PEMBROKE, N.C. – The Kutztown University softball team swept its competition on Saturday, day-two of the UNC Pembroke Invitational, against UNC Pembroke, 8-1, and Winston-Salem State, 7-4, to bring its tournament and overall record to 2-1.
 
The Golden Bears, who fell 1-0 on Friday to UNC Pembroke, were not short of offense their second time around. Kutztown edged out a 6-0 lead after the first four innings and ultimately closed out the game with solid pitching and execution.
 
Gabby Tareila (Limerick, Pa./Spring-Ford), who went 3-for-3 against Pembroke, drove in a RBI single in the first inning and was followed by a three-run single by Asja Saito (Pickering, Ontario/Pickering) to give KU a 4-0 lead through one.
 
Sophomore Danielle Amato (Henderson, Nev./Coronado) impressed in her first pitching outing of the season. She threw a complete game while only allowing a single run to pick up her first victory of the season. She had two strikeouts and did not walk any batters, while also adding a RBI at the plate
 
Danielle Sienko (Philadelphia, Pa./William Penn Charter) had a 2-for-4 game as Blayse Cholish (Peckville, Pa./Valley View) and Nicki Mann (Greentown, Pa./Wallenpaupack Area) added RBI.
 
In the second game of the day, Kutztown once again got things rolling early. Tareila gave KU another 1-0 lead in the first inning with a RBI single, but it was a five-run third-inning that broke the game open. KU reached on an error to start the third, followed with two singles to load the bases, and its next five batters drove in a run apiece to put KU up 6-0.
 
Winston-Salem showed signs of life in the later stages of the contest and tried to pull off the miracle comeback. Kutztown was up 7-0 going into the sixth inning and Winston Salem scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth to make things interesting. However, a scoreless seventh inning meant the second victory of the day for the Golden Bears.
 
Freshman Jackie Morell (Bensalem, Pa./Bensalem) took to the mound against Winston-Salem and was solid through the first five innings, pitching a shutout. After allowing four runs through 6.2 innings, junior Savannah Nierintz (Clifton Heights, Pa./Upper Darby) came in to close out the game. Nierintz allowed only one hit in relief and earned her first save of the young season.
 
Tarelia was once again perfect with the bat, going 3-for-3 with two RBI. Designated hitter Krista Schauder (Gilbertsville, Pa./Boyertown Area) was efficient in the box going 1-for-2 with a RBI and a run scored.
 
Kutztown will compete in the final game of the tournament against Concord on Sunday, Feb. 7. First pitch is slated for 9 a.m.