Box Score 1 | Box Score 2



UNC Pembroke 3, Kutztown 0 (HTML Box Score)
 
Francis Marion 6, Kutztown 0 (HTML Box Score)
 
PEMBROKE, N.C. – The Kutztown University softball team opened its 2014 campaign on Thursday, however, it was unable to build any offensive momentum in a pair of setbacks at the UNC Pembroke Invitational.
 
The Golden Bears (0-2) opened their season with a 3-0 loss to host-UNC Pembroke, and closed their day late at night with a 6-0 loss to Francis Marion.
 
Against UNC Pembroke, Kutztown's defense put together a 1-2-3 first inning to start off its 2014 campaign. In the second inning, however, UNC Pembroke connected two singles and scored on a wild pitch to take a 1-0 lead.
 
KU threatened with two runners on and one out in the fourth, but could not plate a run. Pembroke responded with a leadoff double, advanced the runner to third, and took a 2-0 lead off a sacrifice fly. Kutztown had two runners on base again in the fifth inning, but did not score a run as UNC Pembroke scored one in the bottom of the fifth to close the scoring in the season-opener.
 
Freshman Savannah Nierintz (Clifton Heights, Pa./Upper Darby) had two of Kutztown's four hits at the designated hitter position. Mary Kociencki (Columbia, N.J./Sparta ) took the mound in relief in the fifth inning and did not allow a hit.
 
For UNC Pembroke, Selena Ashley finished with nine strikeouts in the shutout victory.
 
In the nightcap against Francis Marion, errors plagued Kutztown down the stretch, which opened the door for Francis Marion. Following a fielding error at third base by KU in a scoreless game in the fourth inning, FMU knocked in the runner with a triple. An infield single later in the inning scored the runner with two outs for a 2-0 lead over KU.
 
The deficit grew to four in the sixth inning off a Kutztown error with two outs and the bases loaded. One play after Danielle Sienko (Philadelphia, Pa./William Penn Charter) threw out a runner at the plate to keep it a two-run game, Kutztown's catcher committed an error to score an unearned run, which was followed by a single to left field as Kutztown found itself in a 4-0 hole that it was not able to get out of.
 
Kutztown's pitching staff switched roles in the second game of the day. Kociencki was tabbed with the start and allowed no earned runs in five innings of work. Ficara pitched the final two innings as both pitchers allowed four hits and combined for one earned run.
 
The offense struggled to build any momentum with three hits in the setback. Sophomore Rachel Lawes (Reading, Pa./Governor Mifflin) went 2-for-4 in the two-hole for KU. Three Francis Marion players had multi-hit games as pitcher Taylor Luff struck out 14 batter in her complete game shutout.
 
The Golden Bears return to action tomorrow, Friday Feb. 7, to play UNC Pembroke at 10 a.m. and Concord at 12 p.m. It will be Kutztown's final two games at the Pembroke Invitational.