HTML Box Scores: KU-SRU | KU-UM
 
CLERMONT, Flor. – Junior Danielle Sienko drove in freshman Sam Fraser for a walk-off single in the seventh inning to lift the Kutztown University softball team to a 3-2 win over Slippery Rock University in the opener on Tuesday. KU suffered just its second loss in the season's first 10 games in the nightcap with a 4-0 setback to the University of Mary.
 
The Golden Bears (8-2) were an out away from sealing a 2-1 victory in the top of the seventh against Slippery Rock. Pitcher Dominique Ficara hadn't allowed a run since the second batter of the game, a hit since the second inning, and had retired 16 straight batters to put her with two outs in the seventh.
 
Down to its final out, Slippery Rock (2-4) hit a two-out double and scored on a single to center field, as the runner from second beat the throw home to tie the game at 2-2.
 
Fraser led off the seventh with a walk, was sacrificed to second by Blayse Cholish, and with two outs, Sienko drove a single to center field to score Fraser and win the game, 3-2.
 
It was Sienko's second RBI of the game, as she drove in a sacrifice fly in the third inning, one batter after Asja Saito notched a RBI double to score Cholish from first.
 
Ficara allowed five hits in the win as she moves to 3-0 on the year.
 
Kutztown managed just two hits in the 4-0 loss in the nightcap against the University of Mary (11-15).
 
The Golden Bears return to action with a doubleheader on Wednesday, March 11 against Wayne State (9 a.m.) and Minnesota State – Mankato (1 p.m.).