley (Stafford, VA/North Stafford), but grounded out on the next at-bat to retire the side.
 
Tusculum (6-7) capitalized in the bottom of the inning, rallying of three hits and bringing in a run off a RBI double to left field. The Pioneers lit up the scoreboard once again in the third, bringing in the game's final run off a sacrifice bunt and an RBI single.
 
KU notched one more hit in the top of the sixth, a single by Rachel Lawes (Reading, Pa./Governor Mifflin), but couldn't rally for the comeback.
 
Dominique Ficara (Swedesboro, N.J./Kingsway Regional (Hofstra)) (2-3) is credited with the loss for the Maroon and Gold and Savannah Nierintz (Clifton Heights, Pa./Upper Darby) closed out the final four innings on the mound with two strikeouts. Kelly King was the winning pitcher for the Pioneers in a complete game.
 
In the second game against Wise (3-2), Kutztown struggled at the plate, recording one hit and leaving five runners on base.
 
Kutztown had a chance to rally in the bottom of the fifth, starting with a single to left field by first basemen Colleen Smith (Islip Terrace, NY/East Islip (Hofstra)). Danielle Sienko (Philadelphia, Pa./William Penn Charter) and Stephanie DiNolfi (Norristown, PA/Norristown) reached second and first with a fielder's choice bunt and a walk, followed by another walk to load the bases. However, the Cavaliers ended the game after KU grounded out to second.
 
Mindy Combs went 3-for-3 with two RBI and Sarah Wiltshire went 2-for-3 with two RBI to lead the Cavaliers at the plate.
 
Nierintz (0-2) struck out four after 3.2 innings on the mound and Mary Kociencki (Columbia, N.J./Sparta ) struck out one in the final inning. Taylor Brandts gets her first win of the season for Wise.
 
Kutztown has one final game in the Pioneer Classic, a rematch against Mercyhurst University tomorrow, Sunday Feb. 23 at 9 a.m. KU defeated the Lakers 9-1 on Friday.