Box Score



Kutztown 3, Molloy 1 (HTML Box Score)
 
CLERMONT, Fl. – The Kutztown University softball team ended a five-game losing streak in a way that previously plagued the Golden Bears. After suffering three fall-from-ahead losses decided in the opponent's final team at-bat in Salem this past weekend, the Golden Bears earned a come-from-behind 3-1 victory in a game decided the team's final at bat.
 
In a game that heavily featured impressive pitching and defense, a well-controlled complete game two-hitter from junior pitcher Dominique Ficara (Swedesboro, N.J./Kingsway Regional (Hofstra)) and a two-out, two-run home run by freshman third baseman Marka Ballard (Redwood City, CA/Mercy Burlingame) ended up playing the primary headline of a battle between two defending NCAA regional champions.
 
Like for the Golden Bears (4-11), the regional championship defense has not started as expected for Molloy (1-5). However, both teams came to play like their respective seasons relied on a victory. Ficara looked sharp from the get-go in the circle, as she never allowed more than one runner on base in an inning. However, a two-out solo home run by pitcher Tracey Balinskas gave the Lions a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Ficara was not fazed by the shot, retiring the next 15 batters and not allowing another hit until the seventh inning.
 
Instead, the drama came from having to work through the brilliant pitching of Balinskas. Though not overpowering the Golden Bears, as she struck out only two batters in her six innings, the sophomore mixed and placed her pitches well enough to prevent the Golden Bears from erupting offensively.
 
Furthermore, the Lions held serve with stellar defense. Senior outfielder Jackie Hetzler (Sewell, NJ/Washington Township) led off the first inning with a double, giving the Golden Bears an immediate chance to tie. When sophomore infielder Rachel Lawes (Reading, Pa./Governor Mifflin) bunted Hetzler over to third, it seemed the Golden Bears were in near-perfect position to score. However, a hard smash by freshman outfielder Savannah Nierintz (Clifton Heights, Pa./Upper Darby) was snagged in the air by Molloy freshman third baseman Erin Clinton to set up an inning-ending double play.
 
Balinskas would then take the Maroon and Gold down in order for the next two innings, until Hetzler led off the fourth with a single. However, Hetzler was picked off on a snap throw from Molloy sophomore catcher Milan Botte. Kutztown couldn't build on anything else besides a hit by pitch for Nierintz, keeping the Molloy lead at 1-0 through four innings.
 
However, in the fifth, the Golden Bears finally cracked the scoreboard. Thanks to back-to-back infield singles from sophomore infielder Danielle Sienko (Philadelphia, Pa./William Penn Charter) and Ballard, Kutztown finally put a runner back in scoring position. Two batters later, sophomore catcher Lindsey Kelley (Stafford, VA/North Stafford) walked to load the bases with just one out. Senior outfielder Morgan Booth (Stroudsburg, PA/Stroudsburg) gave the Golden Bears a desirable payoff, smashing a hard shot to right field. Molloy senior Lauren Alexander showed nice range to make a catch, but a sacrifice fly resulted to score freshman pinch runner Marissa Linquist (West Deptford, N.J./West Deptford) and tie the game, 1-1. The lineup flipped over to Hetzler, but Balinskas finally bested her fellow New Jerseyian, forcing a groundout to end the inning.
 
After Ficara allowed nothing more than a walk in the sixth inning, the Golden Bears looked to strike again. However, Balinskas made quick work of the first two batters in the frame. When senior first baseman Colleen Smith (Islip Terrace, NY/East Islip (Hofstra)) walked, it left the door open for Ballard to give Kutztown the lead. That's when Ballard sent a smash to left-center field for the go-ahead two-run home run, making the score 3-1.
 
Ficara allowed a one-out single to Botte in the seventh, but she followed that by forcing Molloy senior Dayna White into a game-ending 1-6-3 double play, making it a golden afternoon in the Sunshine State.
 
Ficara threw her best game of the season, allowed just one run on two hits and one walk. However, most importantly for the junior, she forced the Lions into 15 groundouts for the game. The win improves Ficara to 4-5 on the season. The two hits allowed marks a season-low for Kutztown, and it ends a four-game streak of double-digit hits allowed.
 
Meanwhile, Ballard notched only her second extra-base hit of the season, but she continues to build on an impressive start to her Kutztown career at the plate. Ballard has at least one hit in each of her 13 starts this season. This marks a longer starters' hitting streak than any Golden Bear had last year, when Hetzler had a 12-game streak that spanned 10 postseason contests.
 
With the win, Kutztown improves to 2-8 when its opponent scores first and 2-9 when trailing after four innings. The Golden Bears will look to use the momentum from this win on Thursday, when they play two teams to finish their time at the NTC College Spring Games. They play Illinois-Springfield at 4 p.m. and Saint Michael's (VT) at 6 p.m. Both games can be heard on the Golden Bear Network.