Box Score 1 | Box Score 2



Kutztown 5, Illinois Springfield 4 (8 inn.) (HTML Box Score)
 
Kutztown 14, Saint Michael's (VT) 1 (HTML Box Score)
 
CLERMONT, Fl. – Senior Stephanie Curry (Winchester, VA/Millbrook) notched a walk-off hit to lift the Kutztown University softball team to a 5-4, eight-inning victory over Illinois Springfield in the first of two games on Thursday. In the second game, KU rattled off 21 hits from 10 different players in a 14-1, five-inning win over Saint Michael's (VT) to close out the team's play at the NTC College Spring Games at the National Training Center.
 
Kutztown 5, Illinois-Springfield 4 (eight innings)
In the day's golden hour at the National Training Center Complex, the Golden Bears needed to do in the bottom of the eighth inning what two other teams did to KU earlier in the season. Thanks to a game-tying RBI double from sophomore infielder Danielle Sienko (Philadelphia, Pa./William Penn Charter) to set the tone and a walk-off RBI single from Curry to finish the rally, Kutztown defeated Illinois-Springfield (10-11) in a 5-4 eight-inning affair.
 
The early stages of the game saw both defenses struggle, but it was Kutztown who got the worse end. The struggles began with runners at the corners in the first inning. UIS got a RBI single from designated player Jordyn Amos, but a throwing error on the play added another run to give the Prairie Stars a 2-0 lead. Worse yet, on a play at the plate for the second run, the throw hit junior starting pitcher Dominique Ficara (Swedesboro, N.J./Kingsway Regional (Hofstra)) in the face. Luckily, she was able to stay in the game. However, another throwing error in the following at-bat extended the KU deficit to 3-0.
 
The two combined for five errors in the first two innings, which threatened to change the score. However, the Golden Bears squandered a two-on and no-out situation in the first inning, while the Prairie Stars couldn't score with runners at second and third in the following frame.
 
The score remained 3-0 through three innings, with the Golden Bears going hitless. However, the Maroon and Gold set its eyes on a rally in the fourth, as senior first baseman Colleen Smith (Islip Terrace, NY/East Islip (Hofstra)) led off with a double. Two batters later, Sienko notched the first KU run by scoring Smith with a RBI single. Kutztown didn't score again in the fourth, making the score 3-1.
 
In the fifth, the Golden Bears completed the rally. With the help of three UIS errors and two wild pitches, Kutztown got even with the Prairie Stars despite having just one hit. However, after a wild pitch to score senior Morgan Booth (Stroudsburg, PA/Stroudsburg), that lone hit featured an RBI double from Smith to tie the game.
 
The game remained a deadlock at 3-3 heading into extra innings. However, both teams saw opportunities in the final two innings. UIS stranded a runner at second in the sixth, while KU stranded a runner at third in the same inning. Both left a runner at first in the seventh inning.
 
With the international tiebreaker rule in effect, the Prairie Stars began the eighth with a runner in scoring position. However, Ficara got back-to-back strikeouts to force a two-out situation with the runner still at second. UIS centerfielder Mandy Smith cashed in for the lead, hitting an RBI single to right field for the 4-3 lead.
 
With Illinois-Springfield scoring only one run, the Golden Bears decided to forgo the small ball. With a runner at second to start the inning, Sienko got the green light to swing and smashed a pitch by starter Alex Smith to the right center field wall. The RBI double scored freshman pinch-runner Ashley Lechner (Willow Street, PA/Lampeter-Strasburg). After freshman designated player Lisa Lawson (Morgantown, Pa./Twin Valley) sacrificed Sienko to third, it left the door open for Curry. The senior didn't start the game, but she finished it for the Golden Bears by slapping the ball over Prairie Stars shortstop Alexa McClaughtery for the 5-4 win. It marked the second consecutive victory decided in KU's final team at-bat. Furthermore, the Golden Bears are now 1-2 in extra-inning games.
 
Colleen Smith (Islip Terrace, NY/East Islip (Hofstra)) landed the only multi-hit game for Kutztown. She hit two doubles. Meanwhile, Ficara allowed just one earned run in eight innings of work. She also set a career-high with 10 strikeouts, with all but one coming after suffering the injury. She improved to 5-5 on the season.
 
Kutztown 14, Saint Michael's 1 (five innings)
Playing minutes after their come-from-behind triumph against UIS, the Golden Bears used the momentum to set new season-highs in runs scored (14), hits (21) and margin of victory (13). Spreading hits among 10 different players, Kutztown rocked Saint Michael's College (VT) in a 14-1 five-inning victory.
 
Kutztown (6-11) scored in four of five innings, only going scoreless in the second despite three hits. Meanwhile, the Golden Bears put together a season-best nine-run inning in the fourth. They batted 10-for-11 in the inning and sent 13 batters to the plate.
 
After KU grabbed an immediate 2-0 lead, the Purple Knights (0-8) struck back with an RBI double from third baseman Danielle DelGreco. However, that's as close as SMC got in the game. Kutztown added one run in the third inning, the nine runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth.
 
Four players had at least three hits in the game. Senior outfielder Jackie Hetzler (Sewell, NJ/Washington Township) hit four singles and reached once via hit by pitch. Freshman outfielder Savannah Nierintz (Clifton Heights, Pa./Upper Darby) set a career-high with three hits, as did freshman third baseman Marka Ballard (Redwood City, CA/Mercy Burlingame). Ballard, who had a 13-start streak with a hit come to an end against UIS, co-led the Golden Bears with three RBI. Finally, Colleen Smith (Islip Terrace, NY/East Islip (Hofstra)) went 3-for-5 with two RBI.
 
Ballard, Smith, sophomore infielder Rachel Lawes (Reading, Pa./Governor Mifflin) and junior pitcher Mary Kociencki (Columbia, N.J./Sparta ) each had multiple RBI in the game. Meanwhile, Kociencki pitched a complete game, allowing just one run on two hits in the victory.
 
The Golden Bears return to action for their home- and Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division-opener on Tuesday, March 25 at North Campus Field. Game time against West Chester University is set for 2:30 p.m.