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KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown University softball team begins its March play with five games in the Salem Invitational. In all five games, the Golden Bears will play against Mountain East Conference teams, meaning that the team's in-region record will be impacted.
 
KU (3-6) will rekindle regional rivalries on Friday, March 14 against West Virginia Wesleyan (12-3) and West Virginia State (6-4), teams KU beat in the NCAA postseason in the last two years. On Saturday, March 15, the Golden Bears will have two more formidable foes in Charleston (10-3) and Fairmont State (5-2). KU will then close out the weekend Sunday morning, March 16 against Shepherd (7-6).
 
LAST TIME OUT: Kutztown finished up its trip to Tennessee at the Pioneer Classic (hosted by Tusculum College) by defeating Mercyhurst, 8-0 in five innings, on Feb. 23. Dominique Ficara (Swedesboro, N.J./Kingsway Regional (Hofstra)) threw her first shutout of the season, allowing just five runners on base while striking out three. At one point, she retired 11 batters in a row. KU stormed to a fast start with a four-run first inning, which included a two-run triple from Savannah Nierintz (Clifton Heights, Pa./Upper Darby). KU scored two runs more apiece in the second and fourth innings. Danielle Sienko (Philadelphia, Pa./William Penn Charter) hit a two-run double in the fourth.
 
SALEM INVITATIONAL: The Golden Bears return to the site of the 2013 NCAA Division II Softball National Championship Finals to play five games at the Salem Invitational, hosted by West Virginia Wesleyan College. Kutztown will play all five games at the James I. Mayor Complex against Mountain East teams, making this weekend key for regional standings. KU's most important games arguably will come Friday, with match-ups against the hosts and West Virginia State. KU played these two teams in the NCAA postseason in 2012 and 2013. Kutztown will face five of the top six MEC teams, according to the preseason coaches polls.
 
FEBRUARY SLUMBERS: Due to one of the coldest and snowiest winters in recent memory, the Golden Bears were not able to practice outside before any of their February games. That seemed to further accentuate the struggles Kutztown tends to have in its early-season games. However, recent KU teams make up for any early-season struggles. The 3-6 start marks the team's worst since at least 2003, when the team began its stretch of 11 consecutive years in the NCAA Tournament. Last year, the team went 3-2 at the season-opening UNC Pembroke Invitational, just like in 2010 (KU finished 43-18 that year). Other slow starts include:
> Going 3-4 in February in 2009, when KU (46-12-1) made NCAA Super Regionals
> Going 1-4 in February in 2007, when KU (43-18) made NCAA Regionals
> Started 1-4 in 2006, when Kutztown (32-19) made NCAA Regionals
> Started 2-4 in 2005, when Kutztown (27-24) made NCAA Regionals
> Started 4-6 in 2004, when Kutztown (31-19) made NCAA Regionals
> Started 4-5 in 2003, when Kutztown (23-18) made NCAA Regionals
 
GREAT EXPECTATIONS: In 2013, Kutztown made the NCAA Championship Finals for the second consecutive season, losing to the University of Central Oklahoma in extra innings in the National Championship Game. As a result, the Golden Bears were ranked second in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) top 25 preseason polls. After their opening weekend performance in Pembroke, NC, they moved to 23rd in the Feb. 19 polls. The Maroon and Gold moved out of the top 25 in the Feb. 26 polls and have remained in that position since then.
 
UNC PEMBROKE INVITATIONAL: The Golden Bears began their season on Feb. 6 and 7 by playing four games at the UNC Pembroke Invitational. Due to the team not being able to get any outdoor practices during preseason, this tournament acted as the first live action for Kutztown in 2014. Playing against all winning teams at the time, KU finished 1-3 in the tourney. The Maroon and Gold beat Concord, who went 3-1 over the weekend. Sophomore second baseman Rachel Lawes (Reading, Pa./Governor Mifflin) went 6-of-14 with 2 RBI during the invitational.
 
PIONEER CLASSIC: Kutztown played in an another invitational, going to the Pioneer Classic on Feb. 21-23. The Golden Bears went 2-3 in the tournament and earned a pair of regional wins over Mercyhurst via the eight-run rule, 9-1 and 8-0 in five innings respectively. KU scored a combined two runs in the three losses, but they swept the two games against the Lakers by hitting 15 of-43 (.349) as a team. Junior pitcher Dominique Ficara (Swedesboro, N.J./Kingsway Regional (Hofstra)) threw a complete game in each win, allowing an unearned run on seven hits in 10 innings.
 
PIECE OF HISTORY: The Golden Bears already saw a change in the program's record books this season. On Feb. 22 at Tusculum, senior outfielder Jackie Hetzler (Sewell, NJ/Washington Township) took the 23rd hit by pitch of her career. This surpassed catcher Katie Lynch (Willow Street, PA/Lampeter-Strasburg)'s career total (22 from 2010-13). For Hetzler, it marks a return to the top, as Lynch took 19 of her 22 HBP last year to take the record. Hetzler ranks in the top 8 in KU history in career triples and stolen bases as well.

Looking in the Other Corner: Salem Invitational (Hosted by West VA Wesleyan)
 
WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN BOBCATS (12-3): The 22nd-ranked team in Division II, the Bobcats head into Salem in a strong rhythm. They own a six-game winning streak, including an 8-2 win against 19th-ranked Shippensburg. KU defeated WVWC in the 2012 NCAA Atlantic Super Regionals.
 
WEST VIRGINIA STATE YELLOW JACKETS (6-4): A participant in the 2013 NCAA Atlantic Regionals and the preseason favorite in the Mountain East Conference, the Yellow Jackets look to avenge a 3-1 loss in 10 innings to Kutztown last May. They return key players like Mattie Best and Anna Eggleston.
 
CHARLESTON GOLDEN EAGLES (10-3): Winners of nine games in a row and owners of an 8-0 home record, the Golden Eagles are led by Katelyn Hamilton's incredible .538 batting average and 12 RBI.
 
FAIRMONT STATE FIGHTING FALCONS (5-2): Ranked second in the preseason MEC polls, Fairmont State already played four games against PSAC teams at the Shaw Challenge, going 2-2.
 
SHEPHERD RAMS (7-6): The Rams are already well-experienced against PSAC East teams, as they own a combined 3-4 record in games against West Chester (1-2), Bloomsburg (0-2) and Millersville (2-0).